Frustrating rally for Fisher and McNulty

Editorial Department • Published 29 Apr 2010 09:08 0 Comments

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Alastair Fisher and Barry McNulty both endured a promising but ultimately frustrating rally on the second round of the British Rally Championship.

Following Barry's opening round victory navigating for reigning champion Keith Cronin hopes were high that the pair would repeat the feat on the Pirelli International Rally, but just when it seemed victory number two was in the bag they retired from the lead of the event with the finish line almost in sight. Alastair also had mechanical problems, retiring at the start of stage seven when lying in fourth overall.

Cronin and McNulty were the pre-event favourites and they immediately justified that tag by racing into the lead on the opening stage, posting a time three seconds better than Gyndaf Evans. Behind the top two Alastair Fisher led the chasing pack, but with dust becoming a problem for many drivers the Trillick man's Mitsubishi was one of several front runners to hit trouble. On stage four he slipped two places down the leaderboard when he suffered intercom problems and two separate punctures.

He responded well however, posting second fastest time on stage five and third fastest time on stage six, but his rally was to come to a sudden and premature end on the start line of stage seven. "As we edged forward to the start line of stage 7, the car just locked solid, and we couldn't move," he explained. "We eventually had to get towed off the start line with a Land Rover, and it freed up for a moment only to lock solid again. At the moment the car is being checked and we think the problem could be in the front transmission."

Following a non finish on the Bulldog Rally it leaves last year's third place finisher with no points on the board, but he is still hopeful of mounting a challenge as the season progresses. "There is still a possible ninety points to be scored from four remaining rounds with three of those rounds on tarmac hopefully we can resurrect our BRC season," he said. "It would be nice to go to the Jim Clark and try and get a podium to boost the confidence again."

Alastair's old co-driver Barry McNulty appeared to be having no such problems as he and Cronin continued to lead the way at the front of the field. Going into the final stage of the rally they held a 17 second advantage over second placed Evans, but their serene progress was about to come to a grinding halt. Having picked up a puncture, the flapping rubber damaged a cable behind the wheel arch and the car coasted to a halt just yards from the chequered flag.

This weekend Alastair Fisher had the opportunity to continue his Irish Tarmac Championship challenge on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. In the absence of local driver Garry Jennings and Richard Cathcart, he will start the events as one of the favourites for Group N success.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 29 Apr 10

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