Fisher moves top with fourth place finish

Editorial Department • Published 6 May 2010 14:08 0 Comments

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Stephen Baxter in action in Killarney.

Alastair Fisher moved to the top of the Irish Tarmac Championship with a fourth placed finish on last weekend's Killarney Rally of the Lakes. The Trillick driver looked set for a second placed finish midway through the final day, but eventually had to settle for fourth overall and second in group N after final stage drama saw him fall behind class rival Craig Breen.

After an impressive outing on the previous round of the series where he held the overall lead at the end of the first day of the Circuit of Ireland, Alastair went to Killarney looking to maintain his championship challenge with another podium finish. After a steady start which left him in sixth place at the end of the opening test, he had forced his way up to third by stage three and was already establishing a significant advantage in Group N.

By stage six Alastair had moved into second place behind Tim McNulty, and although the Subaru Impreza WRC of Denis Cronin edged ahead of the Mitsubishi driver by the end of day one, it was still a pleasing day for the local driver.

"We had no problems at all on Saturday," admitted Alastair. "We made some good tyre choices, the car was working well and everything was good."

The damp conditions of day one gave way to dry tarmac on Sunday, and the change of conditions favoured the more powerful World Rally Cars. Aaron McHale soon closed the gap to Alastair, establishing a two second advantage going into the final stage. Alastair still held a 45 second lead over his nearest Group N challenger Craig Breen, but that gap was to disappear when Alastair damaged the car and dropped one and a half minutes.

"At the start of the last stage I got caught out on some gravel coming into a square right," explained Alastair. "I hit the back left wheel off the bank which broke the suspension and I had to crawl through the rest of the stage. It was a bit disappointing at the end after having driven a good rally, but that's rallying."

In contrast to his fraught British Championship campaign, Alastair's consistency has been a key factor in establishing himself as leader of the Tarmac Championship. When dropped scores come into play he may find himself falling into the clutches of the chasing pack, but he has already demonstrated this season that given the right conditions he can win a round of the series before the season reaches its climax.

Meanwhile, Fermanagh's Stephen Baxter suffered disappointment in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy in Killarney. Baxter and co-driver Karl Atkinson, having repaired the damage inflicted on the Circuit of Ireland, were looking to turn the pace they had shown in the opening two rounds, both of which had ended in retirement, into a good result. It was not be however, as just over nine miles into SS1 they slid off the road and into retirement for the third FST event in succession.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 06 May 10

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