Alastair Fisher is hoping to reignite his Irish Tarmac Rally Championship chances with a victory on this weekend’s Donegal Rally. The local driver has already claimed victory on the Circuit of Ireland this season, and if he could add a first Donegal Rally win to his trophy cabinet it would put him back in contention for the title.

“We need a big result for the championship, and you always want a big result in Donegal anyway,” said Alastair.

“I have finished second twice in Donegal, and we will be having a go this time. The way it is now, if you go at it half hearted with that entry list you would be at the bottom end of the ten very easily, if not outside the top ten.”

Garry Jennings joins Fisher in a high quality entry for the three day event, and although the Kesh driver is hampered by a car that does not match the latest specification of the more modern R5 cars, the two time former winner of the rally will be hoping to force his way into the reckoning at the top end of the leader board.

The event is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Fisher believes that a quick start could be key to winning the rally in its landmark year.

“We will still have to read things as the rally progresses, but it is important to get a good sharp start given how close the racing has been this year,” he said. “Friday’s stages are challenging. I feel the Saturday and Sunday stages are known quite well so there is not as much time to be had over them over the course of the weekend.”

“Callum (Devine) will be going well, and I think Josh (Moffatt) will go better than he did in Killarney. I think the stages will suit him a bit better.

“A lot of the other guys have been doing a lot of rallies, like Cathan (McCourt) and Jonny (Greer), and Matt Edwards will be in the mix as well. It is as competitive a Donegal Rally as there has been in recent memory.”

Fisher’s VW Polo has had an engine rebuild ahead of the event as he leaves nothing to chance. He came within one stage of winning the Killarney Rally in May before sliding off the road, but a first victory in Donegal would erase that disappointment, and he is going into the rally in a positive frame of mind.

“We are confident in the car,” he revealed. “We have developed our notes quite a bit as well this year to progress with what the car is capable of, so overall every improvement along the way is adding to the stage times and adding to the confidence.”

The event starts this Friday in Letterkenny with six stages on day one. Saturday sees the drivers tackle a further eight famous tests including Knockalla and Fanad Head, with Sunday’s final six stages featuring High Glen and Atlantic Drive.