Awesome Second Overall for Alastair on Lakeland Stages’ Rally!
Last weekend’s Fisher Engineering Lakeland Stages’ Rally presented an opportunity for Alastair to get both himself and his Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9 back into gravel mode before the final round of the British Rally Championship in two weeks’ time. It also gave him a chance to demonstrate his pace on his home rally, organised by Enniskillen Motor Club; a counting round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Alastair remarked, “The headquarters of Fisher Engineering in Ballinamallard provided an excellent venue for both scrutineering and the start of the rally. Enniskillen Motor Club has always been renowned for organizing an excellent event and as always the stages were very challenging. It was a fantastic day’s rallying and the fine weather was an added bonus!”
After the opening two stages, Alastair and co-driver Barry McNulty lay second overall in their PPG / Fisher Engineering EVO 9, just 5 seconds behind Sean Devine’s S11 Subaru WRC, and ahead of all the other Group N and WRC opposition. Indeed that was a position they were to maintain right to the finish. “We had decided not to go max. attack on the first stage in order to get bedded in, as it was a short stage and also to give us an opportunity to evaluate the Group N opposition; this probably played in our favour as the stage was very slippery due to surface gravel.”
Onto stages two, three and four where the McElwaine Electrical Lancer set two more second quickest times, to arrive back at the Garrison mid-way service in a fabulous second place overall and leading Group N, with the similar Evo of Jonny Greer holding second in Group N.
It wasn’t without its moments however, as Alastair and Barry experienced on stage 3. “The second stage was a tricky one in places with some big jumps and crests, but it was actually coming out of a high speed jump dip on the third stage that almost ended our assault. It has to be the biggest moment I have ever had and it’s as close as I ever want to be to going end over end; the back of the car just lifted in the air and we landed bang on the nose. There is no doubt we were very lucky we didn’t damage the radiator or the intercooler.” Bent chassis legs and minor cosmetic damage were the worst injuries subjected to the UK Direct Car Sales Lancer and indeed over the remaining four tests Alastair directed the Evo to several more impressive times, which was good enough to ensure him a superb second place overall and first in Group N.
Alastair commented at the finish, “It was a very worthwhile day which allowed me to get back into the flow of the gravel. I was pleased from the start to be on the Group N pace and Jonny Greer wasn’t too far behind either which also made for an interesting day, and I was simply delighted to reach the finish in second place.”
Alastair will now be concentrating his efforts on the Trackrod Rally in two weeks’ time. “We need to finish the Trackrod to secure third in the British Rally Championship; after that’s over the focus will be on the Cork 20, hopefully securing 3rd O/A and the Group N title in the Irish Tarmac Championship”, he concluded.
The Pirelli shootout in early October which will be prove to be a very testing challenge for Alastair as he goes head to head with his BRC counterparts for a chance to win the Pirelli works drive. For the latest news, check Alastair’s website www.alastairfisher.com
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