Along the way there have been some stunning performances, and Alastair and co-driver Rory Kennedy rounded off the season with a fine fourth overall and first in Group N on the weekend’s Cork 20 International Rally.
Alastair, the Team UK driver went into this sixth and final round with an outside chance of the overall Irish Tarmac title, no mean feat in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9. The situation however essentially depended on the fortunes of other drivers, and the hot favourite Gareth MacHale ended up winning the rally and the championship. Alastair is one of the first to congratulate the new champion. “Gareth is a worthy winner of the championship. He’s been the fastest all year and really deserves the championship.”
The Cork 20 started off with very difficult weather conditions, heavy localised rain showers, and many crews including Alastair were caught out on the wrong tyres on the opening loop.
“The stages were difficult for everyone in those conditions. We had a decent run on stage one, lost a few seconds on stage two, and then we surprised ourselves when we took fastest time on stage three.” At all costs a good finish was necessary if trouble by chance was to strike Gareth, so Alastair and Rory needed to employ some caution, but nevertheless they were driving quickly.
“The car was running well, and things were good. Craig Breen however was driving well in the Super 2000 and pulling away from us a bit, so by the start of day two we were really in no-mans land, two minutes behind Craig and over three minutes ahead of the next car.”
A mature drive, netted Alastair, fourth overall behind the WRC cars of Gareth MacHale and Tim McNulty, and Craig Breen’s S2000 Fiesta. With the next best Group N car over four minutes behind it was another fine result, adding the Group N title Alastair secured on the last Ulster Rally round.
“It’s been a great year on the Tarmac Championship. Thanks to the support we’ve received from Revolution Wheels, DMS, G.R White Electrical, Drumhoney Holiday Park, Pirelli and Euro M-Sport for making this all possible and of course to Gerry McGarrity Motorsport for car preparation and on- event servicing.”
Now the focus shifts to the Pirelli shoot-out in Wales in two weeks time were Alastair, having received a yellow jersey for his Trackrod Rally performance will have a chance to compete for a funded drive in the 2011 British Rally Championship.
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