The Full-On Rallysport crew of Bruce Fullerton and Hugh Reardon-Smith lived up to the aspirations of one of their sponsors last weekend at Rally Victoria, as the Alliance Airlines Evo 9 flew through the 4WD field to finish fifth outright in Heat 2 and fifth overall, after overcoming a number of setbacks.
A determined approach in SS1 saw the team start the event at a cracking pace until too much air on one corner caused the Fullerton Financial Services Mitsubishi to plunge into a ditch. Bruce Fullerton managed to drive the car out, but with a bent front arm leaving the tyre rubbing against the wheel arch, significant time was lost before the Neerim service.
A massive effort by Richard Harris and Rob Reddiex at service saw the car back in the hunt, and after two forestry and two super special stages, 12th in Heat 1 of the 4WD’s was the result.
Heat 2 should have been a smoother run, but a refuelling hiccup outside of the team’s control meant the morning loop of four stages had to be driven nursing the car by avoiding engine boost.
Only after the midday service could maximum engine power be used, and the team took full advantage, setting increasingly better times, with fourth fastest on the final super special stage.
This left Fullerton and Reardon-Smith in fifth outright and winners of the International Cup and Group N4.
“We really enjoy these roads north of Warrigal,” said team principal and driver Bruce Fullerton, “but they always have a sting. We are very pleased to have overcome our setbacks with such a strong result.”
The team thanks its sponsors, Alliance Airlines and Fullerton Financial Services, and especially their service crew Richard and Rob, for helping to achieve this result.
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