The Warwick based O'Brien Rallysport team had a mixed weekend at the recent 2009 Red Devil Rally Queensland. Â
"Posting six fastest stage times out of the nine completed for P6 class was at least an indication that the team now has the speed needed to win. If not for a controversial two minute penalty, the boys would have had their first State class win on Saturday by 25 seconds," said Team manager, Phil O'Brien.
Driver Col O'Brien and co-driver Anthony Jones held a 27 second lead in class after the first three stages of Sunday's competition only to have the left front wheel part company with the car when all four wheel nuts sheered off shortly after the spectator point.
" Luckily for us it happened on a 'slow 2 right' and not 1 kilometre earlier when we were topping 200km/h, " Col O'Brien said.
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"The team experienced rear brake problems during the two days and the loss of a thermo fan on day one meant driving with one eye on the temperature gauge."
The highlight for the team though is the great photo taken by Chris Munro from Redhotshotz Photography that can be viewed on the RallySport Mag Photo Gallery - check it out!
While the two minute penalty and DNF have made winning the class state title almost impossible, the team are determined to give the State Clubman Championship a shake this season and see how that turns out.
O'Brien Rallysport Team would like to thank Beaurepairs Warwick and Morgan Park Performance for their continued support and chief mechanic, Bob Bingham, for keeping the car going during the event.
O'Brien Rallysport is searching for a major sponsor so if anyone is interested please contact Col on 0414 497296 to discuss possibilities. The team is considering an upgrade to a competitive outright vehicle when a major sponsor is secured.
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