Aussie pairing Nathan Quinn and his co-driver Glenn MacNeall are probably the happiest team in the Coates Hire Rally Australia Service Park right now despite not being at the top of the leader board.
Quinn, who had driven the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car only 40 kilometres prior to the start of the rally has driven a very sensible, impressive rally throughout the day. "It has been a pretty awesome day for me out there, driving the stages I love in a car that just continues to blow my mind on every stage I do," Quinn explained. "I can guarantee you that I have had more fun out there today than anyone else at this event."
After six forest stages during the day and two runs through the Coffs Super Special Stage this evening Quinn is sitting a comfortable 9th overall.
Tomorrow will see the Aussie complete two runs through the gruelling 50 kilometre Nambucca stage. Stages of this length are both mentally and physically demanding and require complete focus from the crew. "Where we are sitting right now is a good place for us to be. If we can just sit tight and maintain our position then we will finish Day Two just as happy as today," says Quinn.
Glevez13Aus_048Fellow MINI driver and WRC 2 competitor Alexander Gelvez has driven Day One conservatively to bring home a straight car to the Motorsport Italia team. "It is a long rally and this is just the first day" explained the Rally Team Venezuela driver. "There is a big difference between a production car and an RRC car and we are just very focused on keeping the car in a straight line. Each stage we improve so we will try to keep doing this. As always, we're very grateful to Venezuela and the Ministry of Sport for making this opportunity possible."
Motorsport Italia Team Manager Bruno De Pianto was pleased with the performance of both his MINI drivers today: "Nathan's stage times today were very encouraging. We all knew that he had potential, but I was impressed with his positive attitude and competitive stage times. At the moment, there's a group of eight experienced WRC drivers sitting tight in front of him on the leader board, but the rally's long. With the 50km Nambucca stage run twice tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised if we see things change up at bit on Day Two. Alex also realises that today was a short day compared to the weighty itinerary tomorrow and practised a sensible strategy to make sure he brought his MINI home safely to service this evening."
