ALEX Rullo is being tipped to be a potential rally winner by the end of the season.
Once famous for becoming the youngest driver in Supercars Championship history, Rullo has committed to the rally path in recent years, initially on tarmac and now gravel.
Still just 23 years of age, the Perth product is about to enter his second full season in the Bosch Motorsport Australia Rally Championship.
Rullo’s 2023 campaign was headlined by fourth overall in the Adelaide Hills Rally, and now he’s gunning for more aboard his 2022-spec Hyundai i20 Rally2.
“He did a couple of events back in 2022 but really this is his second full season and to be honest, he has done amazingly well,” RallySport News’ Luke Whitten told the Motorsport News Podcast.
“The talent is pretty easy to see… you can tell when some guys just have the talent they need.
“And the experience that Alex has had from a professional background, obviously he has had some time in Supercars, and the attention to detail that you need to be able to drive a Supercar fast, he has translated that across to a rally car.
“To be able to have the car control that he does and whatnot is super important to, A) be fast, and B) consistent.
“What a lot of people don’t realise in rally is that you need to be so consistent over a whole rally weekend, because you can be fast on one or two stages but if you have some trouble, if you have a spin, if you have a half-spin, you’re going to be well down the leaderboard and you’re going to be chasing your tail all weekend to try to get back up there.
“I think he is going to be improving rapidly again this season.
“I’m not sure right at the start of the year whether he is going to be at the top, but by the end of the season, by the time we come to Rally Launceston, I think he will be really at the top and fighting for wins.”
Among other names in the 30-car field for next weekend’s Teckworkz Automotive Rally of Canberra (April 5-7) are ARC champion drivers Harry Bates, Lewis Bates, Molly Taylor and Scott Pedder.
ENTRY LIST: 2024 Australian Rally Championship, Round 1 (Rally of Canberra)
| Number | Team/Sponsor | Driver | Co-Driver | Car |
| 1 | Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia | Harry Bates | Coral Taylor | 2023 Toyota Yaris Rally2 |
| 2 | Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia | Lewis Bates | Anthony Mcloughlin | 2020 Toyota GR Yaris AP4 |
| 3 | PWS Poly Welding Services | Eddie Maguire | Zak Brakey | 2019 Skoda Fabia R5 |
| 4 | Pedders Suspension and Brakes | Scott Pedder | Glenn Macneall | 2017 Skoda Fabia R5 |
| 5 | IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing | Alex Rullo | Steve Glenney | 2022 Hyundai i20 Rally2 |
| 6 | Maguire Motorsport | Steve Maguire | Ben Searcy | 2019 Skoda Fabia R5 |
| 7 | Molly Taylor Motorsport | Molly Taylor | Andy Sarandis | 2019 Subaru WRX STI |
| 8 | Luff Motorsport | Jamie Luff | Brad Luff | 2022 Toyota GR Yaris AP4 |
| 9 | White Wolf Racing | Tom Clarke | Ryan Preston | 2018 Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 10 | IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing | Peter Rullo | James Marquet | 2022 Hyundai i20 Rally2 |
| 11 | Pinnacle Tyres MRF | Tony Sullens | Kaylie Newell | 2012 Peugeot 208 AP4 |
| 12 | Winpart Group | Josh Redhead | Ray Winwood-Smith | 2012 Hyundai i20 |
| 13 | Techworkz Automotive | Michael Harding | James Thornburn | 1993 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 14 | Peterson Motorsport | Aidan Peterson | Mitchell Newton | 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 15 | DT Electrical | Danny Traverso | Anthony Carr | 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution |
| 16 | RNB Motorsport | Ryan Williams | Brad Jones | 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 17 | Massel Racing | Michael Caine | Tomas Vadoklis | 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo8 |
| 18 | WSC Subaru Experts/Link Engine | Joshua Wiedman | Nick Reid | 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 19 | Keegan Transport | Shane Smith | Wayne Richardson | 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 20 | KAT Racing | Dave Thomas | Kelly Thomas | 2014 Subaru BRZ |
| 21 | Magic Bullet | Dave Wright | James Ford | 2006 Subaru WRX STI |
| 22 | Mitch Garrad Motorsport | Mitch Garrad | Taylah Murphy | 2003 Subaru Impreza RS |
| 23 | DCL Contracting Group | Frank O’Shea | Murish O’Connell | 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 24 | Jaidyn Gluskie Motorsport | Jaidyn Gluskie | Lucy Gluskie | 2001 Subaru Impreza RS |
| 25 | Victory | Nathan Stokes | Ian Wheeler | 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX |
| 26 | Grolife | Justin Northage | Scott Muhling | 2007 Lotus Exige |
| 27 | High Country Motors | Trevor Stilling | Jon Thomson | 1980 Datsun Stanza |
| 28 | Trenching Systems Australia | Dave Thompson | Lachlan Nordsvan | 1971 Ford Capri |
| 29 | Trailer Camper Australia/CBR Sparkies | Peter Dimmock | Paul Bennett | 1971 Datsun 260Z |
| 30 | Retromotive/Rennen Motorsport | Sharath Hegdé | Nicola Hoey | 1970 Porsche 911 |
