Quinn misses out

A 5th outright at the Red Devil Rally QLD APRC and a better place by one from last years rally of Queensland  is no consolation for not qualifying for the Pirelli Star Driver programme according to NSW team Nathan Quinn and Dave Green.

A misunderstanding of the rules lead to a strategic error that has possibly cost the team this coveted opportunity.

Quinn was never out of the top 6 APRC stage times on Sunday and set a 3rd fastest outright time in the international field.  

Sitting in the box seat right up to stage 4 on Saturday, shadowing Eli Evans Subaru, , Quinn thought that everything was on track until the first of a series of brake problems struck which would eventually cost him a gearbox.   

Nathan is understandably disappointed with the outcome given the fine drive on Sunday. “I could have pushed harder for sure on Saturday” he said. “but we didn’t think we had to. Eli was way out in front and Brendan had already had his trouble, and we were on top of Hayden Paddon, so we thought we were in with 2nd place to qualify. We were shocked when we realised that it was not a requirement to finish, but I’m most disappointed for Dad, he’s taking it pretty hard, as is our crew and sponsors. It’s not the outcome we’ve worked for”

“Its completely my fault” said Martin Quinn today commenting on the outcome of the Pirelli Star Driver program that could have catapulted son Nathan into the World rally championship. “no one else is to blame, I alone misunderstood the rules and set the strategy accordingly, and Nathan followed my strategy to the letter, he always does”  

The PSD does not require you to finish the event at all. Its just straight out stage wins.  Quinn missed out on selection for the Shootout at the world round held in Australia this September, Repco Rally Australia, by just 4 points.

“look, without the PSD I would have said to you that this was a great result given the troubles we had, the time we had the car, and how few miles Nathan has been able to do since coffs last year. But this was about the PSD, nothing else mattered.” Said Martin

Quinn and Green debuted the ex Spencer Lowndes Evo 9 Lancer into 5th outright APRC and 4th outright ARC after 2 days of competition, and ironically was the highest placed Pirelli Star Driver at the end of the event.