KUMHO TO SPONSOR ALASTAIR FISHER’S ASSAULT ON THE 2017 IRISH TARMAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Last season, 28-year old construction engineer Alastair Fisher finished a fighting fourth in the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, driving a Ford Fiesta R5. This year he will again be doing his best to lift the series trophy that his uncle, the late great Bertie Fisher, won no less than four times. Equally hopeful of his success are his new sponsor Kumho Tyre and the company’s Irish distributor, Modern Tyre Service of Enniskillen, under whose colours the car will be running.

Alastair began his rally career in 2005 and in 2010 annexed the Irish Tarmac Group N Championship with a Mitsubishi Lancer. He then enjoyed a spell contesting the Academy and Junior categories of the World Rally Championship (WRC), in which he achieved a number of victories and podiums, before making a welcome return to his home championship last year. He will be at the wheel of a Fiesta R5 again this season, in which he will be partnered by his regular co-driver, the hugely experienced Gordon Noble.

Kumho will keep the pair supplied with ample stocks of its highly-rated FIA-homologated TM02 tarmac rally tyre. Commenting on the arrangement, Kumho Motorsport’s Steve Thompson said: “We are very excited to be backing Alastair’s latest title aspirations. He is without question one of the quickest of the current crop of home-grown drivers, and we are looking forward to a very exciting season.”

The team’s first outing in the six-round championship is on this weekend’s (February 4/5) Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, for which Alastair is the leading R5 seed. Kumho will also be providing their usual support for the WRC Subaru of Garry Jennings, who is the top seed for this event.

For further information on Kumho and its products for rally stage, track and road, see www.kumhotyre.co.uk.