SETTLE plumber Nick Pullan fulfilled an ambition when he competed in a top-level historic car rally in Ireland.

The TDC Irish Retro Classic Rally was based around Kilkenny. For three full days and two nights 70 high-ranking crews from across Europe competed on public and private roads in cars built in the 1950s and 1960s, against the clock on special tests and timed regularity sections.

Pullen had experienced Yorkshire rally navigator Ian Canavan in the hot seat in their 1987 family runabout 875cc Hillman Imp, and the pair completed a giant-killing act by finishing 16th overall and second in class against more powerful Porsches and Volvos.

The event took in 450 miles of lovely Irish countryside and despite suffering from brake problems on the Saturday morning and poor lighting on the night sections, Pullen and Canavan minimised their penalties by concentrating on getting the regularity sections right whilst losing some time on the special tests against more experienced competitors.