[AshSimmonds]

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4619&Itemid=2

Targa's economic impact continues to grow

The economic impact of Targa Tasmania on its home state continues to surge, with a record 10 automotive manufacturers supporting teams at the 2010 event.

The companies represent some of the biggest names in the business, with Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Skoda, Toyota, Audi, Hyundai, Porsche and Lamborghini all proving support to a range of competitors in the 19th running of the tarmac classic.

Not only are these companies supporting drivers, many will have a major management focus on the event, with several running significant public relations and marketing campaigns in the lead-up to, and during, the six day competition.

Event director, Mark Perry, says that 10 manufacturers is the most ever seen at Targa Tasmania and demonstrates how the event continues to grow in stature, both here and internationally.

"I really don't think we should underestimate the importance of Eric Bana's involvement in 2007 and the movie he made around his experience, 'Love the Beast', had on Targa," Perry said.

"The movie showcased the essence of the event, and the beauty of the state. Despite a tough economic environment over the last two years, we have been able to keep entry numbers up and see important growth in key areas, like manufacturer support.

"When you think that during this recent period, some rallies, like Classic Adelaide and the Sunshine Coast event, have folded, it makes the growth we are experiencing, even more significant.

"Our event is not static. We have introduced a manufacturer's competition to run alongside modern and classic in its status. We have been proactive in promoting our green credentials, which sees Toyota bringing a Hybrid car this year, and Mazda back with a diesel car for the second year.

"We are particularly excited to welcome Skoda, Hyundai and Audi to Targa Tasmania for the first time."

Mazda have a multifaceted interest in Targa. 2008 winner, Steve Glenney, heads their charge in modern, driving a Mazda RX8. Rising rally star, Brendan Reeves, will be behind the wheel of a Mazda3 MPS in the Manufacturer's section, while a number of entries are driving diesel variants.

"Mazda support the teams, but it also runs a major media campaign around it as well, with their own Targa specific website - http://www.mazda.com.au/targa/ -just one of the many activities they invest in," Perry said.

"Mazda also bring key media to Tasmania and a number of its top executives, because they want to see first hand this classic tarmac rally. It all adds up to a considerable investment in the Tasmanian economy, but they believe it produces real dividends for their company."

Targa Tasmania gets underway with the Temco Prologue in Geroge Town on Tuesday, April 26, and ends at Wrest Point in Hobart on Sunday, May 2.

After a 5.1 kilometre prologue around the streets of George Town to decide the event running order competitors tackle 39 Targa stages over a total competitive distance of over 400 kilometres.

The 19th Targa Tasmania is primarily based in Launceston, while the event also spends one night in the west coast town of Strahan, before finishing in Hobart on May 2.

[AshSimmonds]

Targa Tasmania: Prologue results

The prologue stage has been run and won - by a Lamborghini Gallardo. But our boys in the Skoda Octavia RS-P also made headlines...

The Targa Tasmania tarmac rally has begun in earnest, with the Temco Prologue stage run yesterday by more than 270 competitors.

A 4.81 kilometre street stage around George Town, the initial prologue stage does not count towards overall Targa Tasmania results, but it does determine road positions for the remainder of the event.

It could be considered a qualifying of sorts.

Pre-event favourites Jason White (Modern class), Rex Broadbent (Classic class) and Tony Warren (Showroom class) have set the fastest times in their respective categories, in front of a big crowd of enthusiastic spectators.

Jason White, driving his new Lamborghini Gallardo Supertrofeo Strada, got off to a blistering start, making the point to his rivals that he is determined to back up his victory from Targa Wrest Point in January. With changes to the specification of his Lamborghini, his car appears faster than in previous events, which will be a major concern to his rivals.

Queenslander Tim Hendy was a surprise second driving a 2005 Daytona Coupe, 5.65 seconds back. West Australian Steve Jones drove his 2008 Nissan GT-R into third place, 6.36 seconds behind White.

Last year's winner, Tony Quinn was fourth and eight-time winner Jim Richards fifth. Both will now push hard to make an impact when the rally gets underway in earnest on Wednesday morning.

"This new car has certainly put a grin on our faces. It's a hell of a lot of fun to drive and we've never really had a crack at the Prologue before," White commented.

"We've always gone at a reasonable pace, but never recced it or used pace notes for it before. The plan was to go slow and steady, but it all felt nice when we took off, and we definitely went around there quicker than we've ever gone before."

The Team Skoda Carsales Octavia RS-P wagon was arguably the most unusual competitor at the prologue stage, carrying a pair of bicycles on the roof, which is believed to be a motorsport first. Driver Mike Sinclair said: "The bikes only weigh 8kg so you can't really feel that they're there. You can hear them though. They whistle so much, it sounds like you've got an extra turbo."

Victorian Rex Broadbent was the fastest Classic car over the Temco Prologue stage.

His 1974 Porsche 911 RS was 2.41 seconds quicker than Tasmanian hope, David Cooper, in his 1977 Torana A9X. Peter Eames, who Broadbent thinks will be his greatest rival this year, was third, another 1.39 seconds back in his 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS.

"A week before the event I decided I'd better do it," Broadbent said. "Chris (Randell) volunteered to be my navigator at the last minute, so it's all come together rather quickly, but the car felt good today -- really good. We got through cleanly; nothing to worry about and we didn't knock any wheels off."

Hobart driver Tony Warren confirmed his favourite status to take the Showroom title. The former winner, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, heads the newer Lancer Evo X of motoring journalist Dean Evans by 2.34 seconds.

The Mazda 3 MPS of 21-year-old Victorian, Brendan Reeves, was third quickest in the Showroom competition over the short street stage.

Quickest Vintage car was the newly acquired 1938 Dodge Speedster Special of Wayne Clark and Roger Richardson.

http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2010/skoda/octavia/targa-tasmania-prologue-results-19171

[flamestone]

Go the Skoda.      

[AshSimmonds]

Go the Skoda.      

Team CarSaleski are doing live updates from Targa on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/carsalesnetwork

[AshSimmonds]

Also Mazda have sort-of live tracking:

http://www.mazdamotorsport.com.au/about

Twitter hashtag: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23targa

[AshSimmonds]

Flying White builds lead to 31 seconds

TASMANIA'S Jason White has produced another day of blistering speed to build a commanding Targa Tasmania lead after the second day of racing yesterday.

Driving his Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Strada, White and his co-driving uncle, John, extended their lead to 31 seconds after completing the demanding East Coast loop out to St Helens and back to Launceston.

Victorian Porsche driver Rex Broadbent, dominated the day in the classic competition in his 911 RS, to build a commanding lead of nearly 90 seconds, while Tasmania's Tony Warren came out on top after a day-long battle with Sydney's Dean Evans in the showroom competition.

After Wednesday's heavy rain and strong winds, crews enjoyed fine and sunny weather yesterday.

White was concerned that the day's tight and twisty stages wouldn't suit his four-wheel- drive Lamborghini, yet he still managed to increase his lead despite a slow start on the famous Sideling stage out of Launceston.

"We lost a bit of time through the Sideling where we haven't put much time into the recce, and it showed because the car was quick enough to get through there in a good time, but we were backing off in places where we shouldn't have been," White said.

"Once we found out we'd lost some time we pushed a bit harder in the other stages, but we don't really have enough knowledge on the East Coast stages to be committing 100 per cent.

"That's where you see guys like Steve Glenney in the Mazda really come into their own because they've done a lot of recce and know the stages really well. "We probably won't push 100 per cent until we get back in more familiar territory."

The dry weather meant it was a day where the two-wheel-drive cars could strut their stuff, and both Steve Glenney (Mazda RX8) and Ray Vandersee (Skelta G-Force) made their move.

Glenney, a South Australian horse trainer, could have been closer to the lead had it not been for fuel pump problems on the first stage of the day.

"Who would have thought this little Mazda could be mixing it with the Lamborghinis and the GT-Rs?" Glenney said.

Vanderee's charge saw him win two stages and climb to third place, an impressive 12 seconds clear of 2009 Targa Tasmania winner Tony Quinn.

West Australian Steve Jones lies fifth in his Nissan GT-R, while Matt Close is sixth in his Audi TT RS, which is making its debut in this event.

In the classic competition it appears to be a case of catch me if you can for Rex Broadbent, with the reigning champion one minute and 27 seconds clear of his chasers.

Jon Siddins has driven superbly to put his 1970 Datsun 240Z into second place, while Peter Eames (Porsche) made a big move into third after his disastrous opening day. He is a further 25 seconds in arrears and just three seconds in front of Launceston Torana driver David Cooper.

Today sees Targa Tasmania head off on an eight-stage loop to the west of Launceston.

Critical stages include Paloona, Mount Roland and Quamby Brook, while the lunch break will be held in Devonport.

Total competitive distance today is 79 kilometres - the most of any day of the event so far. Weather conditions are expected to be fine and sunny, with a top temperature of 18 degrees.

http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/sport/general/flying-white-builds-lead-to-31-seconds/1816907.aspx?storypage=0

[flamestone]

Funny dialogue in this vid...  it starts off a bit contrived for the cameras...  til he mentions the drop off the edge that the driver would rather not know about.   

http://www.carsales.com.au/videos/story/?vxSiteId=8fae1513-3750-4faf-8721-e8af0178e2e1&vxChannel=carsalestv%20skoda-targa&vxClipId=2727_skoda-rsp-stage2-monit-fyi-20100429&vxBitrate=300&vxClickToPlay=true&vxStartURL=null

[Ferrari Fissatore]

The 308 GTB #679 Gilliver/Shellshear had another great rally. (Can't do pics sorry, still having trouble uploading to this site... but this year we painted the wheels fully gold and added some door bars to the roll cage, otherwise it looks pretty much the same as last year except also has a white rear valance now too)...

Once again it drove to the event, had no crew or support, carried full tanks of fuel often due to no support, had no real problems, made no costly driving mistakes ......... passed a few cars, was passed only in the wet..... and won its class........ again.

Then is driving home needing nothing more than checks/service and a front spoiler tidy up.   

Great little car.

Not sure how many entrants drive to and from the event, and run without support anymore..... 

Should be some good video footage to come soon... some BIG lurid slides  etc.

[flamestone]

except also has a white rear valance now too

Is that anything like a Holly Valance?

(I must be channeling Mondi here)

[Ferrari Fissatore]

I'm sure Holly would be higher maintenance 

worth it though