N.J.
05-02-2004, 08:14 AM
Hello everyone,
What is Targa Tasmania?
Targa Tasmania is an exciting International Classic… a tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads for the best touring, sports and GT cars in the world. Its inaugural year was in April 1992 when Tasmania hosted this distinguished International motoring Classic.
Targa Tasmania has quickly established itself as an annual event, conducted in April each year. The present format is to conduct the event over six days (including a Prologue) on some 2,000 kilometres of tarmac roads.
Targa Tasmania entrants comprise a wide range of media-attracting personalities including former World Champions and other well-known motor sport competitors from both Australia and overseas, as well as national and international celebrities. In short, this is not only a competitive motor sport event. It is a unique commercial and tourist attraction capturing the imagination of the Australian public as well as the national and international motor sport fraternity.
The goal of organisers and the Tasmanian Government has been achieved - to see Targa Tasmania develop into the premier motor sport event of its type in Australia, ranking alongside the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and Rally Australia in Perth....
and here's the result!!!
SULLENS CAUSES BIGGEST UPSET IN TARGA TASMANIA HISTORY
Part-time driver Tony Sullens today caused the biggest upset in the 13-year history of the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally when he ended the domination of previously all-conquering Porsche driver Jim Richards.
Sullens, driving a four-wheel-drive Subaru WRX, won the drivetravel.com Modern Competition in the 2,105km rally with a total penalty time of 14-mins 53-secs over five days and 44 stages.
The 38-year-old from Gosford began today's fifth and final leg from Burnie to Hobart in second position, 18-secs behind seven-times Targa champion Richards. Sullens took the lead on the opening stage through Hellyer Gorge, and then dominated his rivals to win by 1-min 16-secs.
Tasmanians Jason White and John White were second in a Nissan Skyline, followed by Queensland's Tony Quinn in a Porsche 911. Richards slipped back to fourth position during the nine stages in the final leg.
Sullens is a part-time driver in the Australian Rally Championship and this year is concentrating on competing in the New South Wales series. He had competed in Targa only once before, in 2003 when he failed to finish because of exhaust problems.
Sullens, who was partnered by 33-year-old Kariong navigator Julia Rabbett, said the combination of wet weather, damp road surfaces, and snow across the Mount Arrowsmith stage had helped his charge to victory.
"The wet gave us an advantage and we pushed really hard," he said. "Hellyer Gorge was slippery. We thought we were going slowly, but when we looked at the (stage) times we were actually quicker than the other guys at the front."
"The only problem we had was a spin at Strahan, We hit the armco and knocked out a white post. It cost us around 10-secs, but at the end of the day it wasn't a big problem."
"This was a fantastic race. It was close between the top three of four cars all week. To come away with the win is one of the highlights of my career. When you beat someone like Jim Richards at Targa you know you've beaten the best. It's very satisfying."
White, who drove with his uncle John White as navigator, began the final leg in fourth position, and passed Quinn and Richards to secure a podium finish. It was a career-best Targa finish for the Whites, improving on their third place in 2002.
"It's good to be second, but also frustrating because we could have won," said Jason White. "For the last couple of days we struggled with an engine misfire, and last night we traced the problem to a fuel tank regulator. Once we fixed things the car was back to full speed. I think were as quick as anybody this week."
Richards said he had difficulty being competitive in his rear-drive Porsche GT2 today.
"We had four good days which put us in with a chance," he said. "However, it was hard to drive this car on these roads in the conditions today. There was about 20km of snow in Mount Arrowsmith and the car was wheelspinning everywhere."
"Although we didn't win it's been a good race. Tony (Sullens) did the job today when it counted. We will be back again next year."
Former Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race line honours champion Warwick Rooklyn completed the top five in a Mitsubishi EVO VII, while nine-times Bathurst 1000 champion Peter Brock was sixth in a V8 Holden Monaro.
The Rosebery and New Norfolk stages were downgraded to touring status.
NSW driver John Williamson was taken to hospital in Burnie with suspected cracked ribs after crashing his 1960 Austin Healey in the Hellyer Gorge stage. Tasmanian navigator Maree Barham is expected to be released from hospital in Hobart either tonight or early tomorrow after receiving minor injuries when the Porsche she was sharing with NSW's Chris LaRosa crashed at Mount Arrowsmith.
How's that everyone!
A unknown part-time rally driver driving a $60K Subaru WRX beating Bathurst/Porsche/professional racing driver/living legend/ Jim Richard's $440K 2003 Porsche 911 GT2 :shock:
What is Targa Tasmania?
Targa Tasmania is an exciting International Classic… a tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads for the best touring, sports and GT cars in the world. Its inaugural year was in April 1992 when Tasmania hosted this distinguished International motoring Classic.
Targa Tasmania has quickly established itself as an annual event, conducted in April each year. The present format is to conduct the event over six days (including a Prologue) on some 2,000 kilometres of tarmac roads.
Targa Tasmania entrants comprise a wide range of media-attracting personalities including former World Champions and other well-known motor sport competitors from both Australia and overseas, as well as national and international celebrities. In short, this is not only a competitive motor sport event. It is a unique commercial and tourist attraction capturing the imagination of the Australian public as well as the national and international motor sport fraternity.
The goal of organisers and the Tasmanian Government has been achieved - to see Targa Tasmania develop into the premier motor sport event of its type in Australia, ranking alongside the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and Rally Australia in Perth....
and here's the result!!!
SULLENS CAUSES BIGGEST UPSET IN TARGA TASMANIA HISTORY
Part-time driver Tony Sullens today caused the biggest upset in the 13-year history of the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally when he ended the domination of previously all-conquering Porsche driver Jim Richards.
Sullens, driving a four-wheel-drive Subaru WRX, won the drivetravel.com Modern Competition in the 2,105km rally with a total penalty time of 14-mins 53-secs over five days and 44 stages.
The 38-year-old from Gosford began today's fifth and final leg from Burnie to Hobart in second position, 18-secs behind seven-times Targa champion Richards. Sullens took the lead on the opening stage through Hellyer Gorge, and then dominated his rivals to win by 1-min 16-secs.
Tasmanians Jason White and John White were second in a Nissan Skyline, followed by Queensland's Tony Quinn in a Porsche 911. Richards slipped back to fourth position during the nine stages in the final leg.
Sullens is a part-time driver in the Australian Rally Championship and this year is concentrating on competing in the New South Wales series. He had competed in Targa only once before, in 2003 when he failed to finish because of exhaust problems.
Sullens, who was partnered by 33-year-old Kariong navigator Julia Rabbett, said the combination of wet weather, damp road surfaces, and snow across the Mount Arrowsmith stage had helped his charge to victory.
"The wet gave us an advantage and we pushed really hard," he said. "Hellyer Gorge was slippery. We thought we were going slowly, but when we looked at the (stage) times we were actually quicker than the other guys at the front."
"The only problem we had was a spin at Strahan, We hit the armco and knocked out a white post. It cost us around 10-secs, but at the end of the day it wasn't a big problem."
"This was a fantastic race. It was close between the top three of four cars all week. To come away with the win is one of the highlights of my career. When you beat someone like Jim Richards at Targa you know you've beaten the best. It's very satisfying."
White, who drove with his uncle John White as navigator, began the final leg in fourth position, and passed Quinn and Richards to secure a podium finish. It was a career-best Targa finish for the Whites, improving on their third place in 2002.
"It's good to be second, but also frustrating because we could have won," said Jason White. "For the last couple of days we struggled with an engine misfire, and last night we traced the problem to a fuel tank regulator. Once we fixed things the car was back to full speed. I think were as quick as anybody this week."
Richards said he had difficulty being competitive in his rear-drive Porsche GT2 today.
"We had four good days which put us in with a chance," he said. "However, it was hard to drive this car on these roads in the conditions today. There was about 20km of snow in Mount Arrowsmith and the car was wheelspinning everywhere."
"Although we didn't win it's been a good race. Tony (Sullens) did the job today when it counted. We will be back again next year."
Former Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race line honours champion Warwick Rooklyn completed the top five in a Mitsubishi EVO VII, while nine-times Bathurst 1000 champion Peter Brock was sixth in a V8 Holden Monaro.
The Rosebery and New Norfolk stages were downgraded to touring status.
NSW driver John Williamson was taken to hospital in Burnie with suspected cracked ribs after crashing his 1960 Austin Healey in the Hellyer Gorge stage. Tasmanian navigator Maree Barham is expected to be released from hospital in Hobart either tonight or early tomorrow after receiving minor injuries when the Porsche she was sharing with NSW's Chris LaRosa crashed at Mount Arrowsmith.
How's that everyone!
A unknown part-time rally driver driving a $60K Subaru WRX beating Bathurst/Porsche/professional racing driver/living legend/ Jim Richard's $440K 2003 Porsche 911 GT2 :shock: