Whangarei/Targa Rotorua

Hi All,

Whangarei was a fantastic event, the Kiwi’s proved that they are a force to be reckoned with. Hayden Paddon showed the way home with a convincing victory despite being first car on the road. Having said that, Richard Mason was even further in front until his turbo expired four stages from home.

Cody Crocker took yet another second on New Zealand soil and Brendan Reeves took third in Emma Gilmour’s Impreza, a fantastic effort in a new car. Brendo could have battled all afternoon on Sunday with Crocker but lost about 30 seconds in the smoke from Mason’s turbo, smoke that lingered for about 20 minutes!

The Fiesta battle was another interesting one, Daniel Harris was finally showing the real pace he showed last year in his Evo 3, until he left the road in spectacular fashion on day one, leaving the victory for the leg to Patrick Malley. Malley got stuck in third gear fro day two, making it very easy for Ben Jagger to take victory on home soil.

The open class was another great battle, Geof Argyle taking yet another win, but this time both Glenn Inkster and Stephen Barker (In his third different car for the third event of the season!) finished second and third respectively on both legs, both guys having a change of fortune that will hopefully stay with them, although Argyle is all but over the finish line as far as wrapping up the championship.

This weekend is Targa Rotorua and if the weather holds off it should be a cracker event with around eight or nine cars that can win the event. Clark Proctor has entered (although whether or not he makes it will be anyones guess, the car still has plenty to be done on it) and last year was leading this event by about four minutes when the bearings stopped playing ball. Tony Quinn, fresh from victory in Targa Tasmania, will be there or there abouts in the latest version of Nissans supercar, the GT-R. PJ Johnston is dragging the indecently quick RS200 group B supercar out and if it can last the distance will be on the pace. Last event winner Jason Gill in his Evo 9 will be quick and it will be interesting to see how Dean Sumner goes in his group N car. Gavin Riches will be tough to beat in his 911 GT3 RS and then there is a brace of Evo’s and Impreza’s that will be competitive, especially if the rain can’t keep away. Included in this bunch are the Hopper’s, Stace and Leigh, Malcolm Smith, the Giddy brothers and Kevin Deane.

It will be neat to check out some of the cars competing, the beauty of Targa being anything goes. Where else can you see a P6 Rover swapping times with a De Tomaso Pantera, and BMW M3’s?

The roads in the area are very fast and flowing and outside of Taranaki are surely some of the best Tarmac roads in the country, but they can also be very treacherous in the wet. The forecast is offering plenty of wet for Friday (Just documentation etc.) lightening slightly for Saturday with showers for Sunday, heres hoping it stays dry and that unlike last year, seven cars don’t leave the road on the first stage!

Until (hopefully) Saturday night.

Cheers

Blair