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Targa podium still in sight for Mazda motorsport
Day4, 21 April After another grueling and drama-filled day of rallying at Targa Tasmania, Mazda Motorsport's grip on a podium spot has firmed with Brendan Reeves' RX-8 SP now in third position overall as the race edges towards its conclusion in Hobart tomorrow afternoon.
Reeves again displayed the talent that has taken him into the World Rally Championship for the second successive year and was a model of consistency today as he steered his RX-8 SP to an impressive stage win at Riana amongst several other top three finishes.
This level of consistency is sure to have contributed to the demise of Matt Close whose Audi TT RS crashed out spectacularly on the tough Riana stage to elevate Reeves to third in the overall standings tonight.
While Reeves might have one foot on the podium he is keen to point out that things are by no means settled yet.
“We're delighted to be sitting in third tonight and a podium finish would be great, particularly in our first Targa Tasmania with the RX-8 SP. However, we can't forget that we've got a very experienced driver in Jim Richards behind us and while we'll be doing everything we can to keep him at bay, we'll also be looking forwards and seeing if we can catch Tony Quinn with GT-R” said Reeves.
Simon Evans showroom campaign was already on very solid ground with a healthy lead at the start of today's racing but was boosted further when his nearest rival, Gavin James' Renault Megane, crashed out on Mount Roland.
The margin between Evans and second-placed BMW of Adam Spence is now nearly twenty minutes and barring disaster Evans will be the firm favourite to lift the Showroom trophy and with it the Australian Targa Championship at Wrest Point Casino tomorrow evening.
The Mazda2 continues to perform strongly with Andrew Maclean at the wheel and today was arguably the best yet in this year's Targa Tasmania for the little hatch. A string of excellent drives including two fourth fastest showroom finishes has lifted Maclean and the Mazda2 up to fifth in the category tonight and now ahead of the much more powerful HSV Clubsport of James Hallett.
21.April.2012
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