Team VIP Petfoods’ Tony Quinn and Keith Wenn have skillfully steered their Porsche Turbo out of trouble to remain within reach of the Targa Tasmania winners’ podium today, despite wet weather in the final two stages seeing them place out of the top ten for the first time this week.
Again demonstrating the true fighting spirit continuously witnessed over the past four days, the duo were able to triumph over adversity to remain within striking distance of the leaders with only one leg remaining.
Heavy rain in the South Rianna stage saw the pair finish an uncharacteristic 15th and 36 seconds behind the leaders, and although recovering to come within 12 seconds of the front runners in the final and still-wet Fern Glade stage, they again placed out of the top ten and these results looked set to threaten the pair’s overall fifth standing.
However their consistency over the past four days ensured their impressive placing was not affected, and now the pair stare down the barrel of tomorrow’s final nine stages still in the mix for the lead.
“We have been saying the weekend would see the real racing begin, and we were right! ” said Quinn.
“Today was certainly interesting, we have had strong results up to this point and overall the day has gone to plan.
“We had a scare there at the end as we were unlucky enough to be one of the many who did not make it through before it started to bucket down.
“However luckily for us our results to date have meant we did not suffer too much in the overall standings and are still in it heading into tomorrow’s final stages. “
Although happy with how things have unfolded to the close of today’s leg, Quinn and Wenn are hesitant in predicting great things for the final day - with last year’s disappointment only too fresh in their minds.
“There is still a ways to go – our car is heavier and even though it is still performing past our expecations, a crash on the final day of last years’ event put paid to our then top five hopes, reminding us to be cautious heading into the final stages, ” said Quinn.
“Tomorrow’s leg is basically a big run down the hill and it will be on for young and old - hopefully it stays dry for us as the wet weather just confuses it for everybody. “
Tomorrow’s West Coast Enduro will see the field travel 513.39 kilometres through Hellyer Gorge, Mount Black, Roseberry, Strahan, Queenstown, Mt Arrowsmith and Tarraleah as they chase front runners Sullens and Barkley, Richards and Oliver, Weeks and Allen and Longhurst and De Vere back down the island.
This years’ Targa Tasmania is Quinn’s eighth and the first in a long line of rally exploits to come for his team this year, with up to eight rally ventures on the cards including the prestigious Nurburgring 24 hour in which the team placed 9th on debut in 2006.
Targa Tasmania Results to date:
Tuesday 17th April, 2007 – Day One – Temco George Town Prologue – Top Ten
1. #913 – Close/Close – 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo - 03:15.34
2. #902 – Simonsen/Searcy – 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX - 03:15.95
3. #919 – Richards/Oliver – 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 03:17.76
4. #953 – Heskin/Deniese – 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX RS - 03:18.39
5. #991 – Weeks/Allen – 2006 Lamborghini Super Leggera - 03:18.47
6. #940 – Higgins/Hansen – 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX RS - 03:18.55
7. #939 – Warwick/Murphy – 2003 Porsche 991 GT3 - 03:18.95
8. #996 – Quinn/Wenn – 2006 Porsche 997 Turbo (Team VIP Petfoods) - 03:19.19
9. #934 - White/White - Lamborghini Super Leggera - 03:19.42
10. #972 - Vandersee/Taylor - Skelta G-Force - 03:20.28
Wednesday 18th April, 2007 – Day Two – The Northern Loop (Launceston to Launceston) – Top Ten
1. #902 – Simonsen/Searcy – Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX – 8 sec
2. #934 – White/White – Lamborghini Super Leggera – 18 sec
3. #918 – Sullens/Barkley – Subaru Impreza WRX RA – 32 sec
4. #919 – Richards/Oliver – Porsche 911 GT3 RS – 38 sec
5. #991 – Weeks/Allen – Lamborghini Super Leggera – 1 min 9 sec
6. #922 – Longhurst/De Vere – Subaru Impreza WRX STi C Spec – 1 min 12 sec
7. #996 – Quinn/Wenn – Porsche 997 Turbo – 1 min 19 sec (Team VIP Petfoods)
8. #939 – Warwick/Murphy – Porsche 911 GT3 – 1 min 23 sec
9. #903 – Rattray/Jackson – Subaru Impreza WRX STi – 1 min 31 sec
10. #913 – Close/Close – Porsche 911 Turbo - 1 min 42 sec
Thursday 19th April 2007 – Day Three – The Eastern Trundle (Launceston to Hobart)
1. #918 – Sullens/Barkley – Subaru Impreza WRX RA
2. #919 – Richards/Oliver – Porsche 911 GT3 RS - + 6 seconds
3. #922 – Longhurst/De Vere – Subaru Impreza WRX STi C Spec - + 27 seconds
4. #991 – Weeks/Allen – Lamborghini Super Leggera - + 47 seconds
5. #996 – Quinn/Wenn – Porsche 997 Turbo (Team VIP Petfoods) - + 1 min 5 seconds
6. #939 – Warwick/Murphy – Porsche 911 GT3
7. #913 – Close/Close – Porsche 911 Turbo
8. #953 – Heskin/Deniese – 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX RS
9. #940 – Higgins/Hansen – 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer IX RS
10. #954 - Froude/Logan - Porsche 911 GT3 CS
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