Team VIP Petfoods’ chief Tony Quinn has had a blistering start to leg two of the 2007 QUIT Targa West tragically cut short by mechanical issues – with clutch problems forcing the rally stalwart to withdraw from the event after only the first two stages today.
Quinn’s thundering pace this morning saw him take the win for the first stage a full second over this year’s pace-setter Jim Richards, and time-in only six seconds behind Richards in the second stage to move to second in the overall standings before fate intervened.
Despite the impressive form displayed by the Team VIP Petfoods entry, Quinn and co-driver Laurie Pitt were forced to make the difficult decision to withdraw the 2006 Porsche 997 Turbo from the event as the clutch problem became apparent.
“The car was running fantastic this morning, and I am really excited to hear that I won the first stage and was only six seconds behind Jim (Richards) for the second – that is great news, ” said Quinn.
“Unfortunately this is the way racing goes sometimes – the car still runs but I cannot change the gears and we don’t have another clutch here.
“Even if we did have the parts and the manpower it would take the rest of the day to replace it so unfortunately we are out for the rest of the event – but even so I am just stoked that we were competitive while we were out there. ”
The 2006 Targa West podium placer was looking set to again grace the steps with consistent and strong times seeing him move from fifth overall to second by the close of the second stage.
Despite timed as sixth overall at the close of yesterday’s stages, the discovery of a timing discrepancy on yesterday’s stage six (which saw Quinn attributed an extra 30 seconds and fall down the order) saw the rally regular reinstated back up the standings ahead of today’s start and ready to power back up the standings – but unfortunately it was not to be.
From here, the Gold Coast’s fastest Scotsman will regroup ahead of this coming weekend’s round six of the Carrera Cup championship, to be held at Sandown International Raceway for the Just Car Insurance 500.
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