The Labour Weekend start of the 15th Anniversary Dunlop Targa is looming fast.
Over Labour Weekend, Sunday 25 October is documentation and scrutineering day for the Targa and it will take place at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau. It’s all part of the city’s Full Throttle weekend. Targa entrants depart from 1.30pm for the Prologue Stage which is essentially the ‘shakedown’ stage. That Prologue Stage utilises Ardmore Quarry Road which has been used before.
On the Saturday, Full Throttle’s other events will include a Rotary Supershow , Motorkhana and Drifting demonstrations. Targa entrants can also participate in the Manukau City Flying 50 which is a street race run in the format of Olympic cycling pursuits. The City Street Circuit has two Start/Finish lines adjacent to each other, where both cars start and race each other and the clock for 4 laps for a close finish. Spectators can get an excellent view of progress with sitelines over 80 percent of the circuit. Entrants face a challenging twisting circuit that winds back on itself between the buildings of central Manukau City. Last year approximately 8000 spectators watched a similar event that was for Targa entrants only. Organisers of the Flying 50 are expecting upwards of 15,000 spectators.
The BIG NEWS is that Monday’s Special Stage 2 is confirmed as four laps of the all new Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. Targa will be the first event to utilise the complex. The final seal has been laid on the initial, 2.8 kilometre clockwise circuit that will eventually expand to 3.8klms. The 2.8 section features six corners, hilly contours, plenty of overtaking opportunities and superb spectator viewing.
Throughout the 15 years of Targa the various cities, towns, Mayors, District Councils have lent great support to the Targa and this year Targa is acknowledging their support in a unique way. After the Targa Tour cars go through the stage and before the real racing starts, New Zealand’s Formula 1 legend Chris Amon will drive one of the local representatives through the special stage. Amon has been an ‘Ambassador’ for the Toyota Racing Series since it’s inception and through that relationship, Lexus NZ will equip Amon with a Lexus ISF. Wearing the race number 003 it’s a 311kw 5 litre V8 that produces 505nm of torque via an eight speed tip-tronic gearbox.
Father and sons (and to a lesser degree daughters) is an integral part of Targa and to celebrate that, Chris Amon will be followed five minutes later by NZ’s land speed record holder Owen Evans and his 15 year old, youngest son, Mitch. Mitch aspires to be a F1 driver and is on the right track with his motorsport career having finished second over all in the 2008/2009 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship as a rookie. This was an outstanding result for Evans with being the youngest in the field by a few years and was punching results above his age just at 14 years old. 21 races. 6 wins. 3 pole positions. 13 podiums. 5 fastest laps.
Mitch and his Dad decided to take on the 2009 National Australian Formula Ford Championship. The series covers most tracks around Australia support class of the V8 Supercars and to be known to be one of the most competitive Formula Ford Championships in the World. Driving for the Sonic Motor Racing Services Team, Mitch is currently 2nd overall after 7 rounds and is the highest placed rookie on Debut (2nd). Mitch has also broken other records; Youngest ever to be on the Podium, Youngest ever to get pole position, Youngest ever to Win a National Australian race and the youngest ever to Win a National Australian Round. With one round left in the Championship Mitch is hoping to have a strong finish to the series ending at the A1GP meeting on the streets of Surface Paradise. That is on Sunday 25th and they will fly home to join the Dunlop Targa in car 002.
At another five minutes, just before the VTNZ Safety Cars go through at full pace, is another motor racing ‘youngster’. V8 Supercar driver Shane van Gisbergen will drive his Dad Robert through in car 001, an EL Falcon GT - the EL was circa 1996-98. Robert, better known as Cheese, was himself a top NZ Rally Driver. Shane spent his formative years racing ATVs on natural terrain motocross tracks and a Quarter Midget on speedway ovals before a brief but successful career in karts. In just four years Shane has gone from SpeedSport Scholarship winner here in NZ to a V8 Supercar star for Queensland based Stone Brothers Racing (SBR). Shane’s name adorns many of NZ’s motorsport trophies and he is currently 15th in the 2009 Australian V8 Supercar Championship. This weekend Shane is driving in the Supercheap Auto, Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama. In SBR’s car #9 Shane will be paired in the SP Tools Racing, FG Falcon with teammate Alex Davison.
Entries in the Dunlop Targa are now closed and a full list of competitors will be published shortly. At closing an entry was received from 22 year-old Hayden Paddon who is the 2009 New Zealand Rally and FIA Pacific Cup Champions. His entry has been made possible by Rally Tours and will enable Paddon to clock up more tarmac experience in preparation for his Pirelli Star Driver scholarship which will see him compete in six World Rally Championship events next year. Holden fans will be pleased to hear Paul Manuell is coming back in the mighty Supercharged Commodore.
END.
For any further information contact Peter Martin on (09) 298 8322 or email: peter@targa.co.nz
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We are seeking crew members for a start crew for Targa 2009.
We start from Auckland (or close by) on Monday Oct 26 and complete in Welly on Saturday Oct 31.
We need folk to act as starters, log writers, runners, car ushers etc.
There is no standing around getting cold, you will be busy.
You will be part of a crew of 5 to 6 people together for the duration.
We may have an exchange student or two in the crew.
Accommodation is provisioned throughout the event.
We stay close to our stage start and will probably start two stages per day.
There will be a big organisers shindig for volunteers on the last day/s.
This is your chance to join the big event without it costing you an arm and a leg.
You won't have the long cold waits that the service crews have.
Full training for your job is provided.
Your chance to see
- the North Island
lots of horsepower
smokin tyres
happy drivers
scared co-drivers
He's just seeing if there is anything he will need to be at. Ill let ya know in the next day or two if you like?