With the pair competing against each other for only the third time in a rally event, with Klark looking to lead his father across the line for the first time and Tony looking for a Targa Tasmania re-match, the event is sure to be a fiery one.
Earlier this year, Tony took top five honours with co-driver, Keith Wenn, in the highly competitive Targa Tasmania event.
Now with nearly 25 percent of those lining up on the Sunshine Coast having competed in Tasmania earlier this year, including event runners-up Jim Richards and Barry Oliver, and sixth place-getters Matt and Casey Close, the battle is sure to be on to see who gets to the line first in Quinn’s home-state rematch.
“Targa Tasmania was a fantastic event for us, and as we ran the old car (the Porsche 996 turbo) with two old guys in it (referring to himself and co-driver Keith Wenn of Tasmania) I think we did pretty well to finish in the top five.
“With the SunCoast Classic being held in our home-state and a lot of the guys who ran in our competition in Tasmania coming back, I will be looking forward to dicing with them again, hopefully coming out on top, to put the VIP Petfoods brand up on that podium.”
While Tony is looking to better his Targa Tasmania sparring partners, Klark is looking more towards building on his rally experience and hopefully beating his ‘rally master’ dad’s Porsche across the finish line. Klark will drive his Mitsubishi EVO VIII in the rally.
“The EVO is the best rally car next to the Porsche and the car I have run in my previous two rally ventures at 2003’s Targa Tasmania and last year’s Mt Buller Sprint, so I am happy to run it this week,” said Klark.
“I was asked the other day what I would pick if I could choose between running dad’s Porsche or my EVO, but to be honest I would run a ‘billy kart’ if it meant I was able to have a go at events like this.
“This will be my third rally, and with it being the first in our home state, I am hoping we can push forward to finish at the pointy-end of the field.
“To finish ahead of my dad would just be a bonus as he is very experienced when it comes to events like this, with so many rallies and enduros under his belt, but I feel I am better prepared this time around following last month’s Nürburgring 24 hour.”
The prestigious Nürburgring 24 hour, the world’s most renowned endurance event, saw Tony and Klark alongside Team VIP Petfoods regular, Craig Baird, and Nürburgring stalwart, Kevin Bell, take top twelve honours during a race marred by horrific weather, which saw many cars struggle to stay on-track.
“We are aiming to establish the team as Australia’s premier international endurance team, and so have invested heavily to make this a reality,” said Tony.
“It is all part of our push of the VIP Petfoods brand into international markets, and to give Australia a team capable of winning these major races.
“And hey, who wouldn’t want the chance to own their own race team and have a run up the front at high speed!”
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