Miedecke, one of Australia’s top touring car drivers of the past, took the Ford to victory at the opening round of the Australian Targa Championship in November, Targa High Country, beating home a field filled with Porches steered by highly-credentialed drivers.
At this weekend's Targa Wrest Point, the man who has tested his skill on race tracks around the world, hopes that he can set the pace once again in his newly adopted sport of tarmac rallying.
The Port Macquarie car dealer, who grew up in Tasmania, took victory at Targa High Country last November in a class that has regularly been dominated by Porsche 911s, yet his motorsport experience and the build quality of the Capri saw him come to the fore.
The German Porsches will again feature Peter Eames and John Ireland all proven performers who can be expected to fight it out for places on the podium in both the Classic handicap and outright competitions.
Miedecke’s passion for motorsport started as a kid when his father took him along to watch the action at the historic Longford Motor Racing Festival.
Ironically, the Longford Revival Festival will be held for the first time from April 1 to 3, and Miedecke is sure to visit the place where the flicker turned to a flame all those years ago.
"Something magic happened that day - I knew right then what I wanted, and I have pursued that goal ever since," Miedecke said.
He is not the only “local” in with a chance. David Cooper is back behind the wheel of his thundering 1977 Holden Torana A9X and is expected to be at the pointy end of the field as well.
Meticulously prepared, Cooper’s Torana is a real step back in time to when the Holden Dealer Team ruled Australian touring car racing, and when Peter Brock’s Bathurst wins were measured in laps, rather than seconds.
The weight of the big Holden and its fierce appetite for rear tyres could be two factors that count against Cooper in his push for victory, particularly if weather conditions are dry.
Hobart auto recycler Adrian Morrisby is a fan favourite and is making his annual Targa Wrest Point appearance in his 1975 Holden Torana. While lacking the horsepower of the V8s and the Porsches, the Gemini is well driven and could be a real dark horse on home ground.
The third running of Targa Wrest Point includes 14 closed road special stages to the south west of Hobart, with a total competitive distance of 208 kilometres.
Organised by Octagon, Targa Wrest Point is round two of the three round Australian Targa Championship that also includes Targa Tasmania, and Targa High Country in Victoria.
For further information on Targa Wrest Point, go to www.targawrestpoint.com.au
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