Driving a 2009 Nissan GT-R, the 2008 event winner overcame a 20 second deficit at the start of the day to finish with a 17 second buffer over the White’s Lamborghini.
The battle for the Classic Outright crown intensified during the day as Peter O’Keefe and Greg Garwood, both in Holden Torana A9Xs, fought off the challenge from the Porsche of Rex Broadbent.
Renault Meganes continue to dominate the Showroom competition, with Adam Spence a clear leader ahead of TV personality, Grant Denyer.
Day 2 of Targa Tasmania ran over some of the most popular Targa stages, including Elephant Pass and The Sideling, heading out to St Helens and back before finishing with a stage around the streets of Longford.
Devonport’s Jason White had hoped to extend his 20 second buffer over the dry stages, however the front diff on his Lamborghini broke on the Elephant Pass test, just the second of the day, restricting the car to rear-wheel drive for the remainder of the day.
This was the break Glenney needed, and he set out to make the most of his rival’s problems, finishing the day 17 seconds to the advantage.
“We’re feeling much more comfortable today, as we’ve been working on the suspension and we’ve found a good balance. It’s really enabled me to press on a bit more,” Glenney said.
“When we heard that the Whites had problems with the Lambo we backed off a little bit and it gave us breathing space to problem solve our own issues. It really helped us to get on top of some of our little glitches.
“We’ve got a plan to fix them tonight, and hopefully Jason (White) can get his diff fixed and we can go hammer and tongs for the rest of the week.”
White was philosophical at day’s end, hopeful that he could claw his way back to the lead over the final three days.
“It’s awesome to be so close, considering we’ve only had two-wheel drive,” White said.
“It took every ounce of our concentration to keep in touch today. It’s not a good situation to be in.
“It was a new diff and we have to find out exactly what is broken, and weigh it up from there, but we’ll be back tomorrow with a fresh diff, but we may have to go a bit easier if we find something that’s a bit frail.
“To be within 17 seconds of the lead at any part of this event, right down to the last couple of stages, is an acceptable place to be.”
Victorian Matt Close (Audi TT RS) has maintained his third place, but is just 34 seconds behind White. His advantage over fourth placed Matt Sims in a Nissan GT-R is nearly a minute, with the similar car of Frank Purdey a further 48 seconds back in fifth.
The Classic Outright competition has built into one of the most competitive in recent years. While Hobart’s Peter O’Keefe (1976 Holden Torana A9X) extended his lead by two seconds over the day, his team-mate, Greg Garwood, also in a Torana, moved ahead of six-time winner, Rex Broadbent.
Broadbent has traditionally left his run until late in the event, but being just nine seconds from the lead, he’ll be confident of another Targa victory.
“The Sideling was a bit slippery and we struggled with wheel spin, and Rex (Broadbent) probably pulled back a few seconds there,” O’Keefe explained.
“But I didn’t scare myself anywhere today which is good, and everything went pretty smoothly really. It’s unexpected to be in front, but we’ll take it.”
Jon Siddins lies fourth in his 1970 Datsun 240Z, a minute clear of fifth placed South Australian, Craig Haysman, in a 1980 Triumph TR7 V8.
In the RDA Brakes Showroom category, Adam Spence has extended his lead by 16 seconds and now heads Grant Denyer by 41 seconds after two days.
The first five places are still held by Renault Megane RS 250s, with motoring journalist Mike Sinclair third and still in the running for victory should either Spence or Denyer hit trouble.
“We’ve added another 10 or 15 seconds to our lead, which is really good,” Spence said.
Scott Millar (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) has further increased his lead in the 4WD Showroom competition to one minute and 35 seconds, ahead of Ben Newman’s Subaru Impreza WRX, while Michael Pritchard continued his domination of the Early Modern class in his Porsche 911 GT3.
Early Classic Handicap is still lead by the husband and wife team of Peter and Sari Ullrich (1963 Jensen CV8), with the Porsche 911 of John Ireland a narrow two seconds clear of Peter O’Keefe in Late Classic Handicap.
Targa Tasmania - provisional results after Day 2
RDA Brakes Modern
1. Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb, 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec-V
2. Jason White/John White, 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale, ++17s
3. Matt Close/Casey Close, 2010 Audi TT RS, +51s
4. Matt Sims/Denis Sims, 2013 Nissan GT-R, +1m50s
5. Frank Purdey/Cameron Reeves, 2009 Nissan GT-R, +2m38s
6. Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS +2m43s
7. Ben Searcy/James Maarquet, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, +4m17s
8. Clinton Arentz/Pete Burrey, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +4m41s
9. Lynn Rattray/Lindon Hills, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C, +5m05s
10. Brendon Winterbourn/Anthony Chudleigh, 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +5m16s
Shannons Classic Outright
1. Peter O'Keefe/Julie Winton-Monet, 1976 Holden Torana A9X
2. Greg Garwood/John Allen, 1977 Holden Torana A9X, +6s
3. Rex Broadbent/Paul Batten, 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, +9s
4. Jon Siddins/Darren Ferguson, 1970 Datsun 240Z, +37s
5. Craig Haysman/Neil Branum, 1981 Triumph TR7 V8, +1m39s
6. Donn Todd/ Dean Tighe. 1971 Ford Perana Capri, +1m43s
7. John Ireland/Michael Ribot, 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3, +2m06s
8. Steve McClintock/Jann Skinner, 1985 Mazda RX7, +4m37s
9. Stephen Crowe/Richard Crowe, 1985 Mazda RX7, +4m54s
10. Paul Freestone/Christine Freestone, 1948 Holden 215, +6m28s
RDA Brakes Showroom 2WD
1. Adam Spence/Erin Kelly, 2011 Renault Megane RS 250
2. Grant Denyer/Dale Moscatt, 2011 Renault Megane RS 250, +41s
3. Mike Sinclair/Bill Hayes, 2012 Renault Megane RS 250, +1m26s
RDA Brakes 4WD Showroom
1. Dean Millar/Christopher Dean, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2. Ben Newman/Crichton Lewis, 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX, +1m35s
3. Angus Kennard/Ian Wheeler, 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX, +1m45s
RDA Brakes Early Modern
1. Michael Pritchard/Gary Mourant, 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2. Ben Manion/Damian Roach, 1990 Nissan Skyline GTS-t, +1m27s
3. Jeff Beable/Nerida Beable, 2001, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec N1, +2m00s
RDA Brakes Showroom Sports
1. Daniel Ford/Nathalie Ford, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2. Neill Ford/Colin Maher, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, +5m37s
3. Craig Dean/Emma Quigley, 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, +19m30s
Shannons Early Classic Handicap
1. Peter Ullrich/Sari Ullrich, 1963 Jensen CV8
2. Jon Siddins/Darren Ferguson, 1970 Datsun 240Z, +27s
3. Andrew White/Ashley Yeilds, 1961 Volvo 122S, +2m14s
Shannons Late Classic Handicap
1. John Ireland/Michael Ribot, 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3
2. Peter O'Keefe/Julie Winton-Monet, 1976 Holden Torana A9X, +2s
3. Greg Garwood/John Allen, 1977 Holden Torana A9X, +5s
Shannons Classic Florio Handicap
1. Drew Kent/Ella Kent, 1971 Ford Falcon GT
2. Wayne Gerlach/Dianne Gerlach, 1974 Porsche 911, +11m15s
3. Mac Russell/Marjorie Russell, 1976 Morgan Plus 8, +16m00s
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