Newly formed racing outfit MOH Racing scored a win and a 7th place in the recent Targa West around Perth. Perth businessman Kym Illman drove his Porsche 911 997 Turbo to victory in the Challenge section of this year's event. Illman and navigator Antonia Spiers lead the field at the end of every day, taking line honours by just 6 seconds after the team was penalised 25 seconds on day 2.
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The car very nearly didn't make it to the start line. At the Thursday prologue (two timed runs to determine starting positions), Illman nearly crashed out on the first corner when he hit the brakes too late, mounted a kerb and narrowly avoided barrelling through a mesh fence (see You Tube.)
Illman only settled on his navigator four weeks before the event when he asked his Churchlands neighbour, Antonia Spiers if she was interested in the role. Spiers had never sat in a race car before let alone called corners at 130 kph (the maximum speed allowed for Challenge entrants). Her training consisted of a ten minute session around Wanneroo racetrack with Illman, a one hour lecture and some internet research. Two weeks prior to the event Spiers contracted pneumonia but recovered in time to direct Illman to his second Targa West win.
Illman, who owns Perth based telephone audio production company Messages On Hold, entered MOH Racing's second car, a Mitsubishi EVO 9, in the Competition category. Twenty three year old Perth circuit driver Peter Major, along with navigator Ian de Boer, drove this vehicle to an impressive seventh place. Major was racing in his first ever tarmac rally and surprised many with his speed and flowing lines.
"We'll be entering the EVO in next February's Bathurst 12 Hour event and with the backing of Tyrepower, Hipwood Contructions, Ivan Pavlovic & Associates and Messages On Hold, we give ourselves a good chance of a podium finish," said Illman. "We've already selected Peter Major to drive for us and expect to finalise our other two drivers within the month."
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