In securing his fourth Targa Tasmania title, White and his co-driver, John White, also claimed consecutive CAMS Australian Targa Championship wins.
Hobart-based South Australian, Steve Glenney, finished a solid second in his Nissan GT-R, one minute and five seconds behind White, with Adelaide’s Matt Sims taking the final podium position in another Nissan. Eight-time Targa winner, Jim Richards, was fourth in his Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
Queenslander Donn Todd (1971 Ford Capri Perana) won the Classic Outright competition after overnight leader, Craig Haysman, retired with gearbox failure in his Triumph TR7 V8, and TV personality, Grant Denyer, totally dominated the Showroom class in his 2011 Renault Megane RS 250.
The fifth and final day of the event saw competitors leave Strahan and head for Hobart over six tarmac stages. The day included the longest stage of the event, the 58.55 kilometre Mt Arrowsmith test, before the finish at Hobart’s Wrest Point.
While he was the fastest driver for the majority of the event, things didn’t always go to plan for White. He suffered a broken front differential on day two, and also encountered electrical and fuel gremlins throughout the first four days.
However, his experience shone through when needed most, and he extended his lead over the final stages to eventually win by over a minute, the first to win back-to-back Targa Tasmania titles since Jim Richards in 2003.
“That’s four wins for us now and we’re very, very happy with that,” a jubilant White said.
“It’s been a long, arduous week for us and we’ve had plenty of hurdles to jump over, some of them pretty big, and we’ve had a lot of concerns but we’ve made it, which is very sweet.
“Today was probably our smoothest day with the gap we had, but there’s no guarantees, so we just went flat out and broke every record on every stage we did this morning, and only backed off ever so slightly in the final two stages.
“It’s been the most intense five days we’ve ever spent getting around Targa, and very fulfilling.”
Glenney had been hopefully of reeling the Lamborghini in, but in just his first event in the Nissan GT-R, he had a few teething problems of his own, and was happy to settle with second place in the end.
“It’s a pleasing result even though I hate coming second,” Glenney said. “We’re all here to win, but I’m very pleased as it’s a car which had had very little modification or race-prep, so to get it to the finish, let alone come second, is a great result for everyone involved with this team.”
The Classic Outright battle was never clear cut, with early leaders Peter O’Keefe, Rex Broadbent and Greg Garwood all falling by the wayside. Craig Haysman had gone into the final day with a handy lead, but his Triumph’ gearbox failed on the Mt Arrowsmith stage, allowing Donn Todd to take the win and claim his second consecutive Classic Outright championship crown.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better result and we certainly didn’t think it was possible at the start of the week,” Todd explained.
“It’s satisfying to win back-to-back championships, and we’ve done really well in the Early Classic Handicap as well, so it’s been a good week for us.”
John Ireland took second place in his Porsche 911, ahead of the similar car of Paul Stuart, also securing a second straight series title in Late Classic.
In the popular Showroom class, Grant Denyer took a commanding victory in a factory-supported Renault Megane RS 250. Indonesian driver, Bunjamin Noor’s second was enough to win the series Showroom title.
Greg Pritchard had to settle for second in Early Modern to Ben Manion (Nissan Skyline), but that was enough to secure the class honours for the four event series.
In the other categories, Subaru Impreza WRX driver Angus Kennard won 4WD Showroom; and Neill Ford’s Chevrolet Corvette was too strong in Showroom Sports.
Phil Frith won Regularity, as well as the class championship. Phil Blake took the Classic Florio win in a Fiat Abarth. Peter Ullrich totally dominated Early Classic Handicap in his pretty 1963 Jensen CV8, and Leigh Achterberg (1980 Porsche 944) was well clear in Late Classic Handicap.
Donn Todd’s performance was enough to secure him the CAMS Australian Targa Championship title for Early Classic for a second straight year.
Targa Tasmania - provisional results after Day 5
RDA Brakes Modern
1. Jason White/John White, 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale
2. Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb, 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec-V, +1m05s
3. Matt Sims/Denis Sims, 2013 Nissan GT-R, +8m31s
4. Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS +12m09s
5. Daniel Traverso/Tim Kulhanek, 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX RS, +18m35s
Shannons Classic Outright
1. Donn Todd/ Dean Tighe. 1971 Ford Perana Capri
2. John Ireland/Michael Ribot, 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3, +1m21s
3. Paul Stuart/Mick Herrod, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, +16m15s
4. Barry Faux/Therezia Mihajlovic, 1985 Mazda RX7, +17m17s
5. Leigh Achterberg/Greg Fitzgerald, 1980 Porsche 944m +18m03s
RDA Brakes Showroom 2WD
1. Grant Denyer/Dale Moscatt, 2011 Renault Megane RS 250
2. Bunjamin Noor/Lee Challoner-Miles, 2011 Renault Megane RS 250, +17m11s
3. Nick Strange/Ian Cudmore, 2011 Renault Megane RS 250, +20m21s
RDA Brakes 4WD Showroom
1. Angus Kennard/Ian Wheeler, 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX
2. Greg Burrowes/Rhonda Burrowes, 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, +10m07s
3. Ben Newman/Crichton Lewis, 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX, +11m26s
RDA Brakes Early Modern
1. Ben Manion/Damian Roach, 1990 Nissan Skyline GTS-t
2. Michael Pritchard/Gary Mourant, 2003 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, +28s
3. Stephen Thatcher/Kelly Handley, 1994 Nissan ATTKD Select R SP, +7m39s
RDA Brakes Showroom Sports
1. Neill Ford/Colin Maher, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2. Daniel Ford/Nathalie Ford, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, +3m12s
3. Craig Dean/Emma Quigley, 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, +8m21s
Shannons Early Classic Handicap
1. Peter Ullrich/Sari Ullrich, 1963 Jensen CV8
2. Andrew White/Ashley Yeilds, 1961 Volvo 122S, +7m49s
3. Paul Freestone/Christine Freestone, 1948 Holden 215, +16m05s
Shannons Late Classic Handicap
1. Leigh Achterberg/Greg Fitzgerald, 1980 Porsche 944
2. John Ireland/Michael Ribot, 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3, +2m51s
3. Paul Stuart/Mick Herrod, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 3, +11m38s
Shannons Classic Florio Handicap
1. Phillip Blake/John Blake, 1964 Fiat Abarth GT 1600
2. David Currow/Colin Carati, Steyr Puch TR Europa, +6m26s
Regularity
1. Frith/Frith, Porsche Boxter S, 85 points
2. Duursma/Sobbel, BMW M3, 154 points
3. Clingeleffer/Rust, Ford FPV GT, 172 points
4. Pisko/Barnett, Nissan 350Z Trac, 192 points
5. Newman/Dewar, Toyota 86 GTS, 277 points
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