Tarmac legend Jim Richards heads a stellar field of 87 cars entered in the fourth running of Western Australia’s QUIT Targa West, to be held in the City of Perth and the surrounding shires of Kalamunda, Chittering and Toodyay, from September 4 – 7.
QUIT Targa West has secured itself a spot as one of the major tarmac rallies in Australia and each year the competition grows, attracting some of the biggest names in tarmac rallying with a field of some of the best cars in the country.
Richards, is returning to defend his 2007 QUIT Targa West Competition Modern title, and is hoping to add another title to his list of achievements which include eight Targa Tasmania and seven Bathurst 1000 victories.
“I’m very excited. It was a terrific event last year and the second time round is always better because you know a bit more about the event and the roads,” Richards said. "We’re (Richards and co-driver Barry Oliver) competing in a 2008 Porsche GT2 that has only had one rally (Targa Tasmania) before now, so we’re looking forward to seeing how it will go.”
Richards will be joined by some of the big names from Australian and world motor sport, such as Tony Longhurst – also a multiple Bathurst winner - Paul Summers, Tony Quinn and former World Rally Championship driver, Alister McRae. Scottish born McRae, has competed in over 80 World Rally Championship events and is a former British Rally and Asia Pacific Rally Champion. Now living in Perth, McRae spent 2007 competing in events in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
“I’ve been over to WA a number of times competing in the World Rally Championship round, but it’s my home soil now so I’m really looking forward to it,” McRae said.
“It will be my first time in the event and my first time in a classic Porsche so it will definitely be a bit different to what I’m used to. Modern cars are a lot more forgiving than classic cars,” McRae laughed.
QUIT Targa West is broken up into four separate categories run under one banner, with teams competing in either the Competition or Challenge categories, which are further broken down into Modern and Classic (pre-1982) classes.
Competition cars are set up as competitive rally cars with each vehicle equipped with a roll cage and full safety features. Challenge cars are standard road cars, which run without a roll cage and are speed restricted, monitored by a GPS tracking system.
Rob Darrington will be defending top spot in the Modern Challenge, Hans and Mark de Corti will be out to continue their winning form in the Competition Classic Category and Tony Clarke is again aiming for top spot in the Challenge Classic.
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