Matt and Dennis Sims clocked back-to-back wins of the Adelaide Hills Tarmac Rally, boding well for a podium finish again in Adelaide as the city hosts Round 1 of the CAMS Octagon Australian Targa Championship - the Superloc Targa Adelaide - for the first time ever August 22 to 26 2012.
2011 CAMS Australian Tarmac Rally Champion Matt Sims with navigator and father Dennis Sims comprehensively won the Adelaide Hills Tarmac Rally for the second year in succession.
Held throughout the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula from May 18 - 20, 2012. The event attracted a large number of local and interstate competitors being the second round of the CAMS Australian Tarmac Rally Champio nship as well as Round 2 of the South Australian Rally Championship.
Conquering 22 of the 25 stages in all, and reaching speeds in excess of 240kmph, Matt Sims said he knew their Nissan R35 was strong from the outset.
"Our strategy was to push hard early on Friday to try and open up a gap to the rest of the field. I knew we would be quick through Chain of Ponds if we could hold it together which we did, opening up a 15 second gap on that stage," said Matt Sims.
Saturday started with a wet and greasy track but as the day progressed so did the condition of the track with faster and faster times being set by all competitors.
"We did have a couple of issues through the event including two deflating tyres and a hole in the intercooler, but the team responded quickly and minimal time was lost.
"Our win is a great reward for the whole team with all the hard work we have put in. And now as the series starts in Adelaide for the first time, we're focussed on finishing top three in the series - if not winning it.
"A win in Adelaide for the first time it runs here will be awesome. We can't wait to be racing at night time through the heart of the city. It will be a challenging three kilometres stage - but what a spectacle for Adelaide," said Matt Sims.
About CAMS Australian Targa Championship Series:
Round 1 Supaloc Targa Adelaide August 22-26 2012.
Round 2 Targa High Country (around Mt Buller) November 4-6 2012
Round 3 Targa Wrest Point, February 2-3 2013
Round 4 Targa Tasmania April 16-21 2013
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