Sydney competitor Nik Prieston is primed to snare a hat-trick of wins at the Targa Great Barrier Reef round of the CAMS Australian Targa Championship from August 30-September 1.
Prieston and co-driver Dylan Braithwaite are unbeaten in the first two championship rounds this year at Targa North West and Targa Tasmania.
They have assumed a 17-point lead in the series Classic overall standings over chief rivals Peter Gluskie and Sam Winter in their 1985 BMW 325.
After coming through Targa Tasmania unscathed this year, the Fiat is in good shape to improve on its close third in the Classic Handicap class at the maiden Targa Great Barrier Reef last year.
“The car is ready to go. We didn’t damage anything last time and we are very excited about returning to Cairns,” Prieston told Targa.com.au
Prieston is looking forward to continuing his battle with Gluskie and Winter who remain in touch and their only genuine threat of taking the title.
“Peter seems to have a knack of beating us when its dry but somehow as I’ve said previously, he seems to be aquaphobic. So when its wet, that is where I have an advantage,” Prieston said.
“If its dry in Cairns we are going to struggle. But if there is a bit of rain about we will get him for sure.”
The Fiat, built by Melbourne Performance Centre, has been a pillar of strength in recent seasons for Prieston who has refined the car over the last decade.
“We finally perfected the Fiat last year but then we went and pranged it at Targa Tasmania last year,” Prieston recalled.
“We broke a wheel coming around a corner, ran out of traction and went into an embankment.”
Prieston is planning on arriving in Cairns early in the week of the event in order to touch off recce preparations.
“The roads were amazing last year and we can’t wait to get back into it again. The hosting was incredible and the people were super friendly,” Prieston said.
“It’s the little things that make all the difference and the Queenslanders were so happy to see us and it generated really good atmosphere.”
“We will arrive early in the week before the event and we will go over the course at least twice and perfect the notes and make sure our preparation is spot on.
“When you are going at 10/10ths and you are trying to get every second out of your stage time you need that kind of prep.
“Dylan (co-driver) and I have been working together for so many years now and he knows what I want to hear (pace note calls). His timing on his calls are really spot-on.”
For full details about road closures and for the Spectator Guide, visit targa.com.au.
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