Quinn is a regular competitor around Australia and New Zealand in Targa tarmac events, and will turn his hand to gravel for only the second time in his career. His first gravel experience was a club event with a mate in an under powered MKII Escort in Queensland.
Originally from Scotland, Quinn, now lives in Australia where he manages his VIP Petfoods business. He has also spent 9 years living in New Zealand, and says he love everything about Kiwis, from their can do attitude to their rallying adventures.
With the assistance of Kevin O’Neill Motorsport, who suggested he buy rather than lease a car, Quinn has purchased Joe McAndrew’s 2002 Midnight Sun to Red Sea marathon winning group N front wheel drive Honda Integra Type R to use on the Silver Fern event.
Now that his business interests are proving successful, Quinn says he “plans to spend time living life to the full, and one of his passions is motorsport”. He recently bought a house in Queenstown for his children to use, which he adds “will be a neat base for the team while the rally is there.”
While Quinn doesn’t have any pre conceived expectations, he always wanted to have a go at this type of marathon event, “and one being organised by Kiwis is bound to be fun. We will be there for the adventure and to gain experience, we’ll be taking it easy,” Quinn said, speaking from his Queensland based business yesterday.
Not restricting his winning to Targa road race events, Quinn also won this year's 2008 UAE Dubai 24 hour race winner, driving a Porsche RSR.
Quinn’s co-driver, New Plymouth’s Sue O’Neill, is already marathon experienced, having sat with Joe McAndrew on the Carrera Sudamericana South American marathon event in 2006, as well as all of his NZ Targa events.
Only a few days after the Silver Fern rally finishes, Quinn will slot into a new turbocharged 2008 Nissan R35 GT-R “Godzilla” for the North Island based all tarmac Dunlop Targa Rally.
The 2008 NZ Silver Fern International Marathon Rally, held over 8 days in New Zealand’s South Island, is the longest duration motor-sport event currently being held in NZ, and takes its roots from the Silver Fern and Heatway Rallies of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
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