Some of Australia’s best rallysprint drivers visited the region on Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 for the 2018 GT Fabrication Targa Bunbury Sprint.
Competitors hit the 4-kilometre closed circuit track, in the Halifax Light Industrial Area, as part of a full day of racing on Sunday.
More than 110 vehicles entered this year’s competition, with each driver’s efforts counting towards the West Australian Make Smoking History Targa Cup.
The event’s category classes were based on drive-layout, engine capacity and modification level.
Driver Troy Wilson and co-driver Toni Cameron – in their 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 – claimed the overall victory and took out the Class VIII (Open Rallysprint 4WD) category in a time of 20:10.60.
Against the largest field in the event’s history, the pair were fastest over the majority of the eight runs.
After taking out the first ever Targa Bunbury Sprint in 2016, Wilson said he was thrilled to reclaim the top prize.
“It’s my favourite event, so to win it again, knowing that a lot of other crews had made upgrades to their cars and coming in with a brand new co-driver who had never been in the car with me, is just awesome,” he said.
Dennis Keller and Keian Guy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8MR) placed second with 20:37.71, ahead of Paul Brockbank and Josh Gardner (2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) with 20:38.64.
Alister McRae and Declan Stafford (1978 Porsche 911 RSR) took out the Class VII (Open Rallysprint 2WD over 2000cc) event, while Duane Joubert and Mike Wood (1983 Toyota Sprinter AE86) won the Class VI (Open Rallysprint 2WD up to 2000cc) competition.
After Bryan Smith and Jenni Gerdei (1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI) brought home the Class V (Targa Cup 2WD or 4WD gravel tyres) title, Mark Cates and Peter Davies (2012 Nissan R35 GTR) took out the Class IV (Targa Cup 4WD over 3500cc) event.
Will While and Matthew Thompson (2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) won the Class III (Targa Cup 4WD up to 3500cc) division.
Chris Caruso and Mandy Lister (2007 Chevrolet Corvette) won the Class II (Targa Cup 2WD over 2000cc) event, while Andy Van Kann and Jimmy Marquet (2007 Honda Type R) clinched the Class I (Targa Cup 2WD up to 2000cc) crown.
“We love the people, there’s a pretty good atmosphere and there is a lot of camaraderie between the competing teams,” Caruso said.
“We love competing but it wouldn’t be the same without the atmosphere around here.”
Cates and Davies said they enjoyed both race day and Saturday’s Show ‘n’ Shine event in the CBD.
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