Targa New Zealand: Inkster and Winn back-to-back winners

2 November, 2015

 

For the second year in a row, Glenn Inkster and co-driver Spencer Winn (Mitsubishi Evo 8) have dominated the Targa New Zealand tarmac motor rally. In addition, the 2015 winners have successfully bagged the trifecta by winning the Metalman Targa New Zealand Rally Sprint 2015 as well as the Targa Bambina 2015 earlier in the year.

The pair arrived at the finish line of this year’s event in Palmerston North with an impressive nine-and-a-half minute lead over five-time former winners Tony Quinn and his co-driver Naomi Tillett (Nissan GT-R35), and almost 20 minutes ahead of third-placed 2013 event winners Martin Dippie and Jona Grant in Dippie’s Porsche 911 GT3.

Final results:

Andrew Simms Allcomers 4WD

  1. Glenn Inkster / Spencer Winn (2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 07:27:03
  2. Tony Quinn / Naomi Tillett (2008 Nissan GT-R) 07:38:49
  3. Brian Green / Fleur Pedersen (2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 08:00:26
  4. David Rogers / Aidan Kelly (2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 08:06:07
  5. Graeme  Wong / Kim Blatchley (1998 Subaru Impreza Type R) 08:34:40
  6. Jeff McCandless / Marcella Mumm (2010 Subaru WRX STi) 08:47:00

Metalman Classic 2WD

  1. Bevan Claridge / Campbell Tannock (1992 Holden Commodore) 08:04:04
  2. Bruce Farley / Glen Warner (1986 BMW 325 325) 08:27:19
  3. Carl Kirk-Burnnand / Scott Hay (1991 BMW 325i) 08:28:06
  4. Ashton Wood / Chris Lancaster (1976 Ford Escort RS1800) 08:28:23
  5. Keith Callinan / Mary Anne Callinan (1977 Ford Escort) 08:40:09
  6. Bernie Hiestand / Jilly Hutson (1983 Ford Capri 2.8i) 08:42:40

Instra.com Modern 2WD

  1. Martin Dippie / Jona Grant (2007 Porsche GT3 RS) 07:46:27
  2. Steven Kirk-Burnnand / Mick Hay (1994 BMW 318ti) 07:54:35
  3. Robert Darrington / David Abetz (2002 BMW M3) 08:01:23
  4. Matt Todd / Dan Reichenbach (2008 BMW M3) 08:04:06
  5. Grant Aitken / Caroline Cullimore (2013 Toyota 86 RC) 08:07:34
  6. Chris Lewis / Kieran Anstis (2013 Toyota TR86) 08:22:15

Overall

  1. Glenn Inkster / Spencer Winn (2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 (07:27:03)
  2. Tony Quinn / Naomi Tillett (2008 Nissan GT-R) 07:38:49
  3. Martin Dippie / Jona Grant (2007 Porsche GT3 RS) 07:49:27
  4. Steven Kirk-Burnnand / Mick Hay (1994 BMW 318ti) 07:54:35
  5. Brian Green / Fleur Pedersen (2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 08:00:26
  6. Robert Darrington / David Abetz (2002 BMW M3) 08:01:23
  7. Bevan Claridge / Campbell Tannock (1992 Holden Commodore) 08:04:04
  8. Matt Todd / Dan Reichenbach (2008 BMW M3) 08:04:06
  9. David Rogers / Aidan Kelly (2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS) 08:06:07
  10. Grant Aitken / Caroline Cullimore (2013 Toyota 86 RC) 08:07:34

Targa 2015 winners Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn (Mitsubishi Evo 8) in action and celebrating their second event victory in as many years.

Winners of the Metalman Classic 2WD class, and first V8 pair home, were Bevan Claridge and Campbell Tannock (Holden Commodore V8).

Winner of the Instra.com Modern 2WD class and third overall were Martin Dippie and Jona Grant from Dunedin (Porsche 911 GT3).

2015 Targa New Zealand class winners from left Jona Grant and Martin Dippie (Instra.com Allcomers 2WD), Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn (Overall and Andrew Simms Allcomers 4WD), and Bevan Claridge and Campbell Tannock (Metalman Classic 2WD).

Pinnacle Porsche

We were stopped at the side of the road, setting up the next photograph, when a faded Toyota slowed alongside and stopped. The window was already down to give the driver a good look.
“That’s my dream car,” he said, speaking for more than a few of us.
He drank in the gleaming red paint, shining in the sun, and the car’s purposeful swoops and curves. He exhaled half a lungful of cigarette smoke, gave a hang 10–style thumbs up and drove off.
On the side of the road, against a clear blue background, the Porsche stood out in all its stark red glory. It’s the classic 911 shape on steroids. It has the fat, even pouty, front lip of the G series 911s, added to comply with 5mph bumper restrictions in the US. It also has the oversized haunches to accommodate the wider rear wheels and tyres – a first for Porsche, which also confirmed its supercar credentials – and, most noticeably of all, that enormous whale-tail spoiler. They made it look as if Porsche had abandoned its restraint.

Motorman: When the top trio took to the road

What sort of cars did Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme drive when they weren’t on the race track? Motorman knows
Most top racing drivers do care about safety levels of road-going cars for everyday motorists and their all-round abilities behind the wheel. Jackie Stewart for one denied finding everyday driving boring. He took pride in giving his passengers the smoothest possible ride, and encouraged all drivers to actively engage in the task. They also make interesting choices for their transport away from competitive motoring.
Thirty years ago I spent a day with Chris Amon driving on lower North Island roads and I can remember those informative few hours as vividly as if they were yesterday. In 1983 Chris accepted a challenge from Toyota New Zealand to improve its locally assembled cars in a relationship that extended well beyond the end of New Zealand-built Toyota vehicles in 1997.