|
Team VIP Petfoods' Top Five Triumph |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 24 April 2007 |
Team VIP Petfoods' Tony Quinn and Keith Wenn have bravely risen to Targa Tasmania's final challenges today to claim outright fifth for the event despite the days' stages living up to all their expectations - with the chase down the island proving as tough, fast and unpredictable as they ever could have imagined.
Battling fraught weather conditions, extra car weight and a day of difficult and highly competitive stages which saw fellow-front runners Longhurst and De Vere temporarily fall from the top three, the Team VIP Petfoods' duo managed to carry their un-fazable courage through the final kilometres to formally establish their place in the final top five.
With the intermediate wet conditions more suited to those behind the
wheel of a 4WD than the Team VIP Petfoods' Porsche, to hold on for the
applaudable standing was extra sweet for the duo in the face of the
disappointments of times past.
"So many times before, we have been in the running for honours only for
something to go wrong on the final day and put us out," said Quinn.
"Last year especially, we were running second when a crash on the
Sunday left Keith and I stranded by the side of the road, our top five
hopes dashed.
"To finish first of all was our focus, as it is all pointless if you
don't finish, and so to finish in the top five has been a great reward
for us both and we will go home smiling.
"Really in an event such this a top five is a fantastic result, and for
us especially with a new, underdeveloped car and two old guys in it I
think it is great."
The event honours went to Tony Sullens and Julia Barkley behind the
wheel of their Subaru Imprexa WRX RA, followed by Jim Richards and
Barry Oliver and a recovered Tony Longhurst and Michael De Vere in
third.
This year's Targa Tasmania was Quinn's eighth and the first in long
line of rally exploits to come for his team this year with up to eight
rally ventures on the cards including the prestigous Nurburgring 24
hour, in which the team placed 9th on debut in 2006.
|
News