Mitsubishi and Glenney crowned Targa champs

Mitsubishi has claimed its first outright victory in the 17-year history of Targa Tasmania.

South Australian ARC regular, Steve Glenney, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, dominated the Modern competition at Targa Tasmania to finish 1min 31sec clear of  the 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 of eight-times winner, Jim Richards.

West Australian Dean Herridge finished third in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI after Jason White's Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera was forced out of the event at the end of the opening stage on the final day with gearbox problems.

The victory was the first by a Mitsubishi in the 17-year history of the tarmac classic. Glenney took the lead on the famous Sideling stage on the morning of Day two and was never headed.

Rex Broadbent was similarly dominant in Targa's hotly-contested Classics competition, taking outright honours for successive years.

Broadbent had a setback to his plans when he was forced to replace a tyre on the morning of Day Five. He copped a two minute penalty, which saw him slip back to second place, but regained it on the first stage of the day, enabling him to reclaim the lead and cruise to victory in Hobart.

Broadbent finished the sprint around Hobart's Domain in his 1974 Porsche 911 RS 1min 25sec clear of the 1989 Porsche 944 S2 of Gavin James. The man who provided Broadbent's replacement tyre, Peter Eames, was third -- just four seconds further back.

Eames started the day third, 30sec behind James, but only six in arrears of Broadbent. Had he kept his tyres for himself he would have certainly finished second, but his gesture left him the clear winner of the unofficial Good Sportsmanship award.

The 2WD Showroom class did not go to script on the final day. After leading from the off, Mazda3 MPS driver Rick Bates looked like he had the title all stitched up when a broken fan belt on the Mt Arrowsmith stage sidelined the 3. This allowed teammate, Scotsman Alister McRae, to go on to take the title.

McRae finished over 20 minutes ahead of second placed Philip Buggee in a 2006 Fiat Punto Sport, with John Dunkley and his 2006 Peugeot 206 GTI 180 third.

Hobart's Tony Warren got a home town hero's welcome when he crossed the finish line in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX to secure the 4WD Showroom title. He was a massive 8min29sec in front of the Queenslander, Scott Millar, with Malcolm Klopp third another three minutes 43 seconds back. The top three was all Mitsubishi.

It is the first totally rain-free Targa in the event's history. The conditions make Glenney's victory even more meritorious, as dry conditions typically favour the higher top speeds of the exotic cars.

"The event was very tough and we probably competed under conditions which didn't suit our car, which has made the win all the more pleasing," Glenney said.

Broadbent was delighted to add to his 2007 Classics victory, but recognised it had only been made possible by one of his key rivals giving him a lifeline.

"The generosity of Peter Eames was a gesture of fantastic sportsmanship by giving us one tyre and allowing us to continue," Broadbent continued.

"We weren't hanging around this morning and we really had to go for it as we were starting the day 24 seconds behind. We didn't know if we were making or losing time on the others early on, so had to drive 10/10ths for a few stages. It all worked out, which is just fantastic."

Eames was happy to finish third in the Classic competition and was pleased to help his fellow Porsche driver with the tyre.

"Rex (Broadbent) and I had a discussion before the event about what tyres we were running," Eames said. "He knew what tyres I had and rang last night to ask if we had any spare fronts."

"So we just gave him one of ours -- and he's beaten the hell out of me with it on! It's all about having fun, and if we win we want to win on the road, not by being mean and leaving three good tyres in the back of the ute!"

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