MOTORSPORT: Close takes Targa High Country

After being a regular outright contender for years, most recently in an indecently-fast Audi TT RS, Matt Close (with co-driver Cameron Reeves) has finally reached the top step of the podium in a Targa event… in a Showroom-spec Porsche 911 GT3.

Thanks to a relaxation of Targa Showroom class rules, exotic machinery such as Close’s GT3 and Tony Quinn/Kate Catford’s McLaren 650S have been eligible for the class.

Indeed, Quinn debuted the McLaren at Targa Tasmania, competing against our motoring.com.au Renault Megane, and both proved their pace against the traditionally-dominant Modern class competition.

Quinn led the High Country event at the end of day one, but the finer conditions of the second day played to Close as came to grips with his new stead. The final gap was two minutes, 32 seconds.

“It’s awesome,” Close told targa.com.au. “We came to tick a few boxes and we did that.

“We wanted to be competitive with Tony (Quinn), so we’re pretty happy. We kept benchmarking, but we just didn’t want to back off.

“Coming up Mt Buller the final time was probably the best drive I’ve ever had.”

Incredibly, the Early Modern category winning Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 of Alan Roe, co-driven by the highly-rated Steve Glenney, smashed his competition with an overall time that placed him ahead of Matt Close. He finished two minutes, 22 seconds ahead of the 1995 Mazda RX-7 SP of Mark Balcombe/Brian Foster.

“I’m pretty excited. It was unexpected, and we would have been happy with a top 10 finish,” Roe said.

“We had a ball driving on these roads, and the car was pretty faultless. We would highly recommend anyone who wants to drive these roads fast to come up here to Targa High Country.”

Toby Gill/Mathew Smith won the Modern category in their 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X RS, after a fraught battle with the 2011 Subaru Impreza STI of Nathan Reeves (Brendan’s brother) and Reubecca Sheldrick.

A gap of three seconds separated Gill and Reeves at the end of day one competition, and that was the final gap. The Subaru actually led into the final stage of the event, another legendary climb up Mount Buller, but Gill was able to take the victory with another fastest stage time.

“This is brilliant, I am so stoked,” Gill said.

“We just didn’t think it was going to happen, particularly given there was only seven seconds in it coming into the last stage.”

Other category winners included Stewart Liddle/Michael Lloyd taking their first win in 4WD Showroom with their 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X RS from the Angus Kennard/Ian Wheeler Nissan GT-R and Peter Nunn winning back-to-back THC Classic Outright titles in their 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo, beating the debutante 1985 Mazda RX7 of Adam and David Kaplan.

Sadly, long-time competitor Richard Davis passed away from a heart attack after completing day one of Targa competition.

“Richard’s death is a great loss to the Targa community,” Targa Australia Event Director Mark Perry said.

“Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Richard’s family and friends at this very difficult and sad time.”

The tarmac rally world now turns its attention to the 2016 Targa Tasmania, to be held over April 11-16. It will be the 25th running of this legendary event.