Skoda to the fore
The sun might not have been shining but the Octavia was... And then some...Targa Blog: Leg 4
What a difference a day makes... Yesterday we were struggling and today we're on top of the world.
Clearly the talking to we gave ourselves worked. After a reasonable but cautious start on a greasy Mole Creek stage we moved to one of Targa 'queen' stages -- Cethana. One of the best pieces of road in the country it climbs and crosses two mountain ranges. Today it did so under heavy cloud cover and drizzle. Add in a sump or two full of motor oil and you had the recipe for a disaster, but we had a ball.
Whereas yesterday we had trouble in both front seats, today (Saturday) we were firing on all four. Co-driver Justin Hunt was in full WRC mode and yours truly was nailing the fast corners and the correct apexes in the slow ones. There's something special about the way a driver, co-driver and car combine when all is good. It was good today.
With our confidence brimming we charged through Cethana almost touching 200km/h in parts. It was then on to the tricky Gunns Plains stage and Riana, the latter back to its full 35.85km length for the first time in years. The runs weren't perfect by any means but they were pretty good -- only a soft run at a couple of the big blind crests in Riana blotted our copybook. Whereas yesterday we suffered from lack of commitment on the '6' and '7' noted corners, today we stormed through them.
And the weather played ball. Though wet for the first stages, by the time we were ready to take our turn at the final stage of the day, the rain was gone and the road was almost totally dry.
That stage was Rinadeena -- another 30km-plus of glorious swooping, winding tarmac, that links Queenstown and Strahan. Casualities to the Skoda in the stage included a 944, an Evo X and an STI as well as a couple of classics. What a hoot!
It's taken us four days to really get to know the RS-P. And while we have a list of 'to dos' if we're lucky enough to do this again, it has performed above and beyond the call of duty. Indeed its performance has spawned a couple of stories around the targa paddock. Justin's addressed a few of them in his piece below.
We're suffering from poor comms in Strahan, so can't update you on our stage times. Suffice it to say we'll be disappointed if we haven't moved up a few places over today's stages.
But, the job's still not done. The last day of Targa is one of the toughest rallying days in any local event and includes the country's longest stage -- 56.41km. Some people don't drive that far to go on holidays...
From the left seat: An Open Letter to all 2010 Targa Competitors :
Dear Fellow Competitors
Mike and I have had a fantastic day. The Skoda Octavia was on song and so were we! Great driving from Mike and I was really pleased with my calling of the notes. The early stages were fairly complex and far from ideal conditions but we managed respectable times (MS: we think) by driving sensibly and staying incredibly focused.
And once the roads dried up we were on the attack. The car has not missed a beat and is clearly now our comfortable home. We had great commitment on the notes today and Day Four includes some of my favourite stages.
For the record, however, I would like to clarify the following:
- Yes the Skoda Octavia RS can be purchased by you in a Skoda showroom.
- The Octavia we are competing in is TWO-wheel drive.
- The Octavia we are competing in is FRONT-wheel drive.
- Just to confirm, the Skoda we are competing in DOES NOT have a 4WD system.
- Yes the Octavia can overtake Porsches and Evo X's.
- Yes the brake package is fantastic -- just ask my collar bones.
- Our maximum speed today was 199km/h. I've told Mike he has to try harder on Arrowsmith.
- The bikes (MS: see Prologue report) have fallen off the roof and we have not seen them for days. If you find them please return them to us.
- Yes the diff is stock standard -- it's as they come from the Skoda factory in the Czech Republic.
- I would also like to confirm once again that our Skoda is FRONT WHEEL DRIVE and it is not running any mechanical equipment from the Intercontinental Rally Challenge version of the Skoda Fabia WRC.
- Yes we would go faster if our combined weight was less, but you can't have looks, personality and fitness!
And finally for the record I am hitting the head of Skoda Australia up for a deal as I like this car that much!
One more day to go -- we are off to Hobart on the morning. See you at the finish/bar...
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