TARGA: Back in the game

After showing remarkable speed on the opening two days of Targa, the motoring.com.au Buckby Motorsport Renault Sport Meganes of Mike Sinclair/Julia Barkley and Grant Denyer/Alex Gelsomino welcomed Day Three with the news that their five-minute time penalties incurred on Day One had been rescinded.

With the corrected times elevating Denyer to second in Showroom behind Tony Quinn’s McLaren 650S and Sinclair to fifth, it’s fair to say both crews were primed and ready to tackle Wednesday’s North East Loop.

On roads more suited to the nimble, responsive Renaults – particularly with the morning frost adding an edge of slipperiness to the surface – the Meganes finished second and third on the testing 13.71km Sideling stage, behind the Quinn/Tillett McLaren.

Out between the open fields of Legerwood the exotic machinery surrounding the Renaults opened up, Quinn taking the stage win from the 600hp-plus Shelby Mustang GT500 driven by Dean/Cole. Sinclair finished fourth on stage behind Richards/Oliver in the Porsche Cayman S, with Denyer fifth.

On Weldborough Pass Denyer missed equalling Quinn by a solitary second after 12.94km, with Sinclair finishing fourth behind the Mustang and besting Richards by 10sec.

It was the climb through Elephant Pass that highlighted the day, Denyer taking the class victory by four seconds over Quinn to remain less then 1:30 behind the leader. Sinclair powered through to finish the stage fourth, but significantly overtook the Richards Porsche in the process to give the motoring.com.au Buckby Motorsport team second and fourth places overall.

Rossarden would be the last big test of the day, its 11.99km starting out with a long, fast but steep climb before tightening on the descent. Again Denyer took the stage, by one second from Quinn and Dean, who had tied for second. Sinclair consolidated his position with another fourth quickest time.

The final run through the Longford township is as much about historic significance and delighting spectators than outright pace, as evidenced by the easy-to-achieve base time. As it was, each of the 11 remaining Showroom entries cleaned Longford.

For Denyer, it was another impressive showing: “We’re chuffed – our car’s really good downhill and in the twisty bits – on anything that climbs uphill, we’re hurt, but downhill is where we’re able to shine.

“We’re second at the moment and anything’s possible. That McLaren is still brand-new and it may be a bit fragile, but it’s bloody fast.”

Sinclair added: “The stages continue to come to the car, and I feel I am coming to the car… though there’s still some tuning required for the driver. I keep saying it, but the roads are brilliant and the stages tomorrow will continue to suit the car, with lots of technical downhill sections, though we don’t have the power of the V8s up the longer climbs.”

Heading back to the Silverdome the results show Quinn leading by 1:27. Denyer is placed second with Dean third, another 42 seconds behind. Sinclair is fourth, 45 seconds adrift of the Mustang. Richards makes up the Showroom top five in the Cayman, 26 seconds off Sinclair.

For the crews, Wednesday night is the last night in Launceston before the show heads west to overnight in Strahan. They will tackle a multitude of favourite stages including Cethana (shortened this year due to roadworks), Riana and Hellyer Gorge. With the weather often changeable in western Tassie, look for the Renault team to spring further surprises.

Full coverage of 2015 Targa Tasmania on motoring.com.au

Images: Angryman Photography