TARGA: DAY 2 - Glenney takes outright lead

It was an action-packed Leg Two of Targa Tasmania, with overnight leaders Jason and John White striking early trouble in their Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale.

The nephew/uncle duo was restricted to rear-wheel drive when the Lambo’s front differential failed. “We’ve removed the front driveshafts and it will stay that way until service this evening... we’ll be able to see why the Porsche blokes always whinge about having two-wheel drive!” Jason White joked.

Nevertheless, the event favourites held second place at the end of the day’s eight stages.

Turning a 20 second overnight deficit to a 17 second advantage was 2008 Targa Tasmania victors Steve Glenney and Bernie Webb. Their initial win was aboard a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, however this year they are behind the wheel of a Nissan R35 GT-R. “We’re reasonably happy. I’m still learning the car but we are feeling more comfortable as we get through each stage,” said Glenney.

Matt and Casey Close retain third place, their Audi TT RS taking two stage wins during the day. They sit 51 seconds off the lead.

In the fan favourite Classic Outright category, the battle remains tight with the O’Keefe/Winton-Monet Holden Torana A9X leading the similar machine of Garwood/Allen by a scant six seconds, after two full days of competition. The Broadbent/Batten Porsche 911 RS is only three seconds further back, and with rain forecast for the swing to the West Coast on Friday they look a real threat.

The Early Modern category's overnight leaders Pritchard/Mourant continued in front, their Porsche 911 GT3 RS extending its lead over the Manion/Roach Nissan Skyline GTS-t to a comfortable 1 minute, 27 seconds. Beable/Beable moved from an overnight sixth to sit third with their Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, two minutes behind the leader.

Showroom continues to be a Renault Sport Megane benefit, Spence/Kelly placed 41 seconds ahead of team motoring.com.au Renault Sport Australia’s Grant Denyer/Dale Moscatt. The other team car, piloted by Mike Sinclair/Bill Hayes, retains its third position, 45 seconds off Denyer/Moscatt.

The fraught Evo/STi battlefield that is Showroom 4WD is currently led by Millar/Dean in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. They hold a 1 minute, 35 second lead from the Subaru Impreza STi of Newman/Lewis, with Kennard/Wheeler third in another STi, 10 seconds further back.

Showroom Sport has a traditional battle of its own, the classic GM/Ford rivalry in full swing. Delayed by over 20 minutes yesterday, the Dean/Quigley Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 won all seven competitive stages in the class for Leg Two, though the crew remains a daunting 19 minutes, 30 seconds off the leading Chevrolet Corvette Z06 of Ford/Ford. The sister Z06, of Ford/Maher, lies second, 5 minutes, 37 seconds off the pace.

Friday’s Leg Three will see crews leave their Launceston bases for two days in Strahan, on Tasmania’s wild west coast. From there, teams will travel south east for Targa Tasmania’s Hobert finale on Sunday.