TARGA: Day Two – Bull rages to the front

After a gentle introduction to the world of Targa Tasmania on Day One, crews prepared for their first genuine crack at these world-class roads on Targa's second day, taking in eight stages to the north west of Launceston.

The morning was full of chatter regarding the controversial minimum/maximum time requirements of the preceding day. With the four stages of the opener designed to ease entrants in, many fell foul of the requirements, resulting in 70 crews receiving time penalties for either stopping on-stage to avoid beating the minimum time, beating the minimum time or for dropping beneath the 30km/h minimum speed requirement.

Fortunately for the outright Modern class, the key combatants escaped penalties.

Overnight leaders Eddie Maguire/Michael Potter initially increased their lead over the Whites' Lamborghini Gallardo in their Lancer Evolution IX, eking out another two seconds on the morning's second stage, High Plains. It was on Sheffield, an imposing 14.62km, where the Whites stamped their authority, beating Maguire by 7sec to take a 3sec lead.

The Whites did not, however, take the stage victory; that honour went to Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb in their repaired Nissan GT-R. They won seven out of the eight stages (and tied the first) to claw their way back to sixth place and set the scene for a classic comeback.

Sitting in a comfortable third position are 2014 winners Jamie Vandenberg and Dennis Sims in another GT-R.

Vying at the top of Classic Outright is a mix of relatively recent (the leading Nunn/Johnstone 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo), an updated version of an older design (the 1981 Triumph TR7 V8 of Haysman/Hughes) and the full-blown classic (Team Ulrich's 1963 Jensen CV8), though the leader is over a minute ahead overall.

Also enjoying a minute-plus lead (1min, 21sec to be precise) are Early Modern contenders Hendy/Winton-Monet aboard their rapid 2003 Nissan Skyline GT-R Z-Tune. They are followed by the Kaplans' genuine E46 BMW M3 CSL and the Howarths' 1995 Skyline GT-R V-spec, only 5sec further back.

Showroom 4WD has been more fraught with the Smiths' Audi TT RS snatching the class lead from the Liddle/Lloyd Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X on the last stage of the day. They lead overnight by 5sec, while the Kennard/Wheeler Subaru Impreza STi is 29sec off the lead.

In Showroom for two-wheel drive vehicles it is the Quinn/Tillett McLaren 650S leading by 1min, 30sec over the Richards/Oliver Porsche Cayman S. The Mustang GT500 of Dean/Cole is third, a further 10sec adrift.

Winding back the clock to 1938 is the Dodge Speedster Special of Clark/Berriman. The sole entrant to the Vintage category, they continue to run well after two days of Targa.

Wednesday's North East Loop offers a wide variety of roads with tight base times, commencing with the glorious Sideling stage. Crews then return with a run over Elephant Pass before landing in Longford for the traditional town stage.

Images: Angryman Photography