Targa from the inside: MIKE SINCLAIR

In his role as editor-in-chief of the country's top motoring website, Mike Sinclair gets to drive dozens of new cars every year, but it's only on events like Targa Tasmania that he gets to pretend he's a 'proper' professional driver... We asked him about the Targa experience.

Q: This will be your fourth Targa, what have you learnt on the last three?

A: Targa is seen by many as a 'hit and giggle' event and while there's certainly some competitors who go down there just for fun, closer to the pointy end of the field there are some very talented crews -- inside the cars and out. It's not an event that suffers fools -- if you don't take it seriously it will bite... The other thing I've learned is not to wear your driving suit to breakfast. People point and laugh!

Q: What were the main changes made to the Octavia for Showroom eligibility?

A: Showroom is about highlighting the abilities of the standard car so there's not a lot you can do. The Octavia was essentially a showroom spec car in 2010 so we didn't have to change much to meet all the new regs. Some of the mods made to the car initiatively had to be reworked (exhaust, air box, etc), but there wasn't much...

Q: What was the Octavia's best attribute in the 2010 Targa?

A: It's an easy car to drive fast; predictable and quite consistent -- even over long stages. When you're doing seven or eight stages in a day, this is important. It was also the only car competing that could carry all of its team clothes and catering across on the ferry... All race cars should be wagons... Or utes ;-)

Q: Was front-wheel drive an advantage or disadvantage?

A: Arguably not in the Showroom category, where power outputs are limited, at least in the dry. A well-set up front-wheel drive car can hold its own, especially on the stages that flow and have higher average speeds. In the short cut-and-thrust stuff and on the street stages with lots of square corners it's harder for us. That doesn't mean more hot hatches shouldn't compete. Many manufacturers have a hot or warm hatch that would fare well in Targa. It'd be great to see more brands there.

Q: Do you need special driving technique to get maximum speed out of it?

A: I guess if I can manage to get maximum speed out of it I'll find out. Seriously, it seems like it delivers its best when you can get it flowing and holding plenty of momentum. Over-driving a front-wheel drive car tends to slow you down and burns up the tyres. As you have a limited amount of rubber under the rules, you need to bear this in mind.

Q: How well does the Octavia's DSG auto transmission work in competition?

A: It's surprisingly good, but you do have to adjust to it a touch. Remember, the DSG box is designed for road use, not racing. We use it in manual mode and often let the gearbox take care of up changes, but use the paddles to change down manually. A couple of things can catch you out: one, you can't left foot brake (with the throttle on) to build boost in slow corners or to balance the car in long high load turns -- a fault of the ECU rather than the gearbox; and two, occasionally it will kick down to a lower gear when you want to torque the car through a corner with a wide throttle opening in a taller gear. The best thing about it, though, is when people come and look at the car (after we've passed them or having looked at the times) and they see it's an 'automatic'. :-)

Q: Do you expect the Octavia to be quicker this year and why?

A: Hopefully the car and the driver will both be improved. Things like fitting a limited-slip differential will help with the pace, but the most important components in the car are the 'soft bits' -- Bill and I...

Q: Which is your favourite stage and why?

A: it's very hard to pick a favourite. I tend to like the stages that show up the level of teamwork and the accuracy of the pace notes. Sideling, the first stage on Day Two, is a ripper, but so is Cethana. Great bits of road with many tempo and terrain changes...

Q: And your least favourite stage?

A: I really like them all, but there's a couple that frustrate me as they are stages where I seem to be significantly slower than comparable cars. And I don't know why. But I'll keep the details of these to myself, thanks.

Q: Do you like special stages around the streets; do they suit the Octavia?

A: I'd love to do all the street stages in a Falcon ute. These stages are all about giving the crowd some smoke. It's not at all impressive when that smoke is coming off the front wheels!

Q: How did the final shakedown of the Octavia go?

A: It's a big confidence boost when you can step into a car that's been in a million pieces a few days previously and everything works perfectly. The PPE crew consistently deliver that, which means that you can just get in and drive the car. To have the opportunity to test ahead of Targa is a luxury that most teams don't have. We concentrated on getting the suspension how we wanted it. We won't know if it's perfect until Tassie, but it's pretty close.

Q: What's it like working with Bill Hayes?

A: Bill is one of the best qualified co-drivers in the game. I've been lucky enough to drive with him before and each time he helps me improve my pace notes consistency. This should yield real benefits in the event. The co-driver's role goes a long way beyond reading pace notes back to the driver. Bill 'manages' all aspects of our race so all I have to think about is driving and committing to the notes we've written.

Q: Do you use your own pace notes?

A: Absolutely! Compiling, improving and then driving well to the notes is a key aspect as to why I like rallying. It's a much more mental game than circuit racing. And the teamwork aspect also appeals to me.

Q: Do you prefer longer or shorter stages?

A: I seem to do better on longer stages; that might sway my view. But there's something very satisfying about being on the pace immediately and doing the best job you can on a short sharp stage.

Q: Which is the best stage for spectators to see the Octavia really flying?

A: The morning stages on Day Two (Sideling, Weldborough Pass, Pyengana, etc) and the stages into and out of Strachan. The car seems to like these ones :-)

Q: Were spectators surprised to see a wagon rallying last year?

A: I hope so. We got plenty of positive feedback from people at the event and via the web, if that's an indication.

Q: Where is the best place to get a decent pie on Targa?

A: I don't know about pies, but the bakery in Westbury should be proclaimed a site of national significance on account of its Wagon Wheels and the oysters are very good in Strachan.

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