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8th Sep 2007
Team VIP Petfoods’ chief Tony Quinn has had a blistering start to leg two of the 2007 QUIT Targa West tragically cut short by mechanical issues – with clutch problems forcing the rally stalwart to withdraw from the event after only the first two stages today.
Quinn’s thundering pace this morning saw him take the win for the first stage a full second over this year’s pace-setter Jim Richards, and time-in only six seconds behind Richards in the second stage to move to second in the overall standings before fate intervened.
Despite the impressive form displayed by the Team VIP Petfoods entry, Quinn and co-driver Laurie Pitt were forced to make the difficult decision to withdraw the 2006 Porsche 997 Turbo from the event as the clutch problem became apparent.
“The car was running fantastic this morning, and I am really excited to hear that I won the first stage and was only six seconds behind Jim (Richards) for the second – that is great news,” said Quinn.
“Unfortunately this is the way racing goes sometimes – the car still runs but I cannot change the gears and we don’t have another clutch here.
“Even if we did have the parts and the manpower it would take the rest of the day to replace it so unfortunately we are out for the rest of the event – but even so I am just stoked that we were competitive while we were out there.”
The 2006 Targa West podium placer was looking set to again grace the steps with consistent and strong times seeing him move from fifth overall to second by the close of the second stage.
Despite timed as sixth overall at the close of yesterday’s stages, the discovery of a timing discrepancy on yesterday’s stage six (which saw Quinn attributed an extra 30 seconds and fall down the order) saw the rally regular reinstated back up the standings ahead of today’s start and ready to power back up the standings – but unfortunately it was not to be.
From here, the Gold Coast’s fastest Scotsman will regroup ahead of this coming weekend’s round six of the Carrera Cup championship, to be held at Sandown International Raceway for the Just Car Insurance 500.
Linton and Kay Fine Art Leg Two Stage Results – Team VIP Petfoods
SS10: Muchea 1 – 1st – Equal 4th overall
SS11: Western Range 1 – 2nd – 2nd overall
SS12: Did Not Start – Retired due to clutch problems.
Top Five Modern Competition at the close of Stage Two today:
1. #1 Richards/Oliver – Porsche GT3 RS – 35.51.0
2. #90 Quinn/Pitt – Porsche 997 Turbo – +1.01.0 – Team VIP Petfoods
3. #63 Longhurst/Taylor – Skelta G-Force - +1.02.0
4. #59 Dunkerton/Long – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX - +1.03.0
5. #73 Jones/Sauter-Dawson - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII - +2.08.0
Other Targa West Results To Date:
Top Five Modern Competiton at Close of Peter Brock Leg One – REVISED
1. #1 Richards/Oliver – Porsche GT3 RS – 26.25.9
2. #59 Dunkerton/Long – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX - +1.15.1
3. #38 Furness/Cary – Subaru Impreza WRX Spec C - +45.1
4. #63 Longhurst/Taylor – Skelta G-Force - +50.1
5. #90 Quinn/Pitt – Porsche 997 Turbo – +56.0 – Team VIP Petfoods
Peter Brock Leg One Stage Results – Team VIP Petfoods
SS1: AHG Driving Centre – =8th
SS2: John Forrest 1 – 3rd
SS3: Summers Legal Zig Zag 1 – =6th
SS4: Kalamunda – 6th
SS5: John Forrest 2 – =4th
SS6: Summers Legal Zig Zag 2 – =8th (Revised due to timing error)
SS7: Canning Mills – Clean
SS8: McNess 1 – 8th
SS9: McNess 2 – =5th
Qualifying Prologue Results – Top Five
1. #1: Jim Richards/Barry Oliver – 2007 Porsche GT3 RS
Equal 2nd: #90: Tony Quinn/Keith Wenn – Team VIP Petfoods – 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 997 Turbo and #63: Tony Longhurst/Jahmeil Taylor – 2004 Skelta G-Force.
4. #67: Matthew Heskin/Natasha Deniese – 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX RS
5. #59: Ross Dunkerton/Linda Long – 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX
The Team VIP Petfoods’ remaining Targa West schedule
Sunday September 9, 2007
8.20am – First Car Away for K-tec Motorsport Leg Three
Special Stages:
SS24: Muchea 3 – 3.79 kilometres
SS25: Western Range 3 – 15.68 kilometres
SS26: Chittering Long – 19.92 kilometres
SS27: Bindoon Country 3 – 7.66 kilometres
SS28: Lake Chittering 2 – 3.95 kilometres
SS29: Timberden 2 – 4.48 kilometres
SS30: Coondle West 2 – 4.30 kilometres
SS31: Racecourse 1 – 5.33 kilometres
SS32: Coondle West 3 – 4.30 kilometres
SS33: Racecourse 2 – 5.33 kilometres
Expected Podium Time – from 3.30pm.
Distance Travelled for K-tec Motorsport Leg Three:
Competitive: 74.74 kilometres
Liaison: 285.50 kilometres
Total Distance Travelled in Leg Three: 360.24 kilometres
Total Distance Travelled for the 2007 QUIT Targa West:
Competitive: 225.09 kilometres
Liaison: 801.15 kilometres
Total Distance: 1019.30 kilometres
END OF RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
Amanda Cobb - BAM Media - Mobile: 0421 378 789
Team VIP Petfoods - PR and Media
