Kevin Weeks wins inaugural Targa High Country Rally
South Australian Kevin Weeks has recorded a dramatic victory over Tasmanian Jason White at the inaugural Targa High Country in Victoria.
Initially, White was handed the crown as everyone believed he had crossed the line 6 seconds ahead after a gruelling final day tussel. But Weeks asked for a review of times on the days 5th stage which found that he’d been incorrectly allocated a time.
With the corrected time Weeks was the winner 20 seconds clear of his fellow Lamborghi driver and a further 1 minute 21 seconds in front of third place getter, eight time Targa Tasmania winner, Jim Richards.
“We had a fantastic weekend and this is a great reward for all my team. It is unfortunate that the error happened. But these things can occur in such logistically complicated events like a Targa and it’s just one of those things.
“It’s been a really fantastic event, it’s gone off really well and I would like to congratulate everyone associated with the event and also congratulate Jason (White) on such a fantastic competition over the two days.
“It’s been a fantastic rally. The roads are amazing and take so much commitment from a driver.”
White had displayed the incredible form that took him to victory in Targa Tasmaniaand Targa Wrest Point earlier this year across the weekend.
White constantly set fastest stage times in an enthralling duel with Weeks. As well as bad luck on the finish line he had also experience a number of problems over the weekend.
“In the last three stages it felt like something was broken with the steering and the wheels seemed to be flapping about, but we pushed through to the finish.”
Subaru driver Dean Herridge was at a horsepower disadvantage against his rivals, but pushed hard over the day’s tight and twisty stages, taking fourth place. One place further back was Matt Close in his Audi TTRS, one minute and 21 seconds behind Herridge.
The RDA Brakes Showroom competition was won by Peter Brown in a Mazda3 Diesel, while former touring car star, Andrew Miedecke, was too good in the Shannons Classic Outright section.
The next round of the Australian Targa Championship is the Hobart based Targa Wrest Point, on January 29 and 30, 2011.
Via: TargaHighCountry
Images: TargaHighCountry
