Targa Bambina Takes Motorsport Action to the Fans

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For immediate release

2012 Targa Bambina
Auckland-Coromandel-Auckland
Fri-Sun
March 16-18
2012

15-03-12

EVENT PREVIEW # 3

Targa Bambina Takes Motorsport Action to the Fans

This weekend's Targa Bambina tarmac motor rally is all about taking fast-paced motorsport action to the people.

Over the two days the 80+ crews contesting the annual two-day event from Auckland to Whitianga and back will cover 161 kms of competitive stages and 333.3 km of transport stages from Ramarama in the north to Waitewheta, near Waihi, in the south.

The event comprises 15 competitive stages, the shortest the 8.38km Hikutaia sprint up Old Maratoto Rd and back down Maratoto Rd near Paeroa on Saturday afternoon, the longest the 35km Rotongaro Glenmurray marathon north-west of Huntly (which competitors cover twice) on Sunday afternoon.

Combinations to look out for in the Instra.com Allcomers 4WD category are last year's Targa Bambina winners Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn in their Mitsubishi Evo 6 and last year's Targa New Zealand event winners Tony Quinn and Naomi Tillett (Nissan GTR-35).

Now that the high-performance 4WD cars like Nissan's GT-R35 and the various Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evos models have a category of their own it will also be interesting to see who wins the Instra.com Modern 2WD category.

Pairings to look out for in that are Ross Johnson and Mike Patching in a Porsche 996 GT2, Allan Lewis and Colin Cole in a Chev V8-engined Datsun 240Z and father and son Rick and Corban Martin in their BMW 135i.

This weekend's event also sees one of the country's top Drifters, Pukekohe driver Cam Vernon, get a taste for tarmac rallying on four of the stages, Ostrich Farm and Coromandel SH25 on Saturday and Lake Waikare and the first run through Rotongaro Glen Murray on Sunday.

Drifting has its roots on roads in Japan (the Japanese word is 'Touge' meaning 'canyon') very similar to the ones used in Targa events here and Vernon and Targa New Zealand event director Peter Martin came up with the T4T (Targa for Touge) initiative to promote closer links between competitors in the two disciplines.

There are literally hundreds of good, safe places to catch the action over the two days, with three stages offering particularly good access and viewing. For full details check out the spectator page online at ww.targa.co.nz

These are;

Stage 3 - Maioro, south-west of Waiuku
This is the third stage of the morning on Saturday morning with a good viewing corner accessed via Smith Rd which is off the main Waiuku/Otaua Rd. Stage road closure is from 9.20 to 12.20am with the first competing car due to leave the start at 10.05am

Stage 4 - Ostrich Farm, north of Pukekohe
This is the fourth stage of the morning on Saturday morning with excellent viewing access via Ostrich Rd which is off Glenbrook Rd. Stage road closure is from 10.00am to 1.00pm with the first car away at 11.00am.

Stage 9 - Whiritoa SH25 - east of Waihi
This is the first stage on Sunday morning after the overnight stop at Whitianga. Access to a great viewing spot is via the Waihi/Whangamata Rd from the Waihi end. The road closure comes into effect at 8.30am until 11.30am with the first competing car due to leave the Whiritoa start at 9.35am

For more information about the event, with maps showing each stage and an itinerary go to the Targa NZ website at www.targa.co.nz or the event's facebook page (www.facebook.com/TargaNZ).

Stage maps and the itinerary are also bound into the latest NZ Classic Car magazine available at bookshops, supermarkets and service stations.

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