Gentleman Jim wins sixth Targa rally
21/4/2002 21:19 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Racing legend Jim Richards has won his sixth Targa Tasmania rally after today’s fifth and final leg.
The eternal 54-year-old racer, with long-time navigator Barry Oliver, cruised to victory in their Porsche 911 after main rival Tony Quinn crashed out of contention earlier today. Fellow Porsche driver Peter Fitzgerald was second.
It is Richards’ third successive victory in the renowned 1,977km tarmac rally.
"Some people think all we have to do is turn up every year to win,” said Richards, who is contracted to drive with V8 Supercar champion Mark Skaife in this year’s endurance races.
“That's not the case. This year we gave away two minutes to everyone else and things could easily have been different.”
Richards’ son and Perkins Motorsport V8 Supercar driver, Steven Richards didn’t fare as well. The Targa rookie, alongside experienced navigator Jenny Cole, crashed his Holden Monaro on Friday’s stage, amassing more than three hours in penalty time. He finished 66th overall.
But Richards Jnr. vowed to return next year: "I need more practice because that's what I'm lacking. The event itself is fantastic – the organisation to move so many cars around in one event is unbelievable.”
Nine-time Bathurst champion Peter Brock, with son James in the passenger seat, drove his Monaro to a credible sixth.
|
|
