Reigning champion Rex Broadbent continues to cruise at the head of the Shannons Targa Tasmanian Classic field as the event enters its crucial final two days.
The Victorian CSIRO laboratory manager and his NSW navigator John Lilleyman have been untroubled to lead the Classic Outright competition from Day 1 since the post-Prologue retirement with terminal engine problems of key rivals Bill Pye/Grant Geelan in their similar 1974 Porsche 911 RS.
Broadbent/Lilleyman have now pulled out a handy 1min 48sec gap on their closest rivals, fellow Porsche crews Gavin James/Neil McLeod from Victoria (1989 Porsche 944 S2), with Peter Eames (Victoria) and Will Logan (Tasmania) 33 seconds behind them third in their 1974 Porsche 911 RS.
Eames conceded second place on the Dunorlan second stage of the day after spinning his Porsche and hitting a white roadside post, slightly denting a rear rim.
"We were going a little too hard," admitted Eames, "but fortunately there was no real damage and we kept going. However it cost us around 24 seconds and we're now in third place, which is not where we want to be."
After inheriting second place by the Devonport lunchbreak, James and McLeod kept the hammer down during the afternoon's four stages to stretch their advantage to 33 seconds.
However they, in turn, are now only 32 seconds ahead of the NSW crew of David Morton and Malcolm McDonald in their 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup coupe, who played leapfrog today with Queensland's Jon Siddens and Darren Ferguson in their 1970 Datsun 240Z.
The 944 Cup is no stranger to the podium, as it is the winning car of Andrew Miedecke in the 1994 Targa Tasmania, but it's clear that its battle with the Datsun will resume on Day 4 when the field faces its longest and most difficult day as it tackles seven stages between Launceston and Strahan.
A surprise sixth outright in Classic and 59 seconds behind Siddins/Ferguson after three days of competition is Melbourne's Steve Coad in his 600HP 1971 Monaro.
Coad and the Monaro have the proven pace to make the podium - he finished third outright in Classic last year - but this time instead of a professional navigator, the note-calling is being shared on alternate days by his wife Rachael and 21-year-old daughter Kaila.
"I'm under strict instructions to stay on the road and it seems to be paying off," said Coad, "It's really pleasing to be this high up at this stage."
By Michael Browning
