Sunday, 29 January 2012 21:29

Craig and Emma brought the Mustang Motorsport Saleen S302 Extreme home in a brilliant 8th place at the finish of the 2012 Targa Wrest Point event. Here is Craig's report from the day...

On Sunday morning I woke up feeling anxious and ready to rally. The Mustang was waiting for us in park ferme, approximately a 5 minute walk from the hotel. We met up with Marty and Maudie for breakfast at Wrestpoint Casino and discussed the plans for today's run. We got to the Mustang, set the tyre pressures and checked over the wheel nut tensions.

Stage 8 - Pelverata
Emma settled into the seats and away we went for the first stage of Leg 2. The rough stage certainly shakes you around, but the Mustang  handled it well. It bottomed out in the suspension a few times, which is always a concern of perhaps denting a rim or getting a flat tyre. We were glad to  get that one out of the way. Emma was telling me that it was so rough, it made reading the notes and turning pages difficult.
Stage: 11th (00:54 behind winner)
Overall: 10th (06:37 behind leader)

Stage 9 - Nicholls Rivulet 1
We flew through the second stage of the day smoothly. We had a great run, but I was not quite on track with taking in the calls that Emma put to me.
Stage: 11th (00:34 behind winner)
Overall: 9th (07:07 behind leader)

Stage 10 - Gardners Bay 1
On the third stage it all started to click and as Emma called the notes I comprehended immediately. What a buzz - the thrill to blend as one with the car, flowing through the winding fast road, is just too hard to portray to you unless you have actually done it yourself. Each stage to the end from then on was just a blast.
Stage: =1st
Overall: 8th (07:07 behind leader)

Stage 11 - Cygnet 1
Stage: 8th (00:51 behind winner)
Overall: 8th (07:58 behind leader)

Stage 12 - Nicholls Rivulet 2
Stage: 7th (00:26 behind winner)
Overall: 8th (08:24 behind leader)

Stage 13 - Gardners Bay 2
Stage: 6th (00:29 behind winner)
Overall: 8th (08:53 behind leader)

Stage 14 - Cygnet 2
We safely made it to the end, although on the last stage of the day the engine temperature was really high as we were coming up to pass a second car for the stage, an Evo 9, and I could smell something burning. I slowed to allow the temps to come back - about 1/2km at reduced speed and all came back to normal. A wide open throttle again, and we caught up to the Evo again by the end. It turned out that the burning smell was from the rear carbon fibre splitter burning from the exhaust gases after the exhaust mounting bracket came loose!
Stage: 6th (00:52 behind winner)
Overall: 8th (09:45 behind leader)

"Yay, Emma we did it. We finished the whole event." We were just thrilled, and Emma did a fantastic job - thank you!

I want to reflect on the less fortunate and offer commiserations to those that crashed out. I pray for a speedy recovery from any injuries. Congratulations to the winners in all categories, and i look forward to seeing you all at the next Targa event. Thank you also to the Tasmanian public, all the volunteers, and Octagon for putting on these great driving events.

That's Targa Wrestpoint over for another year - roll on Targa Tasmania!
Craig.