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SOUTH Australian Steve Glenney and his $60,000 Mazda RX8 are shaping as the giant killers of the 2011 Targa Wrest Point up against the $500,000 Lamborghinis and $300,000 Porsches in the tarmac rally today and tomorrow.
The 150 spots in the two-day event have been filled for months, with competitors from all states and the Northern Territory tackling the roads south of Hobart.
It is the second round of the Australian Tarmac Championship, with the first leg held at Mt Buller in November, and it will be followed by Targa Tasmania in April.
Glenney, a Targa Tasmania champion, believes his rotary-engine, turbo-charged Mazda RX8 can win the David-and-Goliath battle over the 14 stages and 208km.
"We were leading the first round of the championship on day one when we had a $2 part fail on us," he said yesterday.
"Hopefully we can continue where we left off in Victoria top of the podium, that's what we are aiming for."
The twin Lamborghini Gallardo dream machines of defending champion Jason White, of Tasmania, and Kevin Weeks, of SA, are Formula One-bred and boast powerful V10 engines.
But Glenney says his RX8 could bite the European machines where it hurts.
"The Mazda RX8 is always going to be an underdog up against Lamborghinis and Porsches and things," he said.
"But we've been developing this car for the last couple of years and it's the special turbo version of the RX8.
"I think we've certainly got the pace to take the fight right up to the big-hitting Lambos and Porsches."
It is not only the RX8's rotary that make it a threat.
"It corners like an openwheeler race car," Glenney said.
"It has phenomenal speeds through the corners and its braking is just mind-blowing.
"On the faster, flowing stages, where you can just keep the speed up and running and have high corner speed, that's where we'll do really well."
The Targa field is housed at the University of Tasmania's rugby ground carpark, which is free to spectators tonight.
The official start will be from the uni carpark at 8.30am today, with the first stage at Lucaston at 9.08am.
Tomorrow's finish will be on the top deck of the Wrest Point carpark, with the first arrival scheduled for 1.30pm and presentations at 3pm.
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I wonder if they are using a Renesis or a REW engine.
__________________ Don't try this at home. It could be dangerous. I have years of experience.
Emissions and fuel economy haven't exactly been areas of strength for past rotary power plants, but absolutely no one with a soul has ever cared. - Autoweek
Rotary History:1982 RX7 GS, 1985 RX7 GSL-SE, 2004 RX8 Sport-Continuous Rotary Owner since 1985
Racing History:SCCA Solo II 1979-1986, Skip Barber Comp School 1983, SCCA Club Racing 1987-1993, 2004-2011 Track Days
I wonder what he meant by: "But we've been developing this car for the last couple of years and it's the special turbo version of the RX8"
__________________ 2008 VW / Jetta Wolfsburg 2.0T / Reflex Silver Metallic Clearcoat. Current.
2009 Mazda / RX-8 R3 (FE17) / Aurora Electric Blue Mica. Traded
2001 Toyota / Corolla CE (E114) / Sandrift Metallic. Totalled - Not at Fault.
"My happiness can be measured by my odometer."
__________________ Don't try this at home. It could be dangerous. I have years of experience.
Emissions and fuel economy haven't exactly been areas of strength for past rotary power plants, but absolutely no one with a soul has ever cared. - Autoweek
Rotary History:1982 RX7 GS, 1985 RX7 GSL-SE, 2004 RX8 Sport-Continuous Rotary Owner since 1985
Racing History:SCCA Solo II 1979-1986, Skip Barber Comp School 1983, SCCA Club Racing 1987-1993, 2004-2011 Track Days
Does anyone know why they use S1 Tail Lights also with S2 Fenders and Head Lights...
Answer: Because it is one of Horsley's earlier S1 Turbo cars done up too look like an S2...and Mazda Australia are tight asses...remember every cent of profit has to go back to Japan, they are obsessed with it....remember Mazda Japan just reported a last quarter 2010 $33 million loss, because the Yen is so strong...sales numbers actually increased as did gross sales profit.
i love my 8 and know they have so much potential but am still surprised at 2nd overall. how much power is it putting to the wheels? this isnt a tube frame car this is a modified rx8 that is faster on tarmac than an 2009 Nissan GT-R amazing.
Our chassis kicks ***, we all know that
What we really lack is power from the factory. Huge drawback if you don't want to modify your car and tailor it to your needs, minor set-back if you bought the car as a platform to develop on your own.
__________________
Enlightenment is man’s leaving his self-caused immaturity. Immaturity is the incapacity to use one's intelligence without the guidance of another. Such immaturity is self-caused if it is not caused by lack of intelligence, but by lack of determination and courage to use one's intelligence without being guided by another. Sapere Aude! - Immanuel Kant
i love my 8 and know they have so much potential but am still surprised at 2nd overall. how much power is it putting to the wheels? this isnt a tube frame car this is a modified rx8 that is faster on tarmac than an 2009 Nissan GT-R amazing.
+1
Im not sure why this isnt huge.... This is kind of a big deal...
Awesome ! The 8 showed it could mix it with the big boys in last years Targa Tasmania .
I'm surprised it has taken this long for someone to put decent effort into the 8 for a Targa event . Pity it's aty the end of its production run .
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Originally Posted by Slidin8
Brettus seems to be the only one with a straight up answer
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Originally Posted by shadycrew31
Brettus seems to be the only one with a straight up answer.
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Originally Posted by EricB
Brettus seems to be the only one with a straight up answer
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