Targa circus strolls into town

The travelling motor circus is in Taranaki today after the 15th annual Targa rally rolled into New Plymouth yesterday evening.

Local enthusiasts can get out and watch 100 cars from the classic vintage to the powerful V8s blasting along Inglewood, Tarata, Whangamomona, and Eltham roads this morning and this afternoon.

The big race attracts everyone from classic enthusiasts to the high-profile NZV8 drivers for both the touring and hard racing aspects.

One of the must see attractions is the grandfather of the race – the little Fiat Abarth 1964 Berlina Corsa – driven by Rotorua's Mike Lowe and Wellington co-driver Phillip Sutton.

Their Corsa is the only vehicle to have entered and completed every Targa event to date.

"This car's a very comfortable car. The car's about four foot six and we wear it like a pair of shoes," said Lowe, standing at six foot four in Devon St East last night.

"The car performed extremely well today, the stages suit the smaller cars that like corners.

"We did get the car sideways on a couple of stages, and up on two wheels more than we care to say. But that's what it's all about."

Everyone arrived relatively intact in New Plymouth last night, except official Neil Tolich in the 003 numbered Aston Martin.

A classic V8 being driven with sponsors on board, the car hit a pothole and destroyed the rim of one of its front wheels.

As only one company in New Zealand is authorised to work on the rare beauty, it had to be taken back to Auckland.

Targa is split into the Metalman Classic Competition and Modern Competition, which as of yesterday is being led by Tony Quinn in his 2008 Nissan R35 GT-R. There are also just plain touring cars, as well as locals who entered the Targa Taranaki one-day event.

Where to see them

The cars will depart the Centre City parking building at 8.15am this morning and head out through Inglewood to the start of the first special stage of the day at Tarata at 9am.

After 31.18km of hard racing, they will drive back past Waitara to the start of the next special stage – the Inglewood Jumps for 25.07km.

From there it's on to Whangamomona for two special stages – the first beginning at 11.05am, and then the trip back at 1.40pm after lunch.

Eltham will host the next stage for a 10.85km sprint starting at 2.58pm, with the final stage at Waitotara at 2.13pm before the tour makes its way to Wanganui to end the evening.