Dunlop Targa 08

Mason wins in the 2008 Dunlop Targa NZ

Richard and Sara Mason finished 23 seconds ahead of defending champion Joe McAndrew and Sue O’Neill, in the Modern Competiton and Kim McLeod in his 1979 Mazda RX7 wins the Classic Competition by over 13 minutes after completing 754km of grueling racing over 5 days.

Competitors in the 5th and final day of the 2008 Dunlop Targa NZ faced gale force winds and heavy rain as they headed out to complete the last 8 stages of this 35 stage endurance event; this final day being based in and around Wellington.

It was survival of the fittest as drivers endured Akatarawa Road, Paekakariki Hill Road and Moonshine Road. Shelly Bay stage was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions with a trail of power poles down and branches that affected the stage.

Starting the day in number one position was Joe McAndrew and co-driver Sue O’Neill in their 2001 Nissan Skyline, but New Zealand’s top rallying couple Richard and Sara Mason in their bright yellow STI 2005 Subaru Impreza stole the lead off McAndrew. Richard and Sara Mason have been named as the winners of the modern competition in the 2008 Dunlop Targa NZ finishing 23 seconds ahead of McAndrew.

Third and fourth position was also hotly contested with Emma Gilmour in her 2006 Subaru Impreza trading third position to Gavin Richies in his 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The treacherous weather saw Kim McLeod in his 1979 Mazda RX7 holding his leading position in the classic competition. Second position was tightly held by the 1988 BMW M3 driven by Barry Kirk-Burnnand. Warren Glassford in his 1987 BMW 3201 E30 managed to take third position from driver David Nathan and co-driver Chris Ramsey in their 1974 Triumph Stag just 47 seconds behind taking fourth position.

Competitors crossed the finish line at the Taranaki Wharf in Wellington, greeted by a large crowd standing in the extreme conditions to welcome them home. A majority of the cars came home looking a bit worse for wear and some with more race tape than paint, but for most this five day event will be a fixture on their 2009 calendar.