Dunedin driver Martin Dippie had a very dominant win at the just completed Targa Rally in the North Island over the weekend.
In fact, he could have gone one better but it was a very impressive effort.
Driving his new 2016 Porsche GT3RS 991, Dippie won the 2WD modern class, and was second overall in the event. He won his class by more than 9min and was just over 5min behind winner Glenn Inkster.
Partnering with co-driver Jona Grant, the duo won 24 of the 25 timed stages in his class. The race started in Taupo late last week and finished in Havelock North on Sunday.
Dippie said yesterday he was extremely happy to win and his new vehicle had performed well.
''You always go out wanting to win but this year was very competitive and we were up against some top drivers,'' he said.
''A couple of days it was raining and very wet and in a two-wheel-drive car in the wet it is always a bit of a challenge.''
The car hit a bank on the second day but was not damaged and could continue.
''We came flying around the corner and the car just went sideways, went off the road and sort of bounced into the bank. The bank was soft and we quickly got going again.
''The wheels had some soil in them. It was like a concrete mixer for a while but the car was fine.''
It was the first time in a rally for the new vehicle and it was very fast, he said.
The rally has a speed limit of 200kmh and was raced on tarmac roads right through the central North Island.
Dippie said the new car kept on the road well and was faster than previous cars he had.
It made for some thrilling rides on the closed roads.
''I went into one 35kmh corner, approaching it at 160kmh, and went round it at 120kmh. So it is very fast. And you get better the longer you race.''
He declined to say how much the Porsche cost. The competitors are not able to drive the roads before the race so there are no pace notes or reconnaissance.
Highlands Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn also competed and ended up sixth overall.
He was going to take delivery of a Porsche GT3 RS like the vehicle in which Dippie and Grant competed but his roll cage did not arrive in time.
He was forced to press his well-used Nissan GT-R35 4WD into service and did well to end up sixth after issues with a gearbox. There was 134 cars in the event.
The Targa rally will be in the North Island again next year.
