Debutante driver takes out Targa

IN his maiden voyage, Dean Lillie has pulled off a remarkable feat to win the Targa High Country tarmac on the weekend. The eleventh running of Targa High Country took place this weekend and attracted a strong field of modern, showroom and classic cars. The event will act as the middle leg of the 2021 Motorsport Australia Targa Championship following the disruptions to schedules last year due to the COVID-19 crisis. After celebrating its 10th anniversary with a snow-hit 2019 event, Targa High Country was postponed in November to this weekend. It concluded after three intense days of motor sport action around the testing roads of Mt Buller and Mansfield Shire. Returning again were popular locals Brian and Linda Dermott who have competed in all previous 10 editions of Targa High Country. The Dermotts again commandeered their 1962 Austin Healey 3000 Mk2 BT7, which Brian labels ‘a member of the family’. But Lillie was a man on a mission across the day's final six stages on the run to Eildon and back to Mansfield. Afternoon storms triggered a treacherous start on Friday. The field was met with wild winds and a sodden Mt Buller road after a large storm front sliced through Victoria’s interior. Entering his first Targa event, Lillie and the experienced co-driver Steve Glenney prevailed in their 2007 Mitsubishi Evo X in the three-day rally that encompassed 16 competitive stages. The Melburnian was in sizzling form right from the opening day after a master display of control and speed on some of Targa's most challenging roads to win overall and also land the Dutton Garage Early Modern 4 category. Lillie and Glenney produced a polished performance to win by two minutes 27 seconds. The pair also cruised to victory in Dutton Garage Early Modern 4, ending just under three minutes ahead. Tony Quinn and Kate Catford improved from their fourth position overnight to claim second outright in their 2018 Nissan GT-R. Liam and Larry Howarth slipped back a position to be third overall. However, it was Lillie who stole the show with a flawless and measured run. “I’ve wanted to do this event since I first came to the Mt Buller Sprint back in the early days,” Lillie said of his stunning Targa debut. “The car held up well and we drove the wheels off it ever since the opening day when it was wet. “The twisty Jamieson and Eildon stages really suited the Evo and Steve (Glenney) has done an amazing job on the other side of the car.” Glenney, who has a wealth of experience as a driver and co-driver, said their explicit preparation had paid dividends. “As with everything we do, we came prepared because we always want to do the best job we can,” Glenney said. “I suppose you could call it a bit of a giant-killing performance but we are not surprised that we have done so well.” The order in GT Outright was shaken up after the opening stage off Mt Buller when Luke Anear and Andy Sarandis suffered a puncture in their 2018 Mercedes AMG GT R, cruelly dropping the pair from the lead. It left 2020 Targa Great Barrier Reef winner Tony Quinn and his co-driver Kate Catford to take victory in their 2018 Nissan GT-R. Anear fought back strongly in an inspired drive to finish third just behind Thomas Monaghan/Alan Stephenson’s 2015 Subaru WRX. In Classic Handicap, Melbourne competitors Peter Gluskie and Samantha Winter continued their dream form to win by forging clear in their 1989 BMW 325i to win by just over three minutes. RESULTS Overall 1 Dean Lillie/Steve Glenney (2007 Mitsubishi Evo X) 2 Tony Quinn/Kate Catford (2018 Nissan GT-R R35) +2:27s 3 Liam Howarth/Larry Howarth (1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R) ++2:54s 4 Geoffrey Hewitt/Toni Hewitt (2009 Nissan GT-R) +4:13s 5 Thomas Monaghan/Alan Stephenson (2015 Subaru WRX) +4.25s Mt Buller GT Outright 1 Tony Quinn/Kate Catford (2018 Nissan GT-R R35) 2 Thomas Monaghan/Alan Stephenson (2015 Subaru WRX) +1:58s 3 Luke Anear/Andy Sarandis (2018 Mercedes AMG GT T) +3:22s Classic Handicap 1 Peter Gluskie/Samantha Winter (1989 BMW 325i) 2 Paul Byrne/Colin Byrne (1975 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000) +3:04s 3 Philip-Jon Buggee/Paul Freame (1975 Fiat 131) +7:01s Mansfield Shire GT Production 1 Thomas Monaghan/Alan Stephenson (2015 Subaru WRX) 2 Barrie Smith/Dale Moscatt (2017 Audi TTRS) +2:03s 3 Michael Minshall/Julie Winton-Monet (2011 Audi TTRS) +9:55s Classic GT 1 Roger Lomman/Anne Bainbridge (1972 Datsun 240z) 2 Adam Kaplan/Aleshia Penney (1988 HSV Walkinshaw) +1:06s 3 Mark Griffith/Neil Woolley (1976 Datsun 1600) +2:30:43s Dutton Garage Early Modern 2 1 Adam Spence/Lee Challoner-Miles (2004 BMW M3 CSL) 2 Edward Merewether/Jennifer Gillott (2007 Renault Sport Megane F1 R26) +5:56s 3 David Blunden/Robert Sheppard (1997 Nissan Skyline) +7:36s Dutton Garage Early Modern 4 1 Dean Lillie/Steve Glenney (2007 Mitsubishi Evo X) 2 Liam Howarth/Larry Howarth (1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R) +2:54s 3 Geoffrey Hewitt/Toni Hewitt (2009 Nissan GT-R) +4:13s Mansfield Shire GT Sports Trophy 1 Simon Trude/Dion Morrison (2019 Lotus Exige 410 Sport) 2 Robert Bryden/Ian Noble (2000 Lotus Exige) +25s 3 Steven Sher/Fergal Murphy (2016 Lotus Exige) +2:07s Mansfield Shire Thoroughbred Trophy 1 Brett Dillon/Geoffrey Corah (1973 Alfa Romeo 105) 2 Laura Rogers/Gavin Rogers (1957 Austin Healey 100/6) +3:26s 3 Robert Greig/Stephen Harris (1971 Datsun 240z) +15.45 TSD Trophy 1 Neville Emond/Stephen Jones (1996 Volvo 850R) 41pts 2 Tracy Hoven/Garth Davies (2018 Alpine A110) 43pts 3 Shane Navin/Glenn Evans (2018 Volkswagen Golf R) 55pts