Gill & Summerfield get chance to shine on first day of Targa Rotorua event

Targa tarmac rally specialist Jason Gill and new co-driver Nicole Summerfield (VW Polo R) got their chance to shine on the first day of competition at the revived two-day Targa Rotorua tarmac motor rally in and around the lakeside Bay of Plenty tourist town today.

***Multi-time former Targa Rotorua winner Leigh Hopper and co-driver Michael Goudie (#969 Subaru WRX) were a shock early withdrawal from this year’s event.***

With mechanical issues sidelining multi-time former event winner and favourite Leigh Hopper and co-driver Michael Goudie (Subaru Impreza WRX) just five kilometres into the first stage, and also claiming fellow usual event front-runner David Rogers and his co-driver, Shane Reynolds (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) early in the second, neither Gill nor fellow Auckland Targa event veteran Cameron Ross and his co-driver Matthew Buer (Subaru Impreza WRX) needed any extra encouragement to step into the limelight.

***In second place after a battle which see-sawed all day are Cameron Ross and Matthew Buer (Subaru Impreza Sti)***

Both drivers won three stages apiece with the day’s final finishing order only really decided in Gill and Summerfield’s favour when they won the final stage of the day – by 4.6 seconds over former Targa NZ winner Martin Dippie and co-driver Jona Grant (Porsche 911 GT3 RS) with Ross and Buer a further 4.4 seconds back in third.

Gill and Summerfield now head into the second day of competition on the western side of the Mamaku Ranges and centred on Cambridge, with a lead of 16.9 seconds over Ross and Buer with the Dippie/Grant Porsche 911 GT3 RS the first of the non 4WD runners in third place a further 27.4 seconds back.

***In third place is the Porsche 911 GT3 RS of 2WD category leader Martin Dippie and Jona Grant***

For more information go to targa.nz or check out the Targa NZ page on Facebook.

Day 1 Results (Top 10)
1/ Jason Gill/Nicole Summerfield, (VW Polo R) 1:28:31.2
2/ Cameron Ross/Matthew Buer, (Subaru Impreza Sti) 1:28:48.1
3/ Martin/Jona Grant, (Porsche 991 GT3) 1:29:15.5
4/ Rory Callaway/Samantha Gray, (Subaru Impreza Sti) 1:30:08.7
5/ Bruce Herbert/Bevan Parker, (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 10) 1:30:35.4
6/ Mike Tubbs/Brooke Walde,n (BMW M2) 1:31:05.2
7/ Robert Darrington/David Abetz, (BMW E46 M3) 1:31:19.3
8/ Andrew Oakley/Steve Hutchins, (Audi RS5) 1:32:37.3
9/ Stephen Harrison/Jono Climo, (Audi S3) 1:33:32.8
10/ Nathan Apatu/David Goodwin, (Porsche GT3) 1:33.48.6