Pitstop: Targa cars eclipse their star drivers

Peter Brock, Jim Richards and Steve Millen will bring star quality to the Dunlop Targa next month.

But the cars they drive in the six-day tarmac rally, which starts in Auckland and ends in Hastings, may be even more of an attraction for fans. Brock will drive a 5.7-litre Chevrolet V8-powered Daytona sports car that is a modern interpretation of the 1965 Shelby Daytona which dominated the world sports car championship that year. Millen will pilot a Ford GT40, the latest reincarnation of the model driven to victory in the Le Mans 24-hour race by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. Richards returns home with the Porsche GT-3 in which he has won the last two Targas.

Reid performs well at Silverstone

Aucklander Jonny Reid posted the third-fastest time on the second day of testing for A1GP teams at Silverstone, England, beaten only by Germany and Britain. Chris van der Drift and Wade Cunningham also set competitive times in the New Zealand car. The season starts in Holland on October 1.

McRae to drive in Silver Fern rally

Five times British rally champion Jimmy McRae will contest the Silver Fern marathon rally next month in a Honda Integra owned by Gary Smith, from Hamilton, who will be the co-driver.

Fogarty scores suprise win

Gisborne Kawasaki rider Shaun Fogarty provided the major surprise of the first round of the motocross nationals at Mercer by winning the 250cc class ahead of former world champion and titleholder Shayne King.

King's brother Darryll won the 500cc class, Australian Cameron Taylor dominated the 125cc and world champion Katharine Prumm won the women's division.

Car club celebrates75th anniversary

The Auckland Car Club will be organising various events to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. It is one of the biggest of its type in Australasia with more than 700 members.