Motorsport: Targa Bambina takes the race to the fans

Targa Bambina 2011 winners Glen Inkster and Spencer Winn in their Mitsubishi Evo VI. Photo / GroundSky Photography

This weekend's Targa Bambina tarmac rally is all about taking fast-paced motorsport action to the people.

Over the two days the 80-plus crews contesting the annual two-day event from Auckland to Whitianga and back will cover 161 kms of competitive stages and 333.3 km of transport stages from Ramarama in the north to Waitewheta, near Waihi.

The event comprises 15 competitive stages, the shortest the 8.38km Hikutaia sprint up Old Maratoto Rd and back down Maratoto Rd near Paeroa on Saturday afternoon, the longest the 35km Rotongaro Glenmurray marathon north-west of Huntly - which competitors run twice - on Sunday afternoon.

Combinations to look out for in the Instra.com Allcomers 4WD category are last year's Targa Bambina winners Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn in their Mitsubishi Evo 6 and last year's Targa New Zealand event winners Tony Quinn and Naomi Tillett in their very rapid Nissan GTR.

These high-performance 4WD cars now in their own category, allowing the Modern 2WD teams to fight amongst themselves for the silverware.

Ross Johnson and Mike Patching in their Porsche 996 GT2, Allan Lewis and Colin Cole's Chev V8-engined Datsun 240Z and father and son Rick and Corban Martin in their BMW 135i will all be pairings to watch.

One of the country's top drifters, Pukekohe driver Cam Vernon, get a taste for tarmac rallying on four of the stages, Ostrich Farm and Coromandel SH25 on Saturday and Lake Waikare and the first run through Rotongaro Glen Murray on Sunday.

Drifting has its roots on roads in Japan - the Japanese word is 'touge' meaning 'canyon' - very similar to the Targa stages, and Targa director Peter Martin came up with a T4T (Targa for Togue) class to promote links between the disciplines.

ones used in Targa events here and Vernon and Targa New Zealand event director Peter Martin came up with the T4T (Targa for Touge) initiative to promote closer links between competitors in the two disciplines.

There are many excellent places to watch the action over the weekend, with three stages offering particularly good access and viewing.

Stage 3 - Maioro, south-west of Waiuku<
Saturday's third stage, with a good viewing corner accessed via Smith Rd (off the main Waiuku/Otaua Rd). Stage road closure is from 9.20 to 12.20am with the first competing car due to leave the start at 10.05am

Stage 4 - Ostrich Farm, north of Pukekohe
The fourth stage Saturday morning gives excellent viewing access via Ostrich Rd, which is off Glenbrook Rd. Stage road closure is from 10.00am to 1.00pm with the first car away at 11.00am.

Stage 9 - Whiritoa SH25 - east of Waihi
Sunday's first stage after the overnight stop at Whitianga. Access to a top spot is via the Waihi/Whangamata Rd from the Waihi end. The road closure comes into effect at 8.30am until 11.30am with the first competing car due to leave the Whiritoa start at 9.35am.

For more detailed information, check out the Targa NZ website or Facebook page. Alternatively, download the 4MB pdf spectator guide attached to this article.

- NZ HERALD STAFF