RallySport Magazine November 2016

Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn took
their third successive Targa NZ victory.
PHOTOS: Fast Company / ProShotz
would not be ready in time.
Quinn and Tillett were never far
behind the lighter, more nimble
Mitsubishi Evos of Inkster and West
early in the event, and were swapping
times with the Subaru of Leigh Hopper
when the GT-R35 was first slowed, then
eventually stopped, by a gearbox issue.
Enjoying a nearly perfect event were
standout Classic 2WD class winners
Regan Ross and Shaun Howie (Ford
Escort RS1800).
A stalwart of the South Island gravel
rally scene, Ross topped his class time
sheets in 21 of the 25 stages, to beat
former class winner and pace-setters,
Mark and Chris Kirk-Burnnand, by
more than six minutes and end up fifth
overall.
Despite Ross and Howie’s winning
margin, there was depth as well as
quality in the Classic 2WD class, with
a pitched battle for second through
sixth places. Kirk-Burnnand was under
constant pressure from Bruce Farley
(BMW 325i), Ashton Wood in another
Escort RS1800, and BMW duos Barry
Kirk-Burnnand (M3), and Rex McDonald
(325i).
There was also a fascinating battle
of the BMWs in the Modern 2WD class,
where Steven Kirk-Burnnand (Barry’s
son) and co-driver Mick Hay eventually
prevailed in their modified 318ti
Compact, over Perth-based Kiwi expat
Rob Darrington in a M3.
They ended up second and third
respectively in class (and fourth and
seventh overall) after a three-way battle
for second place with the only other
driver to take a class stage win other
than Martin Dippie, Marcus van Klink, in
his exciting new Mazda RX8.
The concurrent two-day Targa
Regional Rally, from Palmerston North
to Havelock North, was won by Grant
Marcus van Klink debuted
his fire-breathing Mazda
RX-8.
Aitken and Caroline Cullimore. Second
was Graeme and Maree Coley in an
Audi RS4, with third going to Jerry Friar
and Nick Chibnall-West in a BMW 330ci.
Barry Kirk-Burnnand twowheels
his BMW M3.
NOVEMBER 2016 - RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE | 43