2010 will be the 6th consecutive year that the Fabcar Automotive Group will support the Targa West event. Fabcar have supported the event since it inception in 2005, providing up to 18 support vehicles that will shuffle some of the hundreds of volunteers that the event requires each year to run. Fabcar is proud to assist in this way and also thrilled that they have had some great success with competing in the event, taking out Modern Competition wins with Steve Jones behind the wheel in both 2008 and 2009.

The support vehicles have varied year to year but are made up of an eclectic mix of the best that Japan has to offer. Mitsubishi Delica’s have for the most part been the people mover of choice, and again this year we will see approximatley 12 Delicas moving around Perth and surrounding areas bearing the Targa West livery. Delica’s are the perfect choice for such events as they allow lots of space for both people and equipment.

This year will will see the all new Skyline V36 on the roads  with some officials showcasing the vehicles.

Steve Jones, Ross Hamilton and Mark Conacher will be teaming up with Fabcar, LF Engineering and other sponsors  for Targa West 2010 (August 26-29 2010)

Steve is yet to confirm which vehicle he will be using in an attempt to pull off a third consecutive Modern Competition win, backing up hugely successful 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Targa West will form as a prequel to Steve possibly heading to Japan to compete in some local racing behind the wheel of a Nissan GT-R racing prototype vehicle currently being built by a successful Japanese tuning/development company. Stay tuned for more information. (Steve is also about to launch his own website stevejonesracing.com that will feature lots of information on Steves racing endeavours.) Either way Fabcar will be supporting Steve in his attempt to show off his skills in Japan.

Ross Hamilton with co-driver Tony Robson will take part behind the wheel of the very competitive Mitsubishi Evolution 8 MR. The boys have competed in the last two years of  Targa West, and were making some impact in 2009 before a small error cost the boys  by the end of the event.

2009 Modern Challenge Competition winner, Mr Mark Conacher of McDonalds will be heading the third car (Nissan GT-R). Mark has been an influential help in setting up planning for 2010, in particular assisting with sponsorship for Steve’s Japanese campaign.

Fabcar will support the team with the help of their technical partners LF Engineering. LF Engineering have long supported Fabcar and are the chosen partners when it comes to Motor Racing.

In addition to LF Engineering, Fabcar are also partnering with McDonalds, Northside Nissan, GT Graphics, Live Fitness, Greenline MotorSports, and Caffi Logistics. (Other sponsors are also soon to be announced)

Thank you to all these partners, as we look forward to a successful 2010 campaign.

2008 Modern Competition Winner

‘drive something different!

After six gruelling days of competition, WA driver Steve Jones with co-driver Ben Searcy have completed a successful campaign in the modern section to add 4th place at this years Targa Tasmania to his growing collection of Targa results. Jones drove a standard specification GT-R in only his second outing to the classic Tasmanian event.

Tasmanian local Jason White, drriving his Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Strada, led from start to finish to claim a 63 second win ahead of Queenslander Ray Vandersee in a Skelta G-Force, with Tony Quinn third in a Nissan GT-R two minutes 30 seconds further back.

Congratulations goes to the pair of Liddle and Lloyd in a colourful 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Wagon, as they took a podium in the Modern Rookie event …. well done Stewy!

Congratulations to first place finishes Jason and John White in their 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo with a total time of 1:17L09.18.

Second place outright was Steve Jones and Ben Searcy from WA in their 2008 Nissan Skyline GTR  with a total time of 1:17:26.96. Third place goes to Dean Herridge and Chris Murphy in their 2008 Subaru WRX STi, also from WA, with a time of 1:18:54.27.

The clasic competition was taken out by Rex Broadbent and Chris Randell in their 1974 Porsche 911 RS.

For full results, please CLICK HERE.

Quinn in VIP Pet Foods GTR – completes Day Two

Steve Jones will start at 4th after Stage 1 – Prologue in the newly created Modern Competition Section.

The prestigious event, held from December 4-6, will be the last running of the event according to organisers, so Steve is keen to put on a good showing in the mighty Nissan R35 GTR.

“Having been to Buller previously, I am excited to be driving a fantastic road in such an awesome car” Steve said.
For those who are unfamiliar with the event it is run over a sixteen kilometre closed road from the foot of Mt Buller in north-east Victoria to the Resort township on the mountain’s peak, the course contains more than 132 different corners separated by short bursts of straight and cambered tarmac, all taken under tyre in less than 10 minutes.

Stay tuned for more updates as the team get closer to attacking the challenging event!

Once again thanks to Paul Brockbank from antilag.com for the picture.

For a great read on one of Australia’s leading tarmac rallying drivers, grab yourself a copy of this weeks issue.

Fabcar thanks Paul Brockbank from antilag.com for the image.

Just approved for road registration, Fabcar now have two GTR 35’s in stock. Both are new Black Editions which are the real JDM version currently not available to Australian market.

Jones, who became the youngest winner of the event in 2008, took the win ahead Dean Herridge (WA)/Chris Murphy (QLD) and Alister McRae(WA)/Bill Hayes(WA).

Competing in a Nissan GTR 35 Jones had an early lead snatched by Tony Quinn (QLD)/Naomi Tillett (SA), also in a Nissan GTR 35, during Leg 1 on Friday before re-taking the lead during Leg 2 on Saturday. Heading into Leg 3 this morning he had a 22 second lead and didn’t look back, taking the win and his second QUIT Targa West title.

“There’s no way to explain this victory, it’s just hard work,” Jones said at the finish. “Those Queenslander’s (Quinn) they’re just like a dog with a bone, they don’t give up.  We just had to keep out foot down all weekend and he kept us honest big time, but that’s what it’s all about you’ve got to have competition like that.”