Richards V Richards in Targa tussle
30/1/2002 13:39 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
New Perkins Motorsport driver Steven Richards will take time out from his V8 Supercar commitments in April to try and arrest his father Jim’s stranglehold on Targa Tasmania.
Richards joins Touring Car legend Peter Brock in a factory-backed, two-car Holden Monaro assault on the notorious tarmac rally.
Richards, a Targa rookie, will partner experienced navigator Jenny Cole, while Brock will re-team with his son James in the production-based Monaros, each out to end Jim Richards’ two-year reign as Targa king.
29-year-old Richards, who rejoins Holden for the 2002 V8 season after driving for Ford Tickford Racing last year, said learning the pace-noting system for the 1,968km, 43-stage journey would be his biggest challenge.
"I've been in the Grand Prix Rally a couple of times, and a few other smaller events, but nothing as hard and fast like Targa,” he said.
"For me the hardest thing will be getting to know how to interpret and understand pace notes information when you're driving flat-out around a slippery, greasy corner.”
Richards said his father had been generous with his unrivalled knowledge of the event, but “turning words into action is something else again.”
Brock said Holden’s commitment to the event would be rewarded by “giving it a big shake.”
"It's a tough event, but the Monaro is a fabulous motor vehicle and Steven Richards is one of the best young drivers around so there's no reason why we can't do well,” said Brock, who drove a Monaro to his first major podium finish in the 1969 Bathurst 1000.
Richards Snr. and V8 Supercar series commentator Barry Oliver will campaign the Porsche 911 turbo they drove to victory in last year’s race.
|
|
