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Skelta Targa Tasmania day one summary

Vandersee on Track for Top Ten at Targa Skelta Sports Car Managing Director Ray Vandersees confidence in recording an overall top ten finish to the Targa Tasmania Rally remains on track, after turning in a near faultless display during day one at ...

Published: Apr 29, 2004, 9:51 PM

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Vandersee on Track for Top Ten at Targa

Skelta Sports Car Managing Director Ray Vandersees confidence in recording an overall top ten finish to the Targa Tasmania Rally remains on track, after turning in a near faultless display during day one at Devonport.

Starting just after 10am this morning, the Toowoomba based driver made every post a winner in his Westfield Clubman and despite a minor hitch remains at the pointy end of the field.

"We had a battery die on us but it didn't cost us any valuable time on what was an extremely enjoyable day for myself and navigator John Allen," said Vandersee.

"The car has been a dream to drive handling wise and we're certainly on track to turn in a career best performance in this, my fifth Targa Tasmania Rally.

Tomorrow, drivers will travel down the east coast from Launceston to Hobart in what Vandersee describes as the toughest, most gruelling stages of the 2300 kilometre journey.

But an even more pleasing aspect of the southern sojourn has been the genuine interest in the Skelta G-Force sports car, that is currently being developed at the Toowoomba workshop based at Vanderfield Pty Ltd on Carrington Road.

Some of the more familiar names in Australian Motorsport are watching the vehicle's progress with interest, including regular Australian V8 Supercar Track commentator and navigator of current Targa Tasmania leader Jim Richards.

"I was talking with Barry Oliver earlier today and he mentioned he has been following the progress of the Skelta G-Force through our web site and can't wait to get a look at the car once we are ready to move into the testing phase.

"That'll probably be happening in less than a month and generally the interest in the car has been overwhelming down here at Tasmania.

"Without having the Skelta G-Force at a stage of development where we can better illustrate its unique qualities, all we can do is continue to generate interest leading up to its introduction on to the Australian Sports Car market later this year.

"It's very encouraging to hear comments like that from people so heavily involved in the industry."

Vandersee is using the Targa Tasmania Rally as a marketing opportunity for the Skelta G-Force with all support vehicles and the Westfield Clubman emblazoned with Skelta imagery.

The Skelta G-Force will be launched during the historic Leyburn Sprints on August 21, an event Vandersee has won the past two years in his Westfield Clubman.

-ssc-

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