Nations cup racer Paul Stokell and Australian golfer Stuart Appleby gave their Targa Tasmania-bound Lamborghini Gallardos an awesome shakedown at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway yesterday, giving a selected number of local media the ride of their lifetime.

In what will be the Gallardo’s international motor sport debut, back-to-back Nations Cup champion Stokell said he was pleased with the handling of his $400,000 Italian ride, confident that the Gallardo will secure him a top spot in this year’s five-day Tasmania tarmac rally starting on Tuesday, April 26th.

“Today was the first serious run the Gallardo has had since we got here, it felt fantastic and everything did as it was meant to,” said Stokell. “I am treating the car as a new car, and making sure that we cover all aspects of reliability and ensure that I drive it to the best of my ability.”

The PGA champion golfer watched with envy as his Lamborghini team mate skilfully manipulated the 500bhp machine around the 2.41km circuit. “Paul is a very accomplished driver, the Gallardo is a new animal internationally and no one has driven the cars to this extent. Paul is very good and we know the car is prepared well – he is a competitor and you will definitely see him compete,” said Appleby.

Taking a week–long break from the rigours of the PGA tour for Targa Tasmania event, Appleby says he is extremely excited about the event and was delighted by the opportunity to put his own Gallardo, and his driving ability, to the test. “The car feels great and I can’t wait to get out there and just drive and get the rhythm of the week, it is going to be a lot of fun.”

Also involved in the media demonstrations laps, Tasmanian competitor Greg Garwood put his Porsche 911 Turbo through the pace, as did international competitor and Stuttgart Porsche Museum Director, Klaus Bischof, who steered the majestic Type 718 RS 60 Spyder around the circuit with ease.

As the 2005 event’s Official Flag Car, the Porsche Spyder will lead-off a starting field of 255 entrants today for the Temco George Town Prologue, where starting positions will be determined for the first day of competition starting on Wednesday 27th April.