Multiple Targa Tasmania champion Jim Richards got his 2005 assault off to a flying-start, clocking the fastest time at today’s Temco George Town Prologue, while Lamborghini driver Paul Stokell will be seeded deeper into the starting field for tomorrow’s first leg of competition after overshooting a corner.

Stokell, driving a new Lamborghini Gallardo, was caught out by its immediate pace, and after, arriving at a cross road faster than he anticipated, overshot the junction losing about five seconds to the front runners.

Judged Australian 'Motor Performance Car of 2004' and valued at almost NZ$400,000 each, the Targa Tasmania-entered Gallardos were built in the Lamborghini factory in Sant’Agata, Italy, and specifically modified to compete in the 'Modern Competition' class of this week's Tasmanian rally, which is an event owned and run by global sports marketing company, Octagon.

Performing well in perfect weather conditions, 57-year-old Melbourne-based Richards dominated the Targa Tasmania field in his 2WD Porsche  911 GT3,  clocking a time of 3-mins 11.67-secs around the 4.5km street course, taking the stage victory by just over one second. “We tried hard, the car is a little bit better than last year, certainly faster now we will go as fast as we can and see what happens,” said Richards.

Queenslander Tony Quinn in a 4WD Porsche 911 Turbo was second fastest with 3-mins 12.96 secs, followed by Victoria’s husband and wife combination Jeff and Nerida Beable driving a Nissan Skyline GT-R. Fourth fastest was fellow Nissan team mate, and Tasmanian favourites to win, Jason and John White, with the top five being rounded out by fellow Tasmanian Greg Garwood, also driving a Porsche 911 Turbo.
 

Swapping his golf clubs for a week-long drive in a Lamborghini Gallardo, US-based PGA champion Stuart Appleby approached the street circuit with fervour and was thrilled with his first driving effort, finishing 45th outright. “Unbelievable! I can’t believe the speeds at which we are whipping by houses, it is a huge adrenalin rush and I want to do it again,” said Appleby.

This being the Gallardo’s first official motor sport event, the world over, the dual Targa Tasmania Lamborghini entry has secured sponsorship from mobile communications company Crazy Johns.

Principal of Team Lamborghini Australia Andrew Smith said prior to the rally, that the event would be a fitting racing debut for the Gallardo. “Targa Tasmania is a good format to showcase the car for the world to see how good the Gallardo package actually is,” he commented. “Whilst the car hasn’t been in any other events, given that it is a stock-standard model, Targa Tasmania will be a great introduction for us.”

“The Gallardo is an easy car to drive and since Audi’s takeover of Lamborghini, with high-level backing, the quality of product coming out of the factory is second to none. I have no doubt the Gallardo can hold its own amongst the competition field; there is no one in the world that can drive a Lamborghini faster than Paul Stokell.”

V8 Supercar driver and former Bathurst winner Tony Longhurst driving a brand new Subaru Impreza WRX STi adapted quickly to the rally-style event's prologue, obtaining a creditable 17th outright, but was amazed at the pace of the front runners. “This is much more violent than I expected,” said Longhurst. “I couldn’t go the whole event at that pace; I really gave the Subaru a flogging.”

In the Historic Competition the husband and wife duo of Graham and Pat Kent clocked the fastest time in their 1936 Ford Coupe, leading home the 1930 Oakland of John Felder and John Lawson’s 1926 AC Amilcar. Tomorrow’s opening leg of eight stages starts and finishes in Launceston, and has a total competitive distance of 58.49km. The first car leaves from Launceston Civic Square at 8.45am.