ARTICLES

Reeves stepping up for Wrest Point

24 January 2012 | The Mazda Motorsport team has confirmed that they will be returning for Targa Wrest Point, the second round of the Australian Tarmac Championship.

After successful testing sessions, the rally will see both the Mazda3 MPS and the Mazda RX-8 SP competing over two gruelling days and 14 closed road stages around Hobart.

Victorian-based siblings, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth will be piloting Mazda’s turbo rotary RX-8 SP.

The siblings have been very successful pilots of the Mazda3 MPS, but will step up to the more powerful RX-8 SP for the first time.  

Reeves, who tested the RX-8 SP around Wakefield Park last month, was most enthusiastic about its performance.

“I am really excited to be driving the RX-8 SP at Targa Wrest Point. Although I have loved driving the Mazda3 MPS in previous rallies, it’s great to be able to step up to another challenge and get behind the wheel of the RX-8, a car which has the potential to take it to the main challengers in the Modern category.

Mazda Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley, is confident that Reeves driving the RX-8 SP will do him proud.

The RX-8 SP had some mixed fortunes at the Targa High Country, but Horsley and his team have been working on it to refine and improve the rotary powered coupe.

“We are cautiously optimistic that the RX-8 is in for a good run at this year’s Wrest Point, especially after seeing it come second outright at last year’s Wrest Point rally. I believe it should be on the pace again,” said Horsley.

Reeves will be competing in the Modern Category and will be amongst Jason White in his Lamborghini Gallardo, Jim Richards in a Porsche GT2 RS, and Tony Quinn in his new Nissan GT-R.

Another Australian Motorsport power couple, Simon and Sue Evans, will be driving the Mazda3 MPS.

Their carefully honed driving-navigation skills took out the Showroom category in the Targa High Country 2011 rally and they are now equal leaders in the Australian Tarmac Championship.

The couple - four-time Australian Rally Champions - are notorious for their blistering speed on gravel.

Thrilled with their win for Mazda at Targa High Country, Evans is even more enthusiastic to see what will come of the second round.

“I’m extremely excited to fly the flag for Mazda again. The car truly is a dream to drive and handles challenging roads with such grace.”

Targa Wrest Point will run this coming weekend, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January, 2012.