Rotorua treated to dramatic Targa NZ contest

Jason Gill and co-driver Mark Robinson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) celebrate after winning the 2017 Targa New Zealand tarmac rally in Rotorua this weekend. Photo/Fast Company/ProShotz

Seasoned Targa drivers Jason Gill and co-driver Mark Robinson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) are the toast of New Zealand's tarmac rally fraternity today. The duo took home the 2017 Targa New Zealand tarmac rally top title in Rotorua, over two days of driving, for the first time.

"We've definitely been second a few times," Aucklander Gill said, as he was surrounded by fellow competitors and wellwishers at parc ferme on Rotorua's Village Green immediately after the event.

The rally started and finished at the Novotel Hotel in Rotorua with seven closed special stages in the Waikato on Saturday and five in Rotorua and the greater Bay of Plenty on Sunday.

The winning pair were second to fellow Aucklanders Leigh Hopper and Michael Goudie after the first day of competition.

There was only 36s in it though, and when defending event title holder and four-time Rotorua event winner Hopper crashed his newly-built Subaru WRX Impreza heavily just 4.7km into the first stage of the day this morning the event was Gill's to win - or lose.

"The pressure was definitely on but we did it and this time (on Saturday Gill was slowed by a blown intercooler hose) the car didn't miss a beat," he said.

Second overall were Dunedin pair Martin Dippie and Jona Grant in Dippie's Porsche GT3 RS, two minutes behind Gill and Robinson but a minute ahead of five-time Targa New Zealand event winner Tony Quinn and his co-driver Naomi Tillett in Quinn's virtually identical Porsche.

Second overall was Dunedin pair Martin Dippie and Jona Grant in Dippie's Porsche GT3 RS. Photo/Fast Company/ProShotz

Whakatane drivers Maurice Shapley and co-driver Kane Malasch (Holden Monaro) and Rick Finucane and Derek White (Toyota MR2) finished 27th and 32nd respectively.

Shapley, 60, returning to the Rotorua event after a nine-year break out and pairing with Malasch for the first time, said he was happy with the result despite finishing back in this year's field.

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"I'm happy with that, the competition has changed a lot since I was last here," he said. "The competitors were twice as fast but I'm very pleased as our car doesn't have a scratch on it."

The veteran driver said day two of racing was much more of a "success" after his car sustained a cracked brake rotor and experienced a badly leaking power steering pump on day one.

"The first day was difficult but Sunday was much better for us," Shapley said. "The roads were brilliant for us and Kane [Malasch] and I worked really well together.

"I'm certainly looking at continuing on the Targa circuit and it would be great to be back at this event in Rotorua next year."

First of the trio of Japanese classic cars build and run by students from a University in Japan was the Honda Civic driven by guest driver and former WRC and Dakar Rally great Kenjiro Shinozuka in 43rd place.

First of the trio of Japanese classic cars build and run by students from a University in Japan. Photo/Fast Company/ProShotz

Traditionally the two-day Targa Rotorua event has been held over Queen's Birthday weekend but the move to bring it forward - in search of longer daylight hours, warmer weather, and drier roads was welcomed by virtually everyone.

"We've had the odd person lament the fact that the rain stayed away this year," said event director Peter Martin, "but for everyone else, competitors, tour participants and our volunteers the balmy weather this weekend has been a godsend," he said.

- Additional reporting by Ruth Dacey

2017 Targa Rotorua final results:

1. Jason Gill/Mark Robinson (Mitsubishi (Lancer EVO 9) 2:06:17.4
2. Martin Dippie/Jona Grant (Porsche 991 GT3 RS) 2:08:28.6 + 2:11.2
3. Tony Quinn/Naomi Tillett (Porsche GT3 RS) 2:09:38.6 +3:21.
4. Robert Darrington/David Abetz (BMW M3) 2:11:24.9 +5:07.5
5. Ross Graham/Matthew Merwood (Holden Torana LX SS 2:12:54.0 +6:36.6
6. Tom & Ben Grooten (Toyota Starlet) 2:13:46.4 +7:29.0
7. Mark & Chris Kirk-Burnnand (BMW M3) 2:14:00.7 +7:43.3
8. David Rogers/Aidan Kelly (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X RS) 2:14:55.7 +8:38.3
9. Matthew Wales/Mitchell Osborne (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) 2:15:07.1 +8:49.7
10. Joe Kouwenhoven/Carl Hannaford (Nissan GTR R35) 2:16:54.8 +10:37.4