Motorsport: Lowe down on little car that could

He drives the smallest and oldest car in this year's Targa New Zealand, but Rotorua's Mike Lowe knows he won't be the slowest.

The popular rally starts in Auckland on Tuesday and ends in Hawkes Bay on Saturday, along the way taking in 1348km of touring stages and 878km of closed special stages.

Lowe is the only driver to have completed every one of the 17 Targa New Zealand rallies in the same car - his beloved Team Enzed 1964 Fiat Abarth 1000.

"A lot of people ask us why not get a modern car," he said. "But I absolutely love it."

One of about 100 teams entered this year, Lowe's first goal is simple. "To finish the event - just to finish is a major milestone."

But it doesn't stop there.

"[Goals are] to defend the Index Performance title and be top historic car, titles we have held for six years in a row ... and be the first 1400cc car," he said. "Last year I issued a challenge of $1000 to any 1400cc or under to beat us regardless of age. Not one has taken up the challenge."

Lowe has been racing cars of one description or another since he was 16.

"The secret of Targa is you don't go 110 per cent every day. We go out fairly conservatively, but if we're facing a battle we then go for it.

"A lot [of drivers] make the mistake of going 110 per cent, but there's not a lot of room for error."

Getting, and keeping, a 48-year-old car in shape for a tough five-day rally is no easy task. "We have spent the last three months prepping the car, down to the last nut and bolt."

During the rally, Lowe and co-driver Phil Sutton (Wellington) will drive from 7am to 6pm every day, but that's not the end for the pair and their two crew members.

"With our little car we need to spend the next three to four hours going over the car [each night]. It's total immersion."

Lowe said to succeed in Targa you needed to have the three Ps - preparation, persistence and, perhaps most importantly, passion.

"It's like a journey. You are away from work and you absolutely focus for five days on one thing which is driving that little car as hard as you can and keeping on the road," he said.

"You've got to be passionate about your chosen car and what you want to do. We like to put on a show. We get up on two wheels every time we see a camera."

Lowe and his team have big plans for 2014 - the 20th anniversary of Targa New Zealand when the Fiat will be 50.

"Last year a guy came over from Tasmania who had come second in the historic car category in Australia and we caught and passed him regularly. He said we need to come to Tasmania, we would win the category outright, no problem."

With Enzed confirming its sponsorship for at least two more years, Targa Tasmania 2014 - the biggest Targa in the world - is now the goal.

That means Lowe's team are already at work building a new engine to suit the slower course.

In the meantime Lowe is looking forward to showing his fellow Targa New Zealand competitors a thing or two next week.

"When you pass a Porsche around the outside ... usually on two wheels ... it's an unbelievable feeling," he said. "It [his car] always punches above its weight."