Field looks to end Viper stranglehold

Realising a dream at the wheel

TASMANIAN ship’s pilot Matt Close is going Viper hunting in Targa Tasmania this week in the hope his Porsche 911 GT3 RS can deliver his second title and stop the domination of local hero Jason White.

The defending champion, White set the fastest time on the blast through George Town yesterday with a blistering 3m6s run through the 4.79km street stage.

The six-time champion described it as his most “hectic” run through George Town, which was even enough to scare his normally cool-headed navigator, uncle John.

“I got to within an inch of every curb and at times I thought I was about to knock the wheels of it, but didn’t quite tag the gutter,” White said.

“It made for a good run.” IN a few short years, American Renee Brinkerhoff has gone from housewife to record-breaking rally driver.

At 57, Renee, of Colorado, decided she was going to chase her dream and race a car.

She found a gorgeous 1956 Porsche 356 in California, and is now on her personal World Rally Tour to set a record for

Tasmanian Paul Stokell was only 5 secs back in his Lotus Exige, followed by Close, who was 7s behind White.

Close won Targa two years ago in a different Porsche and says it is capable of winning this year’s six-day event.

“I believe so. Mike Pritchard [of Hobart] is in the same car and he’s thinking the same competing in a race on every continent in a Porsche 356 – and yes, it includes Antarctica.

Leg one was La Carrera Panamericana in Mexico in October and leg two is Targa Tasmania this week.

That will be followed by Grand Prix South America in November, Peking to Paris in July 2019, East Africa Safari Classic in December 2019, and 356km on ice in Antarctica — thing. The Viper is a formidable weapon driven by a brilliant driver,’’ Close said.

“But they’ve got their downside.

“If it’s dry, they will need to manage tyres, whereas we are easier on tyres.

“Come the wet, I don’t think I’ve got much of an answer for the Viper — Jason is very same number as the car — in January 2020.

“We are trying to set a world record in a Porsche 356 to go around the world and drive on every continent, including Antarctica, and do a rally race in every one of those,” Renee said.

“Along the way we will raise funds to fight child trafficking.”

Renee’s husband, William, strong in the wet. It’s going to be a case of getting the right conditions and making a move when you can.”

Don Behets, 57, came from Western Australia to be navigator in a 1964 Ford Thunderbolt Coupe [car 303] but when driver Mike Moylan was struck down by a virus, he inherited the steering wheel. is an entrepreneur, who owns a bunch of restaurants and has interests in oil, gas and real estate.

They have four children and when at home one day, a light bulb clicked for Renee.

“I was in the laundry room folding clothes when I had an epiphany – I wanted to race a car,” she said. “It was my lifelong dream. “At first I was scared, but I

“I love driving this car,” Behets said.

“It’s a pity Mike can’t be here but we didn’t want to withdraw the car from the rally again.

“Last year he was getting over his eighth hip replacement.

“This year he caught a really bad virus, so we’ve roped in local navigator John Blake and I’ll have to drive.”

The Thunderbolt is a oldstyle beast with a Ford 27 Nascar motor, producing 600horsepower — only 35hp less than a supercar.

“We circuit race Ford Galaxies back home, and they are bigger and heavier than this thing, so I enjoy racing this one.”

After the three stages yesterday, the field of 285 faces its first big day of competition — six stages through the state’s central north today. did my first rally, the Panamericana, which is probably the most dangerous rally in the world.

“I set a new record as the first women to win my class and I am very proud of that achievement.”

Renee and her navigator Calvin Cooledge aim to enjoy Tasmania before heading to Argentina for their next challenge.