Call 911, he’s got a dose of Targa fever

WHEN it comes to motorsport, the name Johnson has been synonymous with driving Fords.

But Steven Johnson, son of Bathurst legend Dick Johnson, is showing his class this year behind the wheel of a Porsche in Targa Tasmania.

Johnson Jr loves the event and this year he is leading a team of 31 Porsches around the six-day 2000km course.

Last night Johnson was mixing it with about 8500 fans at TargaFest motorshow in Princes Wharf No. 1 with about $30 million worth of cars on show.

SON of a gun Steven Johnson loves Targa Tasmania and this year he is leading a team of 31 Porsches around the six-day 2000km course.

Otherwise known as “Junior”, the son of touring car and Bathurst legend and now supercar team boss Dick Johnson, has previously competed in Targa’s full competition field in an RX7 and rumbling Corvette.

This is the second time the 419-race V8 supercar veteran has led the Porsche field in the Targa tour — which does the whole event but not against the clock — headlining almost $10 million worth of German engineering.

Johnson kept a close eye on the Porsches at TargaFest motorshow at Princes Wharf No. 1 last night when more than 8500 fans got up close and personal with about $30 million worth of cars from throughout the ages, including a cluster of immaculate Ferraris.

“The machinery we’ve got here, from the front of the line to the back, is pretty cool,” Johnson said. “And to have them out on these amazing Tasmanian roads is great.”

Johnson grew up in a Ford family but is a Porsche convert.

“This is my second time doing the Porsche tour and we’re having a great time,” Johnson said. “You cannot get any better car for what we do here at Targa.

“As a standard car — I’m driving a standard Carrera S — if I was to take it into the rally as it is, I would pretty much guarantee I would be in the top 10 overall, that’s how good they are.”

Johnson hopes to be back in a competition car for Targa in the next few years.

“A lot of places have tried similar events and failed, so to be going 26 strong is a great result for Targa Tasmania,” Johnson said.

“I’ve always said to these Porsche guys, ‘You’re coming to drive on the best roads in the country,’ and the event seems to get better and better each year.”