The week long Targa rally has come to a close in New Zealand. Driving for Stillen was none other than championship-winning race-car driver Steve Millen along with Jen Horsey, pro rally driver who served as navigator during the five day Targa. Before arriving, we installed larger fuel injectors on the Stillen GT-R, gave it a new tune, and put stiffer springs in the shocks.
Targa rallies are also a great way to test and develop new products. This year we brought down a few new Stillen products such as adjustable camber arms, various performance components, and the new generation Dunlop Sport Maxx tires. Targa events are run on what are normally public roads so they give us an opportunity to see how the parts perform in the real world. We found the new Dunlop tires to work amazing well and they did so all week long throughout the race. In an event like the Targa where you only get eight tires to last the full five days of the event, it’s critical that the tires offer supreme grip without wearing too quickly. The Dunlop Sport Maxx tires did just that.
We had no idea what the other GT-R teams had in store… Tony Quinn arrived in an R35 with bigger turbos and an engine that had been bored and fitted with larger pistons, 410mm brake rotors and more. Clark Proctor arrived with a stroker motor with stock turbos as well as larger brake rotors. Steve said that when Proctor’s GT-R launched off the line it spun all four wheels. Harry Dodson’s R35 also came in with heavy modifications and increased horsepower. Last year we were all on a similar playing field and ran tight all week. This year, everyone brought out the big guns.
Steve and Jen pushed hard all week and were able to bring the car home with a fourth place finish. The event winner, Tony Quinn in his R35, won the Targa for the fourth time. Glenn Inkster, in his high horsepower Mitsubishi Evo VI, came in second just a few seconds behind Quinn despite having a couple of offs and having to take a tire penalty. Glenn Smith rounded out the top 3 in his 600+ horsepower Mitsubishi Evo X — which we all thought looked like it had just come out of a video game! Steve and Jen fought hard coming in fourth, securing their spot in the top five.
The 2011 Targa New Zealand rally ran the way these rallies are supposed to. There were hot days, there were rainy days, and all in all it was a lot of fun.
On the drive North after the rally was over we had already started making a game plan for next year, discussing ways to improve the car and make it even more competitive. We have some pretty wild ideas, and we’re excited to share them with Road & Track readers in the future!
More from Stillen:
Targa New Zealand 2011: Racing Day 1
Targa New Zealand 2011: Racing Day 2
Targa New Zealand 2011: Racing Day 3
Targa New Zealand 2011: Racing Day 4
Targa New Zealand 2011: Racing Day 5
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- Targa Newfoundland TV Special
- Peugeot’s Hybrid Racer Takes to the Track
- ALMS Takes New Approach to CBS Coverage
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