Seymour targets elusive podium

Thursday September 2, 2021

Brisbane Lotus pair Tony and Sandra Seymour are primed for redemption at the Cairns-based TARGA Great Barrier Reef starting this Friday (September 3).

One of the top fancies in the GT Outright class, the Seymours have left nothing to chance in their preparation for the fourth running of the critically acclaimed Tropical North Queensland event.

Tony Seymour believes he is better prepared to take on the Outright category in his 2013 Lotus Exige after a splendid run at TARGA Great Barrier Reef last year was spoiled by a mistake on the penultimate stage when he was momentarily second in overall standings.

“I’ve got a bit more experience now because last year in Cairns was my first event in the open class,” Seymour said, who made the large jump from the GT Sports Trophy category.

“I think we will be in a better position than last year.

“There were three in my class last year and I still didn’t manage to finish on the podium so you can’t take anything for granted.”

Seymour recounted the twists and turns that saw him tantalisingly close to a spot on the podium only to encounter a mishap on the 28.21km Palmerston run.

“It was the long stage and (Tony) Quinn (Nissan GT-R) was in front and then Luke Anear (Mercedes AMG GT R) was second and I was third,” Seymour said.

“Luke was in front of me and he went off and holed the radiator. So that put us up into second place.

“But he managed to get the car fixed which enabled him to get back to the finish and still take second.

“It was a strange turn of events because on Palmerston I was going along no problem then I made a costly mistake.

“It’s all a learning experience and we are hoping to be right up there again.”

Entries are up sharply across the 10 classes which number 130, compared with 83 last year.

Highlights of TARGA Great Barrier Reef 2021 include the TARGAcavalcade which features the entire field streaming through the northern suburbs of Cairns under police escort from 3.30pm-4.45pm on Friday, September 3.

The event will conclude with a new-look TARGAfest and official finish at Fogarty Park in the heart of Cairns from 3pm on Sunday, September 5.

TGBR is the opening round of the Motorsport Australia-sanctioned TARGA Championship which also embraces TARGA High Country from November 12-14 and the 30th anniversary TARGA Tasmania from March 8-13.

People are reminded that the Kuranda Range stage is scheduled to be the first stage on the Saturday (September 4) morning. This is a change from previous years when the Kuranda stage was held on Sunday morning.

For more information on key components of TGBR and road closures, visit targa.com.au and download the Spectator Guide.

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