Troy Wilson. Photo: Brett Sandells
Domination by Troy Wilson for a hat trick
Today (Sunday 18th September) was the third and final instalment of 2022 Make Smoking History Targa West, the Make Smoking History Targa Malaga Sprint.
The fast 6-kilometre course on the closed roads in Malaga’s industrial area in Perth has always been a firm favourite for driver and spectators.
Shortened this year to meet rallysprint regulations and to avoid the newly built BP service station, 70 drivers raced the clock along the street circuit four times.
Troy Wilson took the outright win convincingly, in his 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 with co-driver Frank Guildea, leading from start to finish, already 8 seconds ahead after the first run.
First-time competitors in Malaga, Wilson / Guildea finished all four runs 24 seconds ahead of Matt Cherry and co-driver Cade Bell in their highly modified 1982 Toyota Starlet. Third place went to Cody Harris and Morgan Ward in their 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR who finished 2.5 seconds behind Cherry / Bell.
The ex-West Coast Eagle AFL footballer won the first two rallies in the Make Smoking History Targa West series, namely, the Midland Toyota Targa Ellenbrook Sprint and The City of Perth Targa Rallysprint, both held last weekend.
Sitting on a hat trick ahead of the Make Smoking History Targa Malaga Sprint, Wilson said he didn’t know what to expect.
“Being rally, it’s different to any other type of motorsport, as in there’s no practice, you don’t get to drive on the stage beforehand at speed, so it’s tricky to balance how fast to go - there’s no concept or idea of braking points, grip level, or speeds to carry through corners. You don’t know those things without any practice, and I love that challenge,” Wilson said.
“There were a lot of fast cars there today, a few more big hitters, but I had a little bit of luck on my side, I managed to get through four clean runs which gave me good times.
“The crowds were awesome, it was so good to see so many people out and about.
“I told Ross [Tapper, Event Director] that next year we should make Malaga a full day rather a half day, eight runs instead of four, which would make it even better,” said Wilson, who has his sights set on the GT Fabrication Targa Bunbury Sprint held 12th and 13th November.
“After today, I can say that Bunbury is my second favourite rallysprint, I really, really like Malaga, it’s got more speed than Bunbury, we had a great day,” said Wilson.
Today (Sunday 18th September) was the third and final instalment of 2022 Make Smoking History Targa West, the Make Smoking History Targa Malaga Sprint.
The fast 6-kilometre course on the closed roads in Malaga’s industrial area in Perth has always been a firm favourite for driver and spectators.
Shortened this year to meet rallysprint regulations and to avoid the newly built BP service station, 70 drivers raced the clock along the street circuit four times.
Troy Wilson took the outright win convincingly, in his 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 with co-driver Frank Guildea, leading from start to finish, already 8 seconds ahead after the first run.
First-time competitors in Malaga, Wilson / Guildea finished all four runs 24 seconds ahead of Matt Cherry and co-driver Cade Bell in their highly modified 1982 Toyota Starlet. Third place went to Cody Harris and Morgan Ward in their 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR who finished 2.5 seconds behind Cherry / Bell.
The ex-West Coast Eagle AFL footballer won the first two rallies in the Make Smoking History Targa West series, namely, the Midland Toyota Targa Ellenbrook Sprint and The City of Perth Targa Rallysprint, both held last weekend.
Sitting on a hat trick ahead of the Make Smoking History Targa Malaga Sprint, Wilson said he didn’t know what to expect.
“Being rally, it’s different to any other type of motorsport, as in there’s no practice, you don’t get to drive on the stage beforehand at speed, so it’s tricky to balance how fast to go - there’s no concept or idea of braking points, grip level, or speeds to carry through corners. You don’t know those things without any practice, and I love that challenge,” Wilson said.
“There were a lot of fast cars there today, a few more big hitters, but I had a little bit of luck on my side, I managed to get through four clean runs which gave me good times.
“The crowds were awesome, it was so good to see so many people out and about.
“I told Ross [Tapper, Event Director] that next year we should make Malaga a full day rather a half day, eight runs instead of four, which would make it even better,” said Wilson, who has his sights set on the GT Fabrication Targa Bunbury Sprint held 12th and 13th November.
“After today, I can say that Bunbury is my second favourite rallysprint, I really, really like Malaga, it’s got more speed than Bunbury, we had a great day,” said Wilson.
Matt Cherry. Photo: Tim Allott
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