Following his naming in the World Rally Championship Academy in 2011 thanks to Pirelli, 22-year-old Brendan Reeves has been confirmed in Mazda’s two-car line-up for next week’s Targa High Country in and around the Victorian Alps.
Reeves will steer the same Mazda3 MPS he took to first in the 2WD showroom class and ninth outright earlier this year at Targa Tasmania. Also part of the team is Steve Glenney who will steer the all-new RX-8 SP.
As the newest event on the Australian tarmac rally calendar, Targa High Country has attracted a capacity field of 220 competitors with stages to be run in the Alps, King Valley Wine region and Eildon National Park.
Reeves was named last weekend as one of the world’s best six young rally drivers earning himself a place in the prestigious 2011 WRC Rally Academy.
“Rhianon and I are both looking forward to getting back into the Mazda3 MPS,” said Reeves.
“Our last outing with Mazda was Targa Tasmania and we’re hoping to put in another strong performance for the whole Mazda Motorsport team.”
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Targa High Country represents the first opportunity for the new turbo-charged RX-8 SP to make its eagerly awaited racing debut. In addition to rebuilding the RX-8 SP that was knocked out of Targa Tasmania earlier this year when it collided with another car stopped on the stage, Mazda Motorsport has also been busy building a new Mazda RX-8 SP.
Many months of preparation have gone into perfecting the new RX-8 SP and the Mazda Motorsport Team have high expectations for the new vehicle which will run on low-emitting E85 ethanol blend fuel.
Glenney and co-driver Bernie Webb are looking forward to stepping into Mazda’s new rotary rocket where they will be competing for outright honours, up against some strong competition from the Nissan GT-R, a brace of Porsches and the twin Lamborghini Gallardos.
“We were very impressed with the way the RX-8 SP handled the demanding road conditions in Tasmania,” said Glenney.
“The RX-8 SP’s supremely balanced chassis and outstanding braking ability should be perfectly suited for the roads at Targa High Country.”
Targa High Country will be held over 17 timed stages totalling 849km of competition.
