F1's Chris Amon and Murray Walker to RACE in NZ!

[SkylineObsession]

Murray Walker will be co-driver for New Zealands Chris Amon in this years Dunlop Targa Rally!

SOURCE: www.targa.co.nz
Dunlop Targa NZ Press Release - August

A former Ferrari team leader and Formula One's most distinctive "voice" will make their world competition debut in this year's Dunlop Targa, "The Ultimate Road Race". The star entry of New Zealander Chris Amon and Englishman Murray Walker has already excited enthusiasts.

Rated by the late ENZO Ferrari as his "best test driver I ever had" but never to win a Grand Prix, Chris Amon was part of New Zealand's "Trio at the Top" along with Bruce McLaren and Denny Hume. He co-drove the works Ford GT40 to an historic Le Mans 24 hour victory with the late Bruce McLaren in 1966 but his best results in Formula One were three seconds, never a win. In his 14 year career, he scored 5 pole positions and drove virtually all the chassis of the day, finishing 4th in the World Championship in 1967 driving for Ferrari.

Murray Walker, until his retirement, was the "Voice of Formula One" His distinctive style of television commentary over the years has made him a celebrity world-wide. He made his first trip to New Zealand a year ago to launch his autobiography "Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken". At that time he expressed a desire to return to this country.

Mike John, Dunlop Targa Event Director, is delighted with the entry and says it's a coup to get both men and thanks Toyota for their involvement as without them the deal would not have happened. "This is the first time Chris Amon has driven in competition since his retirement from Formula One over 25 years ago and such is the enthusiasm of Murray Walker about coming to New Zealand, that he let it slip at a race meeting in England, even though he had been sworn to secrecy!"

Toyota New Zealand will supply the Camry V6 Sportivo in which Walker has competed already. He navigated in the the Targa Tasmania with one of Australia's most successful saloon car racers, Colin Bond. Chris Amon has had a long association with Toyota New Zealand resulting in many models receiving the Amon touch in their suspension areas.

The Dunlop Targa event starts in Auckland on 27th October from Turners Auction Supersite, including a stage at Pukekohe race track, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Auckland circuit.. More than 200 competitors will then work their way down the North Island with overnight stops at Taupo, Palmerston North and finally Wellington. The event finishes with a street party on Queens Wharf on Wellington's waterfront.

Dunlop Targa is New Zealand's biggest motorsport event of its type.

The coverage should be on TV here in a few weeks so i'll hopefully have found a blank tape by then. Let's hope that Murray and Chris get a good result.

 

[vat_man]

Cool - Murray's been doing a bit of that lately, he came and did the Targa Tasmania in May with Colin Bond (former Australian Rally Champion and touring car racer) in a Camry of all things

 

[HRT_Maloo]

Yeah a Camry?!?!
I suppose it makes sense though, as they are in their 70s

I should be going along to see them around Shelly Bay in Wellington on Saturday. I've already worked out my veiwing point, a corner where they are likely to get sideways on

 

[SkylineObsession]

Mario Andretti is over here at the moment too and they showed footage on the news before of him racing a New Zealand V8 Touring Car (BA Falcon XR8).

 

[Cobraboy]

Cool, wonder if I'll be able to see them...

 

[Vasco]

omG wtF lolz?

Yay, finally unbanned.

On topic - Coolies. Should be good to see him there. Didn't he participate in the Targa Tasmania? (Damn, vat beat me to it)