It’s not every day that you get to see a Gulf-liveried Volvo rip it up in a tarmac rally, and monster its competition along the way!
But that’s exactly what this Volvo 122 did in the 2013 Targa Tasmania, tackling Australia’s ultimate tarmac rally in style and bringing home second in the Early Classic competition. It was at the hands of Andrew White and Ashley Yelds, who have brought it home for podium finishes four times in the past five years, and you can read what they had to say about it below!
Targa Tasmania 2013 has been run and won. 2300km with 630km at full noise on public roads. It just might be the ultimate tarmac rally (that’s what the organisers claim anyway).
We ran an ex-works Volvo 122 down there for five years and then put together a purpose-built tarmac rally version. With this car we have managed four podiums in five years. This year we managed 2nd (again) in the Early Classic competition and missed out on a top ten outright (all classics) by just six seconds. The car is entered in the Early Classic section 1947 – 72 as a 1961 Volvo 122 in the limited modified section – same engine, gearbox, diff.
It’s a great thrill to do so well in what must be the best event of its type in the world. The best reason to visit down under!
Check out more about the Volvo’s build here.
Images via Andrew White
See a Gulf-Liveried Volvo 122 Monster Australia’s Ultimate Tarmac Rally is a post from Motorsport Retro, bringing you classic motorsport, cars, motorcycles and gear every day.