Targa Tasmania

The 2003 Targa Tasmania was run in the early part of May. Roman Krumins and Ralph Krippner entered Ralph's 1999 Porsche GT3 CS. It was their first event together and the first time either of them had experienced a tarmac rally like Targa Tasmania. There was a great deal to learn.

They bought the Rally Notes pace notes and undertook a three day reconnaissance during the preceding April and covered four legs of the five day event. Competing was a different experience altogether.

The weather for the event was extremely variable with rain bucketing down throughout days one and two. Ralph hadn't driven in the rain much and Roman had never navigated before but they managed to make their way through and achieve competitive section times within the required Targa Trophy times.

They were circulating in around fifty-fifth position until entering the transport section to the final stage at New Norfolk. During the transport stage a grumbling noise accompanied by a fairly severe vibration emerged. On stopping the car and looking for the cause, a tyre deflating hiss was heard coming from the left rear tyre.

Inspection at a local service station showed that the inner half of the rim had failed and was the source of the air leak. A couple of bottles of tyre foam got them to the start of New Norfolk but way late. Ralph and Roman managed to limp around the very short street course under the required minimum Targa Trophy time but the late arrival at the start cost them dearly in finishing place in the overall event.

They did receive their Targa Trophy for completing all competitive stages under the required Trophy time. The final verdict? A terrific event that they are now really ready to compete in now having gained the experience of completing one. As for Roman, navigating is fine but driving the event sometime soon is what it is all about.

Formula Ford

After leasing a car to compete in two rounds of the Queensland State championships in 2003, Roman bought his Vector MG096 at the end of 2003.

After a thwarted start to the 2004 season, not being able to race at Morgan Park due to a clutch slave cylinder failure, Roman rode the steep race learning curve to be able to hold his own with the field as the season unfolded. He was able to do sufficiently well in the last round at Queensland Raceway in November to secure a podium finish to the season with an overall third place.