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Former Australian rally champion Rick Bates is hoping that light vehicle weight and nimble handling will give him the edge when he lines up for the start of this year's Targa Tasmania in a Toyota MR2 Spyder.
The event runs from April 18-24 and will cover 500km including 54 Targa stages.
The MR2 has been undergoing preparations in brother Neal Bates' new motorsport workshop in Canberra.
"The Spyder is going into a production-based class, so the opportunities to modify the car are quite limited," Rick Bates said.
"We'll be fitting different brake pads and we're in the process of fitting a roll cage, but that's the extent of the modifications.
"It's going to be a genuine test of the car, given that it's going to be in very close to normal road-going trim."
Bates will be partnered again by Network TEN reporter Alison Drower.
The pair finished 29th in last year's Targa Tasmania in a Toyota Celica after running as high as seventh outright.
They were set for a top-ten finish but a spin near Queenstown and a puncture dropped them well out of contention.
"The Celica surprised the other teams running much more powerful cars. It's a pity we ran into trouble on the last day because Alison and I had put ourselves into a good position," Bates said.
Bates has already had considerable experience with the MR2 Spyder, having driven the car at a number of Toyota track days.
The MR2 is powered by a fuel-injected 1.8 litre, Twin Cam Multi-valve engine producing 103kW at 6400rpm.
Weighing just 975kg, the mid-engined Spyder features a five-speed sequential gearbox operated by a floor mounted gear lever and the added feature of electronic-shift buttons mounted on the steering wheel.
"The Spyder's biggest advantages are its light weight and nimbleness, so we hope to stay in the hunt by staying smooth. Its lack of weight may help lessen our tyre wear - which is a very big factor in Targa Tasmania."
Bates said he was looking for a class win, adding that a top 20 outright result was possible.
"It's a little difficult to judge how well the Spyder will go in the outright standings," he said.
"If the conditions suit us, we may well push our way into the top 20."
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