Brendan Reeves will take on a new challenge in this weekend's Targa Wrest Point.
The 23-year old Victorian rally driver will contests the popular rally event in the Modern Category, driving a Mazda Motorsport RX-8 SP.
It will be a big step up in power for Reeves, whose normal ride is the smaller 2WD Mazda3 MPS – but it's a challenge he is really looking forward to.
“I've had one test in the RX8 and it's an awesome car,” he said.
“The RX8 last ran at Targa High Country in November and unfortunately I was away in the UK preparing for Wales Rally GB, so I was unable to compete, but I am really excited about getting behind the wheel in Tassie.”
Targa Wrest Point is Round 3 of the four-event CAMS Australian Targa Championship and is a two-day event based out of Hobart.
Reeves is quite familiar with the roads that Targa Wrest Point covers, having competed in the event last year, however some of the stages this year will run in reverse.
“I really enjoy the Tasmanian roads,” Reeves said.
“We've had some really good results there in the past, so I am looking forward to returning.”
In 2011, Reeves won the Showroom Class at Targa Wrest Point in the MPS3 with Simon Vandenberg alongside as his regular co-driver, sister, Rhianon Smyth, was recovering from an operation. This year, Smyth returns to call the notes.
The pair will be joined by team-mates Simon and Sue Evans who will drive the MPS this weekend.
Reeves' rivals for the weekend include Jason White in his Lamborghini Gallardo, the Porsche GT2 RS of Jim Richards and Tony Quinn in a Nissan GT-R.
Targa Wrest Point gets underway on Saturday, January 28.