[01.03.13]

Kumho Prepares Final Strike Of Operation Targa

Kumho Tyres is in the midst of preparing the final phase of 'Operation Targa' with special strike force Team Legacy Assist ready to move in and claim both the classic outright and late classic Australian Targa Championships.

The Team Legacy Assist heads into the fourth and final round of the championship, Targa Tasmania, with a strong lead in the late classic class and a mere four points off the lead in the overall outright classic category.

This comes after the Kumho shod Datsun 240Z swept to outright victory in the Classic class at the recent Targa Wrest Point in Tasmania on many of the same roads they will face again in April when they attack Targa Tasmania.

Targa Tasmania is run over five gruelling days starting on the 16th April and is considered Australia's most challenging tarmac rally.

The bright blue Team Legacy Assist Datsun 240Z is built and prepared by Australian Defence Force soldiers in their own time and driven by Matthew Cardinaels with Jason Page as co-driver.

Cardinaels is a multiple Afghanistan tour veteran who returned home early from his third tour after being wounded and is no stranger to a tough fight. While he wants to win the Championship for the team, he assures us there will be no hand to hand combat at Targa.

According to Matthew Cardinaels, the prospect of winning the classic championship has come as a welcomed surprise everyone involved in Team Legacy Assist.

"We have the classic community scratching their heads at the moment and it's quite amusing!" said Matthew Cardinaels.

"We've had increased support this year particularly from Kumho and winning the championship would be a great reward for everyone supporting our cause."

Team Legacy Assist is not only striving for results in Australia's most demanding tarmac rallies but is also raising awareness and funds for two military support organisations: Legacy and the Commando Welfare Trust.

Legacy is a voluntary organising serving more than 100,000 widows and 1,900 children suffering financial or social loss after the death of a spouse or parent during service.

The Commando Welfare trust provides discretionary funds through a board of trustees to support families of serving and ex-serving of the Special Operations Command east coast units who have been injured or killed in action.

As well as their assault on the Apple Isle next month, Team Legacy Assist will be on track at the country's biggest motorsport event, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

The team will take part in the daily Targa hot lap sessions and the car will on display for the duration of the event held 14-17 March.

According to Kumho Tyres' national marketing and training manager, David Basha, Team Legacy Assist is a great initiative to raise money and awareness for two worthy organisations.

"Team Legacy Assist is doing a fantastic job in supporting the organisations that support soldier's families and Kumho is delighted to be a part of it," said David Basha.

"We're pleased Team Legacy Assist is gaining so much attention for such a good cause.

"The great results the team are achieving are well deserved for the Defence Force personnel who give up their own time to prepare the car and for Team Legacy Assist."

Since its inception in 1960, Kumho Tyres has been a model of steady growth amid dramatic changes of business landscape. Driven by innovation in management and technical development Kumho has become one of the top ten tyre companies in the world.

Over the past half-century Kumho Tyres has built the foundation for a sustainable company, which has thrived through a full range of business environments.

Kumho has succeeded in the development of superior tyres for all vehicles including high performance, passenger, sports utility and recreational vehicles, as well as light trucks, heavy truck and buses, industrial, agricultural, mining and construction vehicles as well as aircraft.

Kumho produces more than 68 million tyres annually with a massive research and development program which comprises more than 600 research personnel and 300 testing machines at proving grounds in South Korea, China, Europe and North America, Kumho leads the world with the latest in tyre technology, safety and performance. In Australia Kumho markets an extensive range of tyres for cars, 4WD's, light commercials, trucks and buses with a network centered around five state locations with the ability to distribute tyres to retailers across all areas of Australia.

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