For the last two days Mary and Craig have been running around Tasmania checking out the Targa Tasmania course and notes.

Craig was unable to sit at home and hear about the antics of the 2017 Targa High Country rally being run without his presence, so the Mustang Motorsport team dusted the cobwebs off the 2013 Shelby GT500 and Craig went looking for a last minute navigator who would be able to fill some big shoes. A call to Smoothline’s Bernie Web was made in the hunt for a navigator who fits the bill and, sifting through the list, Anthony Carr became the obvious choice.

The Mustang Motorsport team are campaigning the 2015 Shelby GT in the GT2 competition in Targa Tasmania. Craig Dean and Mary Hughes have teamed up after Kate Catford retired from the team last year - we wish her all the best in her future motorsport activities. After a crash in the 2017 Great Tarmac Rally in Marysville last October, the Shelby GT has gone through a total rebuild and is wearing a new colour scheme, showing off the carbon fibre hood and the sharp look a Shelby provides.

See the full Targa Tasmania Mustang Motorsport video!
Since 1997 Craig Dean has been racing in tarmac rallies. This video is the full feature of the fun and challenges Kate Catford and Craig were faced with in this year's 26th running of Targa Tasmania in the 2015 Shelby GT Mustang. The only Shelby GT competing in motorsport in the world weaved its way through some stunning Tasmania scenery and challenging roads, finishing 6th outright.

Day 2 was a late start with an 11:07 report time for the Shelby team. Craig and Anthony were itching to get started and see what the day brings. With a perfect sunny day for a dry run down the hill into Mansfield, Mirimbah was the first competitive stage and the crew flew through this one in second fastest in GT2, and holding onto our second outright position in GT2 comp. The following stages are fast and flowing, and these are where the Shelby stretches it legs and we see speeds of up to 250kph (156mph).

After a good night’s sleep in Hobart, we awoke to a partly cloudy forecast with dry roads. We were still looking to have a crack at making up time on the guys we have been chasing for the past two days, however it would be difficult to gain huge time on today’s short stages. Tinderbox was first up, a rough tricky stage lots of sharp corners.One moment we had was on a 5 right where the Mustang bounced in the air and landed just in time for the next corner! We finished fourth, ahead of Quinn and Stokell who we were chasing.