Ed Maguire has speared to a shock lead after a dramatic start to the 29th edition of Targa Tasmania.
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Fellow Northern Tasmanians Jason and John White stamped their authority early but lost their lead when their Dodge Viper stalled at the start of the fifth stage.
Maguire and co-driver Zak Brakey, also driving a Dodge Viper, then seized a 17-second lead.
White experienced further mechanical issues to finish the run down Poatina 38 seconds behind his mate and fellow Viper driver.
While content with his day's work, Maguire is remaining cautious, believing tyres will become a key issue across the remaining five days.
"It's been a pretty interesting battle with the Whites today, but unfortunately for us, it's been dry," Maguire said.
"He's (White) got a different tyre on the front of his Viper now and our wheels didn't turn up in time for the event, so we're not able to push as hard as he is in the dry, so bring on the rain.
"Other than that we're really happy."
Jason White was less so.
"We had some serious electrical issues and stalled it at the start line of Golden Valley and it wouldn't start, so we had to bump start it in reverse and we were lucky to get going again," he said.
"We had a battery explode on the way to Poatina and we've had acid fumes all through the cabin. Hopefully we can fix it tonight - if we can't then we're pretty much screwed."
Jeff Morton and Daymon Nicoli in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS were eight seconds further back with the top three overall positions mirrored in the GTO category.
Gold Coasters Jon and Gina Siddins have a handy 73-second classic GT lead in their 1970 Datsun 240Z while the classic handicap field has the Volvo 122s of Ashley Yelds and Mary Hughes in top spot.
Adam Kaplan and Aleshia Penney hold a 29-second lead after a strong charge in their 2004 BMW M3 CSL in early modern 2.
Early modern 4 saw Trevor MacLeod and Steve Glenney (Nissan GT-R) given a derived time for stopping on the final stage, leaving them with a 64-second lead.
In GT production, Peter Nunn and Keith Johnstone (2016 Porsche Cayman GTS) have established a 53-second lead over fellow Launceston resident Ben Newman and Adam Kudra (2010 Subaru WRX STI).
Daryl and Peter Marshall (2002 Ford Pursuit Ute) lead the TSD Trophy, Matthew Gibbens/Timothy Jurd (2020 Lotus Exige 410) the GT sports trophy, Jack Waldron and Vin Gregory (1981 Mitsubishi Sigma) the thoroughbred trophy and Queenslanders Tony and Sandra Seymour (2013 Lotus Exige) the rookie rallye.
The event continues on Tuesday with another six stages traversing The Sideling on the run out to St Helens and back.