Dick Johnson to race Targa Tasmania

But the Ford race legend will be in a GM product - a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 which means it comes complete with seven-litre V8 engine.My plan is to exercise caution," says Johnson, now aged 65.

His Dick Johnson Racing outfit, having taken James Courtney to be reigning V8 Supercar Champion, has its two Jim Beam Falcons in the hands of Steve Johnson and rookie James Moffat, to hit the track at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide three weeks from now after which he prepares for Targa Tasmania, April 5-10.

Johnson will drive the Corvette coupe at the invitation of its owner Neill Ford who is a long-time Targa competitor and whose business Yellow Cab is a DJR sponsor in V8s.

Three-time winner of the Bathurst touring car race and twice Sandown 500 winner, Johnson will be having his fourth drive in Targa Tasmania, which uses public roads closed to normal traffic over long competitive stages twisting through hills.

"It's a great event to participate in," Johnson said.  "I drove a Maserati Marchetta which was an open-top car  I have never been so cold and wet in my entire life. This time, thankfully, I've got a roof."

Asked if he would be doing any pre-event testing to get familiar with the powerhouse Corvette, typically jocular Johnson said "It depends how far it is from aif parc ferme aifto the start line."

Fellow touring car champion (with four titles) Jim Richards, a former race circuit rival of Johnson, has become the king of Targa Tasmania with a string of victories in Porsche cars.