Targa Tasmania

The inaugural event was held in April and May 1992 with a field of over 200 cars.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132375955 Targa to test the best] Canberra Times 1 May 1992 page 15[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132377732 Targa Tasmania's over-cautious organisers threw out the rule brook and created chaos] Canberra Times 8 May 1992 page 15

After three competitors died in 2021 and another in 2022, Motorsport Australia revoked the event's licence.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-28/targa-race-recommendations-in-wake-of-tasmania-deaths/102035054 Targa racing in Australia to undergo hard reset with safety, speed changes to be enforced after competitors' deaths] ABC News 28 February 2023[https://www.drive.com.au/news/targa-australia-cancels-tasmania-after-deaths/ Targa Australia cancels road races indefinitely after split from governing body] Drive.com.au 14 July 2023

It is scheduled to resume in November 2025 with an amended course from Hobart to Launceston.[https://autoaction.com.au/2024/11/12/targa-tasmania-is-back Targa Tasmania is back] Auto Action 12 November 2024[https://pulsetasmania.com.au/news/targa-tasmania-to-return-in-full-force-next-year-start-line-to-move-to-hobart/ Targa Tasmania to return in full force next year, start line to move to Hobart] Pulse Tasmania 12 November 2024

The rally started as a five-day event, but has been run as a six-day event for anniversaries in 2001, 2006 and 2016.

The layout of the 2016 event was:

• Leg 1 Launceston - George Town - Launceston
• Leg 2 Launceston - St Helens - Launceston
• Leg 3 Launceston - Sheffield - Launceston
• Leg 4 Launceston - Stanley - Strahan
• Leg 5 Strahan - New Norfolk - Hobart
• Leg 6 Hobart - Hobart

In 2008 the course was substantially revised, a number of well liked stages from previous years are now used (Riana), and a number of all new stages were introduced (Mount Claude and Rossarden). Leg 3 was dropped by shortening the Leg 2 East Coast day ending back in Launceston (rather than Hobart). Leg 3 is another loop north out of Launceston (running through Devonport on this day). Leg 4 later ran from Launceston through the lunch stop at Burnie to the evening end at Strahan. It was the longest tarmac rally in Australia with no repeated stages. Although a couple of stages will share the same piece of road in opposite directions on consecutive days.

The Targa is one of several Tarmac Rally events to be held in Australia. It also has had international connections with Targa New Zealand and Targa Newfoundland which have evolved since the inception of Targa Tasmania.

In 2016 the premier category changed from Modern to Showroom GT2.

A Targa Trophy is awarded to the driver and co-driver/navigator of each crew that completes all stages within the specified time for their class of vehicle. In subsequent years, the trophy may be upgraded as follows:{{cite web|url= https://targa.com.au/tc/page_standard.asp?asset_id=1672|title=Targa Trophies|publisher=Targa Australia|accessdate=2017-01-15}}

• Golden Targa Trophy - 3 consecutive regular trophies
• Platinum Targa Trophy - having achieved Gold then gaining another 3 consecutive regular trophies
• Diamond Targa Trophy - having achieved Platinum then gaining another 3 consecutive regular trophies
• Gold Diamond Targa Trophy - having achieved Diamond then gaining another 3 consecutive regular trophies
• Platinum Diamond Targa Trophy - having achieved Gold Diamond then gaining another 3 consecutive regular trophies

Once achieving Platinum Gold, the competitor is inducted into the Targa Hall of Fame Legends

In 2019, Geoff Taylor (aged 73+) was the only competitor to have competed in all events.{{cite web|url=https://rallysportmag.com/geoff-taylor-25-years-of-targa-tasmania/|title=Geoff Taylor - 25 years of Targa Tasmania|publisher=Rally Sport Magazine|accessdate=2021-08-14}}

In addition, each year the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy is awarded to the competitor who exhibits tenacity to overcome adversity while completing the event. It was first awarded in 1993.

Notable past and current competitors have included Andrew Miedecke, Barry Sheene, Bob Wollek, Denny Hulme, Dick Johnson, Glenn Ridge, Greg Crick, Gregg Hansford, Jack Brabham, Jim Richards, Jochen Mass, Steven Richards, Michael Doohan, Murray Walker, Neal Bates, Peter Brock, Peter Fitzgerald, Roger Clark, Rusty French, Sandro Munari, Stirling Moss, Alister McRae, Walter Röhrl and Eric Bana.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080606194527/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2007/04/14/nosplit/mftas14.xml Targa Tasmania] The Daily Telegraph 6 June 2008 The first person with a spinal cord injury to compete in the rally was Australian wheelchair rugby player Nazim Erdem.{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/nazim-erdem|title=Nazim Erdem|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|accessdate=19 June 2012}}

• Australian Targa Championship
• Love the Beast

{{Reflist}}

1. http://www.targatasmania.com.au/Results/Past [http://www.targatasmania.com.au/Results/Past.html]
2. http://www.targatasmania.com.au/ [http://www.targatasmania.com.au/]

• [http://www.targatasmania.com.au/ Targa Tasmania website]
• [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21553286-2902,00.html Eric Bana guns it to Max {{!}} Herald Sun]
• [http://www.RedBackRacing.com.au/ Team RedBackRacing website]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080321100655/http://www.car703.com/ CAR703 – Rallying for Oncology Research]}}

{{Targa Rallies|state=collapsed}}

Category:Motorsport competitions in Australia

Category:Motorsport in Tasmania

Category:Rally competitions in Australia

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in Australia