Targa 2021: Cairns rally boosts economy, builds case for more events
It was all about redemption, on and off the track in the Targa rally as a participant spoke of the Far North’s capability of hosting major events.
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TALES of redemption have underlined the fourth run of Targa Great Barrier Reef as one participant reinforced the importance of the economy-boosting event.
On the road it was Luke Anear and Andy Sarandis in their Subaru WRX STI coming from two second-place finishes on days one and two, to take the overall lead away from last year’s winner Tony Quinn and Brian Foster, on the final day.
However, for Far Northern business owners, the entire weekend slightly redeemed a shocking period of turbulence caused by interstate border closures and lockdowns.
Targa Great Barrier Reef event director Mark Perry said there was a “lot of doubt” in the lead-up to the event, especially when Cairns was thrown into a three-day lockdown in early August, but he was glad the organisation “held our nerve and made it happen”.
“It went amazingly well given the world we’re living. The key thing for us is we’re very grateful and thankful to everybody in the region for being so welcoming of Targa.
“There were lots of happy people down at the finish at Fogarty Park today. Thousands came out to look at the cars and cheer everyone on.”
GT Production BMW M3 driver Murray Young finished fourth in his category, but the Cairns Kart Hire owner said he couldn’t be happier for the region’s economy.
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During the event Mr Young made an effort to speak to business owners and said by all reports, “it was very busy”.
“Tourism has been devastated in Cairns,” he said.
“So for an event like Targa to be able to proceed brings a ray of sunshine to the region in terms of an influx of teams and crews who injected a lot of money into the local economy.”
Mr Young said the manager at his karting business reported 80 to 90 per cent of the weekend business was generated by out of town customers.
“And I’ve been speaking to people I know with restaurants, and with the Skyrail; town has been busy.”
Mr Young said if there was a lesson to be learnt it was that the Far North was capable of hosting major events and in the short-term, these events were proving a lifeline to the economy.
“It’s amazing we can shut down streets for this, for marathons and triathlons,” he said.
“But if we had a stadium, that would be a real game changer.
“In a few weeks we’re going to Townsville for the rugby at about $850 per person. That’s $850 into Townsville’s economy and not ours.”
PHOTOS: Targa GBR 2021 Cavalcade
Originally published as Targa 2021: Cairns rally boosts economy, builds case for more events
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