Driver aged in his 70s killed in Targa Tasmania rally

A COMPETITOR aged in his 70s is dead and his navigator has been injured after a crash in the Targa Tasmania car rally.

A COMPETITOR aged in his 70s is dead after a crash in the Targa Tasmania car rally.

The crash occurred during a stage on the first full day of the tarmac rally at Exton in the state's northwest.

The driver killed was from interstate.

The car's navigator has been taken to Launceston General Hospital in a stable condition.

Competition was called off on the stage but further stages will go ahead this afternoon.

Police have closed Porters Bridge Road at Exton, 50km west of Launceston, to investigate the crash.

Race organiser Octagon and the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) said in a joint statement they were unable to provide more details.

"We are deeply saddened to report that there has been a fatality at Targa Tasmania this morning," the statement read.

"We are currently working with the relevant authorities and will provide further information once next of kin have been advised."

The fatality is the second in the Tasmanian leg of the series, which began in 1992.

In 1996, Melbourne navigator Ian Johnson died in the state's northwest.

But there have been several other deaths in Targa races throughout Australia, most infamously when champion driver Peter Brock was killed in Western Australia in September 2006.

Last August, driver Adam Plate was killed at Targa Adelaide.

Targa Tasmania's 200-car field was due to compete in several stages on day one of the six-day event, returning to Launceston on Wednesday night.

Competitors race the clock for a total of 600km over 40 stages.

The four-round Australian Targa Championship, based on similar European races, is described on its website as a "red-blooded" motorsport competition.

"The format provides a unique opportunity for the owners of sports cars and GTs to drive them the way they were designed to be driven on some of the most exciting and challenging tarmac roads in the world," the site says.

Defending champion Jason White won the race prologue at George Town yesterday in a Lamborghini.

AAP