Salamanca Place on the list as potential host for Targa Tasmania’s spectacular send-off in 2025

Flagship event Targa Tasmania is looking for an iconic location for its colourful ceremonial send-off in 2025

Reigning Targa Tasmania champion Eddie Maguire, of Burnie, in his Dodge Viper. Picture Otherside Productions

The reboot of one of Tasmania’s flagship events will come with an iconic location for its 350-strong field’s colourful start in November 2025, with the cars likely to have their ceremonial send-off from Salamanca Place.

After a forced two-and-a-half year hiatus, Targa Tasmania will re-start with a date shift from its traditional autumn April/May timeslot to the more friendly weather conditions of mid-November.

For the first time in the history of the event, which started in 1992, Targa Tasmania will start in Hobart instead of Launceston, and finish in Launceston rather than Hobart.

Usually kept securely inside the Silverdome in Launceston, Targa director Mark Perry revealed that next year’s field would be housed undercover at Princes Wharf No. 1.

Targa Tasmania competition cars remain in the Silverdome after the event was cancelled. Picture James Bresnehan

With Salamanca Place right next door, it would be an ideal fit for an iconic start to an iconic event.

Mr Perry will meet with the Hobart City Council to discuss possible locations for the ceremonial send-off.

“We don’t know where the start will be at this stage but we are meeting with the council to discuss a high-profile location for the start of the event,” Mr Perry said.

“It will be held early on a Sunday morning when it’s quite quiet on the waterfront, and we will discuss how we can help with that by bringing a high-profile event to the public at a nice time of year.”

Porsche Cayman GT4 at Targa Tasmania 2021.

At the ceremonial start, cars are flagged away in a non-competition send-off.

Crews must obey traffic laws and speed limits at all times until they get to the closed roads that will host the 38 official stages over the six-day event.

Mr Perry revealed the course change was not just about weather and safety.

“The change has been driven by literally hundreds of competitors, particularly the big factory groups like Porsche, who have been angling for a Hobart,” he said.

“That’s because by the time they get to Hobart they are tired and just want to go home.

“They love Launceston, but they all want to go to MONA and Salamanca Market and Port Arthur and up the mountain _ all of the things they are usually too tired to do.

“So that’s a big plus for what’s coming for Hobart next year.”

Targa 2025 will start in Hobart on the Sunday. From there the field heads to the North-West Coast for day two of competition and its first overnight stop in Devonport.

After tackling stages in the North-West and West Coast, the road show will be based in Launceston for three days of competition and the official finish.

Originally published as Salamanca Place on the list as potential host for Targa Tasmania’s spectacular send-off in 2025