Motorsport Australia establishes tribunal to investigate three Targa Tasmania deaths

Australia’s peak motoring body has established a tribunal to investigate the three fatalities that forced an early end to this year’s Targa Tasmania.

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AUSTRALIA’S peak motoring body has launched an investigatory tribunal following the recent Targa racing tragedy.

Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca announced the review after three Targa Tasmania competitors Leigh Mundy, Dennis Neagle and Shane Navin were killed in two separate incidents over the weekend.

The event was ended early about noon on Saturday after the double fatality at Cygnet.

Mr Arocca said it had the authority to launch the tribunal under Motorsport Australia’s national competition rules.

“On behalf of everyone at Motorsport Australia, we extend our condolences to the families and friends of those competitors who tragically lost their lives while competing at Targa Tasmania,” he said.

“We also extend our sympathies to the wider Targa and motorsport community impacted in recent days, including our officials.

“This is a difficult time for the entire motorsport family and we continue to offer our support and guidance to all.”

Leigh Mundy and Dennis Neagle’s crashed Porsche near Cygnet. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The tribunal chair will be Motorsport Australia’s Federation Internationale de l’Automobile delegate and Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety chair Garry Connelly AM, who was formerly FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety deputy president.

Mr Arocca said further tribunal members would be announced in coming days.

“Motorsport Australia remains in close contact with the event organisers and Tasmania Police and is committed to working closely with other relevant government authorities as they also investigate these incidents,” he said.

“Today’s announcement of an investigatory tribunal will allow Motorsport Australia to look closely at all aspects of the incidents and determine a number of recommendations that will be put to the Motorsport Australia Board for consideration.”

Mr Arocca said the tribunal would include motorsport safety workers, drivers, team owners and medical experts.

Targa Australia CEO Mark Perry welcomed the investigation and said the “inherently dangerous” sport would adopt all recommendations.

“It’s important that we work closely with them,” he said.

Mr Perry said Targa Australia held an “overwhelming” and “emotional” dinner event last night to remember the three seasoned racers.

Shane Navin’s Mazda RX-7 is retrieved after the crash. Picture: S`upplied

But despite the tragedies, Mr Perry felt confident Targa would continue bringing thousands of sporting personnel and millions of tourism dollars to the state in years to come.

“The future remains bright from our perspective, the event’s got a very long history of success,” he said.

“Twenty-six times the event has been run in Tasmania without any serious incident or fatality.

“This is a setback no doubt and we’ll work through it.”

Mr Perry said safety experts in Paris signed off on the internationally governed Targa Tasmania rally every year.

He hoped the global Targa community would in time celebrate the deceased drivers’ legacies.

“We’ll always remember the three gentlemen,” he said.

“It’s a tragic set of circumstances right now and whilst we understand and everybody who gets in the cars appreciates the risks involved, it is still an unusual set of circumstances.

“It’ll be important for the healing process for all people involved in Targa we always recognise and remember them.”