Targa Tasmania’s 30th anniversary event has been put back by Covid

In a clutch move, Targa Tasmania has stalled plans for a calendar shift for its 30th birthday event next year. See the new dates >>

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TARGA Tasmania has put the brakes on its switch to a March event for its 30th anniversary event next year and settled for its traditional time-slot in April to avoid potential Covid-19 border restrictions stopping competitors arriving in the state.

Organisers stalled on its planned shift on the calendar to early spring in the hope of swerving any potential lingering issues with the Covid-19 pandemic at the earlier March 8-13 calendar slot.

Targa Australia CEO Mark Perry said the new date bought the event vital time for Australian states to move beyond severe pandemic restrictions.

“The 30th running of Targa Tasmania is a huge opportunity for everyone who has been involved over the years to join in and celebrate this magnificent milestone,” Perry said.

“Our competitors and tour participants come from all over Australia, and people need certainty in planning their travel and confidence that the event will take place.

“This new schedule buys everyone an additional seven weeks and in our early survey of competitors this was welcomed, seen as a real plus.

“We want to make the 30th anniversary something special – the event of the year for motorsport and car enthusiasts.

“We have some exciting things planned – not just for our entrants but all the Targa fans in Tasmania as well.

“These might have been in doubt with a March event but now we can continue to build on our exciting plans to make the 30th Targa Tasmania something really special.”

Ed Maguire in his Dodge Viper during the 2021 event. Picture: Aaron Wishart

Perry will oversee changes to the running of the event and its course after new regulations were imposed following an investigation into three fatalities in 24 hours in this year’s event.

Targa Tasmania 2022 will begin on April 26, with participants spending the first three nights in Launceston.

Targa Tasmania Day 1 2021. Picture: Aaron Wishart

The competition cars will then spend the Friday and Saturday nights in Strahan, while Tour entries will stay in Cradle Mountain. The event will conclude in Hobart on Sunday May 1.

The later date also allows the running of Targa High Country from February 11-13, the same slot used earlier this year for the Mt Buller-based event, and away from the scheduled November 2021 dates that were likely to still be heavily affected by Covid-19 protocols.

“Targa High Country is also an important event on our calendar and the February date will allow far more mainland competitors to take part than if we ran it in November this year as originally planned,” Perry said.

“So the date moves are a win-win. Great for Targa Tasmania and also for Targa High Country and great for competitors and also Targa enthusiasts.”