Targa Tasmania’s 30th anniversary to be world’s biggest motorsport event in 2022

Targa Tasmania will return with a bumper field next month and the 30th anniversary is set to be the largest motorsport contest in the world — with or without international competitors. DETAILS >

TARGA Tasmania will return with a bumper field next month and organisers will today launch the 30th anniversary edition of the tarmac rally which they say will be the largest motorsport competition in the world — with or without international competitors.

For the first time Targa will move to a March time-slot in 2022 to take the 2000km event out of the “cooler months of April and May”.

Event director Mark Perry expects more than 400 entries across Targa’s range of classes will see Targa Tasmania 30 feature the largest motorsport competition field in the world and inject $15 million into the state’s economy.

Targa Tasmania CEO Mark Perry. Picture Chris Kidd

It will also be the longest Targa on record, with competitors celebrating the major milestone by covering more than 2200km of Tasmania and the most competitive kilometres — more than 700km at race pace.

Targa started in 1992 and was held every year until the coronavirus pandemic put the brakes on last year.

“At that official start back in 1992, no one would have been thinking about Targa Tasmania still being around 30 years later in the 21st Century,” Perry said.

“The 30th event promises something very special for all those involved and the people of Tasmania.

“The 10th and 20th anniversary events both broke all records with more than 300 cars competing, making Targa Tasmania the largest tarmac rally in the world.

“It has been a tumultuous 10 years since the 20th anniversary event culminating in the first-ever cancellation right at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Time has shown it was the right call to make and the launching of our 30th event gives everyone great hope of an exciting future ahead, for not only Targa, but the many thousands of events trying to survive through these difficult times.”

Drivers and their cars leaving the Reef Hotel and Casino to start the Targa Great Barrier Reef 2019. Jason White and John White start the stage in their 2016 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

Paying homage to the original event, Targa 30 will start in the centre of Launceston, led away by a cavalcade of motoring history worth millions.

“It is very important to our communities and our culture to have events happening and whilst we all took them for granted before the pandemic, the amount of interest in Targa Tasmania right now is unprecedented and hence we are opening entries to our keystone event now,” Perry said.

“It promises to be hugely successful for all the communities we visit.

“It will feature many returning competitors from the early years and whilst it is too early to say if our international guests can join us in 2022, we remain hopeful that given the profile of Targa overseas that they can come and join in on the celebrations.”