Targa Tasmania’s postponed for second year is set to cost the state’s economy $10m

Targa Tasmania has joined Dark Mofo as another major event missing from the Tasmanian events calendar in 2024. It’s set to cost the state tens of millions in lost tourism revenue. Details.

Last year's Targa Tasmania's defending champ Eddie Maguire, from Burnie, is off to a flying start in his 2016 Dodge Viper ACR. Picture: Otherside Productions

The Tasmanian tourism industry is bracing for a winter of discontent next year with Targa Tasmania joining Dark Mofo as major events cancelled in 2024, creating a $30m black hole in the state’s economy.

A staple on the state’s major events calendar since its inception in 1992, Targa Tasmania is a huge economic driver injecting $8m-$10m into the local visitor economy each year while Dark Mofo brings an estimated $20m.

It is the second year on a row Targa Tasmania, widely recognised as the world’s premier tarmac rally, has been postponed.

Last year's Targa Tasmania's defending champ Eddie Maguire, from Burnie, is off to a flying start in his 2016 Dodge Viper ACR. Picture: Otherside Productions

Targa director Mark Perry, who dropped the bombshell at 10am on Thursday, said it was not the end of Targa but a necessary pause to ensure its future.

The event is now scheduled for April 28 - May 5, 2025.

Perry was disappointed to suspend the tarmac rally again but said the “full scope of work” needed to get the event back up to speed caused the delay.

Targa Tasmania CEO Mark Perry. Picture Chris Kidd

“In recent weeks it has become clear that the full scope of work needed for a successful return makes running the event in April 2024 an unachievable task,” Perry said.

“While the further delay of our return will be sad news for thousands of people, we must ensure we get everything right first.”

Perry said it was reassuring the Tasmanian State Government had reiterated its ongoing commitment to Targa Tasmania by providing a further extension to its current five-year agreement.

“This new agreement will now cover 2025 to 2029 reassuring all those involved in Targa that the government and Tasmanians clearly want the event to continue for many years to come,” Perry said.

“We fully understand that this is a bitter blow for competitors, officials, sponsors, and the Tasmanian tourism industry, but we are taking a long-term view to secure the future of Targa Tasmania and we appreciate everyone’s ongoing support in the year ahead.

Porsches lined up for a stage at Targa Tasmania 2021.

“Targa will continue to work tirelessly throughout 2024, maintaining regular communications with the many thousands of people around the world who follow the event, with the clear aim of implementing a myriad of positive changes in preparation for a much-anticipated return in 2025.”

It means the 31st running of Targa will not take place until after the findings of a coronial inquest have been released, expected in the first half of next year.

“This delay will enable us to finalise a number of key components while also fully supporting the ongoing coronial inquest, which should see us in a position to implement all relevant recommendations from this process for the 2025 Targa Tasmania,” Perry said.

In 2021, veteran driver Shane Navin, 68, of NSW, was killed on the penultimate day when he lost control of his 1979 Mazda RX-7 at Double Barrell Creek on the state’s West Coast.

Targa Tasmania 2021. 1979 Mazda RX-7 of Shane Navin and co-driver Glenn Evans crashed 35.4 kilometres into the stage at approximately 10am this morning. Medical teams were immediately dispatched to attend the scene of the accident but were unable to revive Shane, who died at the scene. Co-driver Glenn Evans, was assessed by the attending medical crew and cleared of injuries. Picture: James Bresnehan

A day later Hobart’s Leigh Mundy, 68, and Queensland co-driver Dennis Neagle, 59, died when their car veered off the road and hit trees on a stage south of Hobart.

In 2022, Anthony Seymour’s car rolled when he lost control on the Mount Roland stage of the event.