Now it's Targa Corsica

Targa Tasmania will be virtually replicated on the other side of the world next year when the first Targa Corsica-Rallye des 10,000 virages takes place.

This follows the establishment of an in-principle agreement between Australian and French authorities and creates an event that will be a substitute for the now bi-annual running of a round of the World Rally Championship. Corsica previously had a 50-year history of hosting annual WRC rounds.

The 2009 Corsican tarmac rally will be an official sister event of the Targa Tasmania. It will also closely follow the format of the Australian event, including the regulations, awarding of Targa plates and vehicle eligibility rules.

The decision to substitute the WRC round with the Targa Corsica-Rallye followed a visit this year by French representatives to Targa Tasmania which was then followed by a visit to a round of this year's WRC in Corsica by Targa Tasmania event director Mark Perry.

"As far as Targa Tasmania goes, having this relationship will inevitably lead to many more internationals competing here each year, bringing a new dimension to the event and, over time, increase our status and level of awareness in the international motorsport world," says Perry.

Corsica is seen as a sort of Mediterranean equivalent of Tasmania, with similar geography and road networks.

"Corsica is an amazing island and will provide a perfect backdrop for a 'sister' Targa event'," Mark Perry said.

"This new deal will see a large increase in awareness of Tasmania in Europe, which will, in turn, lead to more visitors coming to our shores to explore our unique state," he continued.

Targa Tasmania today is now the world's largest tarmac rally and, in 2011, will celebrate its 20th anniversary as a fixture on the island state's calendar.

At the time of writing, the 2009 Targa Tasmania has so far attracted 210 entries, indicating that a field of 300 cars will competing when the official prologue kicks off in George Town on April 28.

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