TARGA: Silver Anniversary set to shine in Tassie

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Tasmanian Greg Crick piloted a then-new Honda NSX to victory in the inaugural Targa Tasmania back in 1992.

For years Crick was unsure of this special Honda’s whereabouts, but in a This Is Your Life moment the pair will be reunited as Crick takes on ceremonial flag car duties with the Ferrari-beater from Japan.

Since that first event, luminaries such as Stirling Moss, Walter Rohrl, Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme and Sandro Munari have ensured this multi-day tarmac rally has resonated throughout the motoring world, while Eric Bana’s ‘Love the Beast’  brought his very personal Targa experience to big screens globally.

The 2016 course is a fitting tribute, set to cover over 500 competitive kilometres when competition commences on April 11, finishing up with a traditional Hobart finale on April 16.

Some 350 entries have so far been accepted, with more expected before crews assemble at the Launceston Silverdome for the opening day of competition.

Divided into nine key categories, a recent rejig of the competition rules could see a vehicle from outside the previously-dominant ‘Modern’ category take line honours.

The former Showroom categories have been renamed GT2 (for two-wheel drive vehicles) and GT4 for all-wheel drive heroes. These classes are now the only way to enter non-speed restricted Targa competition in a car built after January 1, 2012.

This, combined with a relaxing of the pricing rules previously in place (and that allowed Tony Quinn’s McLaren 650S to shine in Showroom last year), means that the modified Modern machines will be severely tested.

Proof of the shift towards a more production-based focus is evident in the GT2 entry list. Multiple Targa Tasmania winners Jim Richards (Porsche Cayman GT4) and Jason White (debuting his Dodge Viper ACR Extreme, after several outright wins aboard a Lamborghini Gallardo) as well as Targa High Country 2015 winner Matt Close (Porsche 911 GT3) will also compete in GT2.

GT4 will again be a hot-bed of all-paw competition. Previous winner Tony Quinn will swap his McLaren for an all-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracan to go up against the usual brace of Subaru STIs and Lancer Evolutions. Several R35 Nissan GT-Rs and quattro-drivetrain Audis will also be in the running: If the notorious Targa weather plays a part, look for this category to come to the fore.

Of course, the modern category can never be discounted, with several competitors enjoying the additional freedoms this group allows. Think more all-wheel drive hero cars mixed with GT3 and RS Porsche equipment, as well as some HSV rarities including a Coupe 4 and Clubsport DTS and you have an eclectic mix.

Early Modern, for vehicles built from 1986-2002, retains a cult following with over 30 entries. Adam Kaplan’s crowd-pleasing ‘Walkinshaw’ VL Group A makes a welcome return to the category, as does TV personality Glenn Ridge in one of several Australian-built Mazda RX-7 SPs entered. This category inevitably throws a lightweight, older Lancer Evolution into overall consideration, too.

In keeping with early Targas, organisers have strongly encouraged Classic entries for 2016. The Classic category (previously Classic Handicap) is eligible for vehicles built from 1947-1985 and sees the largest single-category entry with more than 70 confirmed entries at time of publication, with a time weighting used to determine the winner based on the vehicle used.

Local FJ Holdens and Toranas will fight it out with exotic machinery including Abarths (in 750 and 131 form), an Aston Martin DB4, several Alfa Romeos and an Alpine A110… and that’s just marques beginning with A.

The traditional Classic Outright category has been split-out and renamed ‘Classic GT’. This class is full of favourites, including Jon Siddins in his rapid Datsun 240Z, Craig Haysman’s Triumph TR7 V8, Barry Faux’s Mazda RX-7 and Mark Hammond’s booming Jaguar XJS V12. Targa veteran Keith Callinan will also compete for Classic GT honours with his Ford Escort RS1800.

Vintage, for cars pre-1947, has only two entrants. Both, however, are well known to the Targa community. Graham Copeland will run his 1936 Desoto, making it the oldest competition car entered, while Wayne Clark will run again in the 1938 Dodge Speedster.

Beyond the competition, several speed-limited categories will have the opportunity to run on closed Tasmanian roads.

The GT Sports Trophy is speed limited to 130km/h and is suitable for half-caged vehicles with classic and modern sub-categories.

Meanwhile, the TSD Trophy is a regularity-based event with nominated average speeds for each stage and a 130km/h top speed.

Intriguingly, a Japanese-entered 1977 Mitsubishi Colt Lancer 1600 GSR has been entered to this section for Shuji Kawasaki, as well as a pair of similar-era Toyota Corolla Levins for Tetsuya Kimura and Hisao Emi.

Several ‘tour’ events, headed by a course car, will also participate. Designed to adhere ‘to posted speed limits’ on the stages, the tour group is the ideal introduction to Targa Tasmania.

Manufacturer interest continues with Porsche will conduct its annual club tour and BMW introducing its latest M2 to Australian roads with a regularity event.

Team motoring.com.au will again be competing in the GT2 category with Buckby Motors in a Renault Megane RS, as well as participating in the BMW M2 drive. You can follow our progress – and that of the event itself – once Targa kicks off on April 11.