Targa Tasmania postponed until October

The 2023 Targa Tasmania has been postponed from mid-April to late October as the Motorsport Australia-appointed Targa Review Panel continues its investigation into Australian tarmac rally conduct.

The bad news doesn’t end their either; Motorsport Australia has decreed “the sport of tarmac rallying will remain suspended” until the review panel’s report is released and any recommendations from it are implemented.

All this investigative activity was triggered by a fatal accident at last year’s event in which a driver lost their life in a single-vehicle crash on the second day of competition, specifically on the Mt Roland stage.

The driver’s navigator received non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, but it followed in the wake of a trio of deaths at the 2021 event.

Targa Australia CEO Mark Perry said this indefinite suspension left the motorsport organisation no choice but to postpone Australia’s most famous tarmac rally and adhere to whatever findings or recommendations the report ends up making.

“The reality is that we have no alternative given that Motorsport Australia has not yet released the report,” he said.

“It will also take time to understand the full ramifications of the Targa Review Panel’s report.

“Once we have received and reviewed the report thoroughly, we will make further announcements.

“We will also take the time to assess the full impact on the event and our business before making the required short, medium, and long term decisions in the best interests of all our loyal competitors, officials, sponsors and suppliers.”

This year’s Targa Tasmania was already going to be a new experience for competitors and crews with the 2023 instalment of the iconic event set to start and finish in Hobart.

Entries for both it and the recent Targa High Country event, which was run under speed restrictions, opened in October last year.

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