TARGA: Tasmania gears up for biggest Targa ever
More than 500 cars could front the starter for 2022’s 30th anniversary Targa Tasmania
A massive field of entries are set to contest the 2022 30th anniversary Targa Tasmania.
More than 500 cars and crews are expected to front the starter for the tarmac rally event in Launceston on April 26.
The entries are spread across 10 classes comprising everything from full competition, through regularity to non-competitive tour cars.
The 2022 Targa Tasmania 30 (TT30) will be run over six legs and 35 closed-road stages. The traditional prologue takes place at George Town in Tasmania’s north on April 26 and the last stage will be held on the outskirts of Hobarts CBD on May 1.
After a tragic 2021 event, during which three competitors lost their lives, the 30th anniversary Targa Tasmania and tarmac rallying as a whole has undergone significant technical and regulation changes.
A key change for the competitive tarmac rally classes is the provision of extra wet-weather tyres. This was part of the mandates from Motorsport Australia’s Investigatory Tribunal which handed down 23 recommendations in a 61-page report last September.
Among the top contenders for GT Outright honours in TT30 are Eddie Maguire/Zak Brakey (maiden winners in 2021 in a Dodge Viper) and Jason White/John White (Dodge Viper), who are seven-times TT winners – one short of Jim Richards/Barry Oliver’s record of eight.
Then there’s Sydney brain cancer survivor Jeff Morton/Daymon Nicoli (Porsche GT2 RS), who won their maiden Outright Targa event at High Country in February, two-time winner Tony Quinn (Nissan GT-R) and Hobart surgeon Michael Pritchard/Gary Mourant (2021 Ultima RS).
GT Production, which includes vehicles such as the Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, Golf GTI and a host of performance cars and hot hatches, is also expected to be hotly contested.
More high-profile entries are still to be confirmed.
The first Targa Tasmania in 1992 was won by successful circuit racer and sometimes carsales contributor, Greg Crick in a Honda NSX.
The 30th anniversary of the event has attracted a record field of non-competitive Tour entrants including many of the exotic cars which were a signature of the early Targas.
The attraction of closed stages and a course that takes in many of Australia’s best roads and scenery has seen the Tour categories grow substantially in recent years.
A one-off innovation for TT30 is the introduction of a special Tasmanian Tour section reserved solely for Tasmania cars and crews.
“There is a lot of excitement building for our big 30th anniversary event which has drawn a huge field of cars,” Targa Australia chief executive Mark Perry said.
“We, as with all of Australia, have been faced with some difficult challenges over the last two years with COVID-19 but we are now looking forward to putting on the biggest and best Targa Tasmania event that there has ever been.
“There has been a big spike in the number of entries in response to the landmark anniversary and it augurs well for a hugely successful week,” he stated.
Targa Tasmania honour roll – outright winners:
1992 Greg Crick/Greg Preece, Honda NSX
1993 Greg Crick/Greg Preece, Honda NSX
1994 Andrew Miedecke/Alan Taylor, Porsche 944 Turbo Cup
1995 Neal Bates/Coral Taylor, Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST205)
1996 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 Turbo (993)
1997 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 Turbo (993)
1998 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 Turbo (993)
1999 Peter Fitzgerald/Michael Mansour, Porsche 911 Turbo (993)
2000 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 GT3 CS
2001 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 Turbo (996)
2002 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 Turbo (996)
2003 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 GT3 CS
2004 Tony Sullens/Julia Barkley, Subaru Impreza WRX STiS202
2005 Jason White/John White, Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec N1 (R34)
2006 Jim Richards/Barry Oliver, Porsche 911 GT2 CS (996)
2007 Tony Sullens/Julia Barkley, Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA (GC8)
2008 Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX RS
2009 Tony Quinn/Naomi Tillett, Nissan GT-R
2010 Jason White/John White Lamborghini, Gallardo Reiter Super Trofeo Stradale
2011 Tony Quinn/Naomi Tillett, Nissan GT-R
2012 Jason White/John White, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale
2013 Jason White/John White, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale
2014 Jamie Vandenberg/Dennis Sims, Nissan GT-R
2015 Jason White/John White, Lamborghini Gallardo SquadraCorse
2016 Matt Close/Cameron Reeves, 2015 Porsche 911 GT3
2017 Jason White/John White, Dodge Viper
2018 Jason White/John White, Dodge Viper
2019 Paul Stokell/Kate Catford, Lotus Exige Sport 350
2020 Not held
2021 Eddie Maguire/Zak Brakey, Dodge Viper
Related: TARGA: MOTORSPORT: Targa Tasmania under scrutiny
Related: MOTORSPORT: Death mars Targa Tasmania
Related: Targa Tasmania with Porsche: The ultimate car adventure
Related: Honda NSX and Targa Tasmania: Replicating history
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