The 16th annual staging of the international tarmac classic, Targa Tasmania, has begun with from April 17 – 22 the classic event bringing together the greatness of motor racing classics including Italy’s Targa Florio and the Coup des Alpes.
A field of around 300 Sports, Classic and GT cars, including Lamborghinis and Porsches are competing in one of four competitions – Historic, Classic, Classic Sprint and Modern – around much of Tasmania and in cars worth many millions of dollars, Targa Tasmania gives drivers, including Hollywood star Eric Bana, an opportunity to stretch their cars’ competitive legs on challenging roads through a diverse range of landscape – from coast roads to mountain passes.
Targa Tasmania is held over six days and covers more than 2000 kilometres, with British motor racing legend Stirling Moss called Targa Tasmania “the best classic car drive in the world”.
Tasmania’s Targa passes by, or close to, some of the very best of Tasmania’s acclaimed natural wonders including the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and an east coast touring route where, if the drivers weren’t racing they would surely stop at some of the charming fishing villages to sample wonderfully fresh oysters and crayfish.
Or maybe they would stop for a tipple at one of the cool climate wineries in the Tamar Valley as long as the driver does not have any!
An estimated 200,000 people turn out along the various stages of the Targa to see this multi-million dollar motor show and Targa Tasmania is supported strongly by Tasmanians with their passion a small insight into the welcome you will receive from friendly locals all over the state when, if you can’t make it to Tasmania in April, you plan your own Targa – and tour the very best of Tasmania at a pace where it is okay to linger over fine food and wine, and wonderful World Heritage wilds.
Report by The Mole
