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The History

How it Began
In 1983, CAMS published its first Five-Year Plan for the development of motorsport in Australia. Part of this plan involved the development of "hallmark" events in each Australian State - events capable of giving motor sport the broader public exposure needed for its continued growth in the face of rising competition from other sports and other elements of the entertainment industry generally.

Working closely with the various State Governments, this plan gave rise to the international events Australia has enjoyed since: The Australian Grand Prix; Rally Australia; the Australian Safari; and various rounds of other World Championships, including sports cars, touring cars and karts.

This same Five-Year Plan was also the beginning of Targa Tasmania. The opportunity for such an event was identified and its competition parameters were defined in the plan. The primary objective was to create a brand new and unique event to utilise and promote the special features of Tasmania, then to develop that event into a high-prestige occasion recognised throughout the world of automobile competition as an essential activity for owners and collectors of sporting automobiles.

A three-day event was designed, using the three major centres - Launceston, Hobart and Burnie. This was then expanded into a five-day format by adding two loops based on Launceston and Hobart. The addition of the Prologue in 1994 has resulted in the six day event that now exists.

Targa Tasmania is held at a similar time each year, in order to support the tourism industry during what is known as the "shoulder period" - that is, when the summer season starts to dip towards the winter nadir.

It is important to recognise that Targa Tasmania is more than a motorsport competition. It is a total event. A competition run in the context of a public festival environment.

Unlike most rallies, it runs directly in front of the public - in the public eye and under public scrutiny. Also unlike most rallies, it involves up to 300 vehicles which must run at 30-second intervals in order to make the road-closing schedule achievable. The resulting pressure at control points is compounded by the fact that some of the navigators are relatively inexperienced and are not familiar with control procedures.

Targa Tasmania is surrounded by a great deal of hype and adrenaline, powered by a high level of media involvement - not to mention the exuberance of some of the competitors. All this makes Targa Tasmania the Ultimate Motorsport Management Challenge.

Now in its 17th year, Targa Tasmania has grown to become one of the world's true classic motor sport events, and a name that is known around the world.

The "Targa" Origin
'Targa' is Italian for 'plate', and the event borrows its name from the famous classic rally of the early part of this century when Vincenzo Florio conducted a great motoring event around the island of Sicily. This event ran for 69 years, from 1906 to 1974.

The first prize was a magnificent copy of his family plate, or targa, and the event was known as Targa Florio - no cash was involved as prize money.

In the true tradition of Targa Florio, Targa Tasmania also offers no prize money, only the thrill of competing on some of the world's most challenging roads, and the chance to win magnificent targa (plate) trophies.

These trophies are awarded for winners of the three competitions and category and class wins, but then in addition there is the opportunity for every competitor to collect a coveted Targa Trophy as well.

Many crews enter the event purely with the aim of winning a Targa Trophy. Category, or event class honours are secondary and, if achieved, are considered to be a bonus. The spirit of participation, the spirit of competition, and the spirit of the event itself are the real rewards, with the expense involved in tackling a major event like Targa Tasmania for no prize money and only a trophy being overcome by the sense of achievement in completing the rally, and the immense enjoyment of competing.

The Targa Experience
Some of the more modern exotic cars which have contested the event are Ferrari F40 and Testarossa, Maserarti Barchetta, Lamborghini Diablo VT, Lotus Espirit S4, Porsche 911 Turbo and Lamborghini Gallardo, whilst some of the classic and historic vehicles include Lancia Aurelia, Jaguar SS100, Lagonda Rapide, Delage D6/70, Bugati Type 35B, Hispano Suiza, Invicta 'S' Type, Locomobile Speedster, Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, and Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Spider.

Drivers who have enjoyed the thrill of Targa Tasmania include Sir Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Denny Hulme, Sandra Munari, Roger Clark, Jochen Mass, Walter Roehrl, Dick Johnson, Gregg Hansford, Peter Brock, Rusty French, Glenn Ridge, Greg Crick, Andrew Miedecke, Neal Bates, Bob Wollek, Jim Richards, Peter Fitzgerald, Barry Sheene, Eric Bana, Grant Denyer, Paul Stokell and Mick Doohan, Alistair McRae, Greg Rust, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Peter Hall.