General News
28 November, 2024
Targa Great Barrier Reef revved up for 2026 start
THE tarmac rally, Targa Great Barrier Reef, is set to return to the Far North in 2026.
Organisers are currently focused on Targa Tasmania in November next year as well as a new event in Victoria in April next year.
Targa chief executive officer Mark Perry said since the return of Targa Tasmania, many had asked about the plans for Targa Great Barrier Reef.
“Rest assured we are certainly planning to return to our most northern tarmac rally location as soon as we can,” he said.
“Naturally, our sole focus has been on ensuring Targa Tasmania’s return, so we have just started the process of returning to Cairns with a goal of getting back to Tropical North Queensland in 2026.
“I will be sure to keep you updated on our progress throughout the first part of 2025.”
The Far North event was cancelled in 2022, 2023 and this year after Motorpsort Australia reviewed four deaths between 2013 and 2022 during Targa Tasmania.
Mr Perry said after the recent conclusion of a coronial inquest held in Hobart, Targa Tasmania would return in 2025, for the first time since 2022.
“We are excited to let you know today that our return will see the ultimate tarmac rally run at a different time of the year for at least the next five years with the announcement today of new spring dates, starting on the third Sunday in November and giving the event a regular time slot in future years,” he said.
“For 2025, this will see Targa Tasmania start on Sunday, November 16 and finish on Friday, November 21, also moving away from the Monday to Saturday format used in recent years.
“The time afforded to plan for the event’s return to ensure the implementation of a range of safety changes will also see the greatest single change to the course layout in the history of the event.”
Mr Perry said the Alpine Resorts event on April 10-13 would have a new name and a new format: Park to Peak Mt. Buller.
“It will be the perfect way to prepare for Targa Tasmania later in the year and what a fantastic opportunity to get everyone back together again for what will be an emotional and fun weekend,” he said.
Mr Perry said Targa High Country would no longer be happening, mainly due to safety concerns.
“There are many reasons for this, which range from safety and average speed challenges, to the commercial reality of running large scale Targa events in 2025 and beyond,” he said.
“On safety and speed, the high country course has always been notoriously fast with many competitors eclipsing the FIA maximum average of 132km/h on both the Whitfield and Eildon legs, let alone the leg out to Euroa.
“We have tried numerous initiatives to mitigate this with limited success.
“For the future we have committed to a complete retention of all current Targa cars.
“We have also committed to dramatically lowering average speeds.”
