The Return of Targa Tasmania
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One of the world’s iconic events is finally back after a three year hiatus following the tragic deaths that led to the suspension of tarmac rallying in Australia. Having undergone a major safety overhaul the Targa ran on 16-21 November, a shift from its traditional southern hemisphere autumn date to a late spring slot that was framed as a safety measure, reducing exposure to the worst of Tasmania’s autumn weather while enhancing the touring experience.
The event brought communities together with massive gatherings welcoming the competitors
The event ran with fewer competitors and with mandatory participation in a new two-day Targa Academy safety course. A “one strike and you’re out” policy was implemented for crashes, and top speed limits were tiered based on driver experience and vehicle power.
Starting with a small field of just 33 hand-picked cars plus a few regularity competitors, (previous events counted cars in their hundreds), the 2025 route covered roughly 2000km over six days, starting in Hobart and finishing in Launceston for the first time since the early 1990s, underlining the organisers’ intention to refresh the event’s character while retaining its long distance endurance flavour.
Organisers have signed a five-year contract with the Tasmanian government who fully support the event, saying it brings an estimated $8 million to the Tasmanian economy. A notable feature in 2025 was the inclusion of an overnight stop in Devonport, which reshaped the event’s rhythm and spread the economic impact more widely across northern Tasmania. The event brought communities together with massive gatherings welcoming the competitors.
Cars of all ages compete in Targa Tasmania, and it has been the high-performance supercars that have been the subject of the safety issues. Organisers have addressed these issues with stricter licencing requirements and top-speed limits on the straights for the more powerful cars, amongst other measures.
Angus Kennard and Ian Wheeler came out overall winners in their 2015 Nissan GT-R on a field that contained many classes and everything from modern supercars to an Austin A30.
“The safety measures that have been implemented are smart and sensible. We slow down when we need to slow down, but it is not a nanny state and they have not ruined it,” said one competitor.
Despite all the efforts to comply, the 2025 event was held without the endorsement or insurance coverage of Motorsport Australia, following a continuing split over safety recommendations and licensing.
Energised by the success of last year’s event, organisers are already taking entries for the 2026 edition, which will take place on 18-22 November. See Targa.com.au.
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