NEW TARMAC RALLY ASSOCIATON FORMED

A new independent tarmac rally association has been formed, with a committee including Tony Quinn as President.

The Tarmac Rally Competitors Association of Australia (TRCAA) will represent competitors in liaising with Regulators and Event Organisers, operating as an ‘impartial body with no specific allegiances’.

A group of experienced tarmac rally competitors will head up the new body, led by Quinn who is known as an owner of Triple Eight Race Engineering and several national circuits including Queensland Raceway.

Quinn also has a Targa Tasmania win to his name.

The committee consists of 11 individuals all up – Phillippe Etienne will chair the committee with experience as a former CEO, Non-Executive Director of a number of ASX100 company boards and Chair of the Board Health, Safety & Environment Committees.

Samantha Winter will act as Secretary, bringing business history as well as 25 years of experience in tarmac rallying – she is the current Motorsport Australia Targa Rally Champion for Classic Outright and Classic (Handicap).

The formation of the TRCAA comes just two weeks after Motorsport Australia decided to stop issuing permits for Targa style tarmac rally events due to the deaths of four competitors at Targa Tasmania over the last two years.

TARGA was not mentioned by the TRCAA in its release.

At this point, the TRCAA has given no indication of hosting its own events.

TRCAA spokesperson Mark Clair explained that the association will help to give competitors a greater say in Australian tarmac rallying.

“Competitors have been a bit of a voice in the wilderness, with many of us often feeling that nobody is listening to our concerns. The formation of TRCAA is the opportunity for competitors to help change that and help the sport” Clair said.

“This founding group has come together to get the Association up and running and intends to hold elections for the various roles and for other participation options.”

Initially, TRCAA will offer Gold Foundation Memberships to competitors that have taken part in at least one time-based category in a special stage Tarmac Rally in Australia within the last four years.

“Gold Foundation members will get exclusive access to a range of website services including Newsletters, Polls and Member Only Forums for discussing matters of importance, and most importantly enable them to provide feedback and make suggestions for the benefit of our sport” Clair said.

Annual Gold Memberships will cost $50.

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