West Australian Tarmac rallying ready for new era

The West Australian tarmac rallying scene is braced for a new era with the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance, which kicks off next month with the Make Smoking History Tarmac West event.

With the Motorsport Australian sanctioned Targa West no more, an AASA sanctioned four-day rallysprint event on September 7-10 fills the void. 

The West Australian tarmac rally community have “gone to AASA to provide stability” for future events with the four-day Targa West endurance rally not coming due to Motorsport Australia’s recent regulation changes.

Under the current regulations both driver and co-driver “to get expensive” international licences, which include speed restrictions for drivers competing in their first 10 events, no matter how experienced.

Tarmac Events WA Pty Ltd is the newly named event owner and organiser of the Make Smoking History Tarmac West event which will be decided across three short and fast Rallysprint events.

Tarmac Events WA Director Ross Tapper explained the reasoning behind shifting from MA to AASA, with the hope it provides the best chance to run as many events as possible in the future.

“The tarmac rally community has waited close to a year and a half for proposed changes from Motorsport Australia to lift the pause on events following the tragedies at Targa Tasmania in 2021 and 2022,” he said. 

“They are still not fully released, and competitors in Western Australia have rejected MA’s proposal for the need for an International License and Driver and Co-Driver assessments.

“This has forced our hand and we have gone to AASA to provide us with a permit to run events and provide stability to allow us future plan our events.

“As a result of those changes, our name has also changed to Tarmac Events WA.

“We are planning to run 15 rally events in the next year that requires the certainty that AASA can provide.

“We will also be working on bringing back the full four-day Make Smoking History Tarmac West in September 2024. We look forward to a long working relationship with AASA.”

Make Smoking History Tarmac West event begins with the notable Midland Toyota Ellenbrook Rallysprint to get wheels in motion in style on opening night.

After a busy three days, the event will finish with a bang on Sunday when two headline stages are on the line.

On Sunday morning both the Make Smoking History Malaga Rallysprint and The Engine Shop City Sprint on the streets around the Terrace Road car park and Langley Park will take place.

The event will conclude with the City of Perth Rallysprint, while hundreds of cars from all eras will be on display on the river’s edge at Langley Park.

Trapper said fans can anticipate a “mega motorsport festival”.

“While the changes affect our working operations, from a spectator point of view it will be similar exciting racing on the closed streets of Perth and Ellenbrook, along with a mega motoring and motorsport festival at Langley Park,” he said.

2023 Tarmac Events WA calendar

Make Smoking History Tarmac West September 7-10

The Engine Shop City Sprint September 10

GT Fabrication Bunbury Rallysprint November 19

Make Smoking History Tarmac Cup Annual Series 

Photo: Dianne Bortoletto

PODCAST: The latest episode of the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast is out now!

Andrew, Bruce and PG got up early for a chat about the Sydney Supernight race and Bruce was far from happy about it. There was a great win by Erebus driver Brodie Kostecki, who now leads the title again and controversy around the podium with penalties taking trophies away from Cam Waters and Shane van Gisbergen… neither was happy. Did anyone say Green Card?

What happened to pole winner Andre Heimgartner? Who had steering issues, and why were so many people swearing? Who got fined and punished, and who didn’t?

It was a big night before a big day.

Listen on your podcast app of choice or here on the Auto Action RevLimiter podcast.