TARGA Tasmania postponed until 2025

TARGA CEO Mark Perry has announced that the planned resumption of TARGA Tasmania for 2024 will be postponed until April of 2025.

The planned return of the iconic TARGA Tasmania for April 8-13 2024 has now been rescheduled until April 28 – May 3 2025 with the coronial inquest into the four deaths that occurred during the 2021 and 2022 TARGA Tasmania events to be held in mid-2024.

With safety aspects such as course design being examined in the inquest, Perry says that it’s important that any recommendations have time to be implemented before any TARGA tarmac rally event goes ahead.

“In recent weeks it has become clear that the full scope of work needed for a successful return makes running the event in April 2024 an unachievable task,” Perry said.  

“While the further delay of our return will be sad news for thousands of people, we must ensure we  get everything right first. 

“This delay will enable us to finalise a number of key components while also fully supporting the ongoing coronial inquest which should see us in a position to implement all relevant recommendations from this process for the 2025 TARGA Tasmania.”

Perry also stated that it is the necessary course of action to take in ensuring that the long term future of the TARGA Tasmania is secure.

“We fully understand that this is a bitter blow for competitors, officials, sponsors, and the Tasmanian tourism industry, but we are taking a long-term view to secure the future of TARGA Tasmania and we appreciate everyone’s ongoing support in the year ahead,” he continued.

“TARGA will continue to work tirelessly throughout 2024, maintaining regular communications with  the many thousands of people around the world who follow the event, with the clear aim of  implementing a myriad of positive changes in preparation for a much-anticipated return in 2025.” 

Tasmanian Minister for Stadia and Events, Nic Street, said the Government is fully supportive of Targa’s decision and will continue to support the event into the future.

“The Tasmanian Government has been in partnership with Targa since inception, and as with all true partnerships our support extends through the challenging times as well as the good times,” Minister Street said.

“Targa Australia has made the appropriate decision to postpone the 2024 competition, and we fully support it.

“We remain committed to Targa as a key feature on the Tasmanian events calendar.

“Targa Tasmania is an iconic event for our State, and we will not lose focus on the positive impact the competition has on our visitor economy in all the regions the event travels to.”

For more information and an update on the future of the TARGA Tasmania, pick up the next issue of AUTO ACTION which features an in-depth interview with TARGA CEO Mark Perry.

Issue #1876 of AUTO ACTION is available online on Wednesday December 13, or in stores on Thursday Dec 14 at all good stockists.

AUTO ACTION’s latest issue #1875, is out now in its digital form downloadable right here, and available in all good newsagents and stockists near you, continuing on as Australia’s most trusted independent voice in motorsport.

If you can’t get a copy locally, you can also subscribe to the latest issue of Auto Action print or digital edition of the magazine here. For more of the latest motorsport news.