Targa responds to Coronial findings

The path to the return of Targa Tasmania is becoming clearer after Coroner Simon Cooper released his findings last week.

The coroner’s inquest took a deep dive into the tragic deaths of Shane Navin, Leigh Mundy, Dennis Neagle and Tony Seymour during the 2021 and 2022 editions of Targa Tasmania.

The famous tarmac rally event, first held in 1992, has not been seen since, but is scheduled to return this year in November 16-21, under new technical and sporting regulations.

Amid all the reviews, postponements and changes, a coronial inquest was staged in Hobart last September to examine the four fatalities and the findings were made public last Thursday and they were positive for the tarmac rally’s future.

Coroner Cooper concluded the cause of the four Targa deaths were “driver error.”

Critically, he also believed the changes made by Targa Tasmania following the Motorsport Australia review “adequately addressed” the factors, clearing the path for a return in November.

Targa Australia CEO, Mark Perry said he and everyone at the event “reatly appreciates all the work carried out by Coroner Simon Cooper and those involved in the inquest” beleiving it allows the rally to “fully focus on a bright future.”

“We have worked tirelessly to support the processes put in place following the tragic events of 2021 and 2022,” he said. 

“Much of what was proposed during the coronial had been planned for proactively and is in line with the opening of applications for entry in April this year. This includes key changes (see below).

“In proactively identifying these changes, competitors have been afforded the necessary time to prepare for the return of Targa Tasmania in November. 

“Whilst there were no further recommendations in the findings, and the acknowledgment that driver responsibility is an important element in the event, we have gained some important insights and we are continuing to assess if there are other positive enhancements we can make to the event. 

“We are excited to be bringing Targa Tasmania back. It will be a very different event to the one we have known, including having fewer cars taking part, but taking the event back to its roots. 

“This will also be offset by daylight savings enabling us to hold more free events for the public to enjoy with planning underway for some key family-based events to be held around the state.
“Our thoughts remain with the families of Shane Navin, Leigh Mundy, Dennis Neagle and Tony Seymour along with John Mansell and Ian Johnston.”

Below is a list of key changes Targa Tasmania has made to ensure the event can return…

• A date change to hold the event in warmer and more predictable weather 
• The removal of automatic entry based on the holding of a particular licence 
• A rigorous and detailed criteria to be accepted into the highest level of competition 
• A reduction in maximum allowable speed to 190km/h with a maximum of only thirty vehicles being granted access to this level of competition 
• A detailed and compulsory pre-event training program, including driving on a practice Targa stage for the first time to better educate competitors in stopping at incidents and understanding course signage 
• A one event licencing system to ensure all competitors undertake full training before each event 
• A promotion and demotion system based on finishing each stage of the event to ensure only those

  with perfect competition records remain in the highest level competition 

• A capping of entry numbers to 300 (100 competition, 200 tour) to reduce risk, event delays and pressure on officials
• Vehicle set up rule changes to make them better suited to the roads being utilised 
• The banning of racetrack specific semi-slick tyres 
• Reversing of the running order to put the fastest competition vehicles first to provide these vehicles with the best road conditions on each Targa stage

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