If you plan on borrowing any part of the Targa Florio name for your tarmac rally, you better make sure it at least attempts to live up to its storied past. The Sicilian race was founded in 1906, enjoying a golden period from the Fifties to the Eighties, and still hosts historic reunion events today. Over on the island of Tasmania — geographically pretty much as far away as you can get from Sicily — Australia's own Targa is still comparatively in the infant stage, having hosted its inaugural event in 1992. But already, it's safe to say Targa Tasmania has garnered the reputation of a legendary celebration of the automobile.
This five-day mammoth rally is inspired by the greatest European rallies that have long since disappeared off the motorsport calendar; events such as Mille Miglia, the Coupé des Alpes and the Tour de Corse. It's therefore pretty easy to understand its petrolhead appeal. And of course, it helps that Tasmania is Australia's most mountainous state, with an unspoiled natural environment formed largely by volcanic activity. Those volcanoes must have had a plan all along… The geography lends itself favourably to amazingly twisty and undulating roads, which happen to be in pristine condition thanks to the somewhat forgiving climate and low traffic — half of Tasmania's population lives in Hobart, the state capital, leaving the countryside a free-for-all to the racing community.
Unlike most rallies, Targa Tasmania also runs directly in front of the public involving up to 300 vehicles which must run at 30-second intervals, meaning non-stop action. One look at the past winners' list is enough to understand its broad appeal — Honda NSX, Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Gallardo, Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Evolution — and realise it truly deserves its place as one of the world's greatest ever road races.
