Targa Tasmania celebrates its 24th anniversary this week as one of the State’s iconic international tourism and sports events.
The event provides thousands of Tasmanians with the chance to see a world-class international motorsport event in their home state and attracts many interstate and international visitors to Tasmania every year.
Targa Tasmania has been supported by the Tasmanian Government since its inception in 1992. The current three-year agreement is for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 events and covers Targa Tasmania and the new Targa Hellyer Gorge event, held in February this year for the first time.
This year, Targa Tasmania returns to the south of the state to compete after an absence of seven years.
Beginning at Country Club Tasmania in Launceston today, it journeys through the Tamar Valley stages, and then the East Coast loop to St Helens. From Launceston the rally moves on to Burnie and an overnight stop in Strahan, before tackling the Mt Arrowsmith stage on the way to Hobart and the southern stage.
Hobart is hosting ‘Targafest’ for the first time, on Friday, 1 May 2015 in the Macquarie No. 2 terminal. ‘Targafest’ is a motorshow of classic and modern cars where all the event’s cars come together on display in the one place.
A live Targa TV show will be broadcast on Southern Cross TV that evening.
Targa Tasmania is a community event that is estimated to draw crowds of more than 150,000 people each year and is part of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s plan to attract 1.5 million tourists by 2020.
It relies on more than 1000 volunteers from all around the state to assist in the delivery of the event.
The organisers estimate that Targa Tasmania generates direct spending in Tasmania each year of more than $8 million with the benefits extending throughout the state in particular the tourism and hospitality industries. It also helps spread the message about Tasmania’s great roads and wonderful scenery, the state’s quality food and wines, and its friendly people.