Targa Tasmania returns in 2025

Targa Tasmania is set to return in 2025 with the biggest course and safety shake-up in its 33-year history, ending a three-year hiatus after several competitor deaths put its future in doubt.

First held in 1992, Targa Tasmania is the most prominent road rally in Australia, attracting both local and international entries – including Aussie Hollywood star Eric Bana, the late Peter Brock, and eight-time winner Jim Richards – to the southern state.

It takes place on closed public roads, with Tasmania offering some of the country’s most exciting and challenging driving roads on a scenic backdrop through the state’s wilderness.

The event will return in 2025 – the first running since 2022 – but will move from its traditional April timing to run on 16-21 November.

“The traditional April/May dates provided very challenging weather conditions for competitors and officials,” said Targa CEO Mark Perry in a statement.

“With the full support of the state government and Events Tasmania we have decided that moving the event to a mid-November slot can only assist in improved safety outcomes for everyone involved and give our large tour contingent a more pleasant drive around Tasmania.”

“It is also great news for spectators and will give us some amazing opportunities to put on more outdoor events for the public at a warmer and drier time of the year.”

The November timing will remain in place for the next five years up to and including 2029, while the course – which previously changed – will also be the same each year as part of measures to sure up event safety and continue its running.

From 2025, Targa Tasmania will get underway with a ceremonial start in the state capital Hobart before heading north to Devonport while ending in Launceston.

The Tasmanian government said Targa injects around $8 million into the state economy, with the warmer weather also an opportunity to capitalise on its contribution.

“The six-day tarmac rally is for the true motoring enthusiast and will travel a whopping 2000km over the week,” Minister for Sports and Events Nick Duigan said in a statement.

“We know this event has a massive tourism impact for our state, with 80 per cent of Targa competitors [being] visitors to Tasmania, travelling from across Australia and overseas to participate.

“The event attracts over 3500 interstate participants each year, with each staying an average of nine nights in the state.”

The 2025 return follows a coronial inquest into several deaths of competitors in the 2021 and 2022 events which led to stricter safety standards.

Shane Navin was killed in 2021 when he crashed his Mazda RX-7 in reportedly slippery conditions at Double Barrel Creek on the Mount Arrowsmith stage.

The next day – the final of that year’s event – Leigh Mundy and co-driver Dennis Neagle were killed when they crashed in their Porsche 911 on Wattle Grove Road near Cygnet.

In response, a Motorsport Australia Investigatory Tribunal put forward 17 safety recommendations – including limiting the fastest category’s speed to 200km/h – all of which were implemented for 2022. 

Yet the safety of the rally – and its future – was again put in the spotlight when Tony Seymour was killed at the wheel of his Lotus in a crash near Mount Roland on Day Two of the 2022 event.

The incident saw the remainder of the event cancelled, the last time Targa Tasmania was run.