The targa race turns green to return, organizers say, but fans worry the event will be diluted after death

The Tasmanian targa will continue in 2023 despite the deaths of four competitors in the past two years, but racing fans are already concerned the pace will be limited to the detriment of the event.

Key points:

• Event boss says 2023 “might look a little different in the competition room”
• 2022 event changed from race format after driver’s death on day two
• Three race competitors killed during 2021 event, prompting rule change

The future of Tasmania’s racing has been uncertain since Motorsport Australia froze all Targa-type rallies following the death of 59-year-old Brisbane driver Tony Seymour during this year’s event.

Seymour died when his car left the road and hit an embankment. His wife survived the accident.

The remainder of last year’s Targa was revised back to a touring format following Seymour’s death.

Targa Tasmania’s chief executive Mark Perry has promised the iconic event will take place next April in an email to competitors, with next year’s race set to kick off in Hobart for the first time.

It is understood that the event will include some form of competition, but exactly what it will entail, and details of the stages have not been released.

“While the actual course stages and design are still being worked out … we are excited to announce today where the event will begin and end along with where each overnight stop will take place,” Perry said in an email.

Competitor Targa Tasmania attached a black ribbon to one of the headlights to pay homage to Tony Seymour.(Facebook: Targa)

Perry said the uncertainty surrounding the event was “very tough” on the organizing team but said it was “working tirelessly” to support Motorsport Australia’s ongoing review of Targa type events.

“We can promise you that when we can do, say or suggest anything, we will, and we really want you all to see a return to normalcy, which for our team hasn’t happened since the 10th Anniversary of the TARGA High Country event last year. 2019,” he said.

Perry told Hobart’s Mercury Newspaper that there is “a process we’re working on right now and it might look a little different in the competition room, but keep in mind there are hundreds of cars and crews enjoying the Targa these days outside of competition”.

“The competition may look different, but it may not. We don’t know that yet.

“Everyone from Motorsport Australia, the state government, Tasmanian Police and all stakeholders will have a say in the process.”

The former champion is worried about the skill level

Tasmanian motorsport legend Barry Oliver, who retired in 2018 after taking part in the 26 Tasmanian Targa, said Targa was important to continue as a competitive event but hoped the skill level of the riders would be considered as part of the entry criteria.

Tony Seymour died in the events of 2022.(Facebook: Tony Seymour)

“That’s worried me in the past, you have people coming in with really powerful cars and you have to worry if they’re really equipped from a skills standpoint to be able to operate those cars in the kind of conditions you’d come across in an event.” it,” he said.

“I’m not going to say that anyone shouldn’t be doing it, what I’m saying is that I think the current committee looking at this should consider several criteria as to whether someone is fit to run in competition.”

Oliver said the route change – involving two overnight stops in Strahan and Launceston – would be a “real challenge” for competitors.

“Obviously a lot of the traditional stages are going to be run in the opposite direction to what they have traditionally been… it’s a pretty big change and when I look at the six days I’m not sure which way they’re going to run some stages because we didn’t know it right now,” he said.

Competitors and fans alike came out in support of the event that continues as a race after Seymour’s death – and welcomed the news of the 2023 event, albeit with questions about how many races will be featured.

“So it looks like they’re just going to make the race so boring that no one wants to get into it and that way they can stop it due to the lack of competition,” Nathan Moore wrote on the event’s Facebook page.

“Make a strong guarantee that this event will continue, as a competition, in the event of a fatal accident. No more wringing hands and putting their heads in the sand,” said Mark Cates.

“With a top speed of 30km/h,” wrote Matthew Panda Andrew.

There have been six deaths during the Tasmanian Targa race since 1992 — with four of them during the last two events.

Competitors Shane Navin, Leigh Mundy and Dennis Neagle died during the 2021 race, with Motorsport Australia reviewers recommending reducing speed limits and changing race routes.

The crash site where Leigh Mundy and his co-driver Dennis Neagle died in 2021.(ABC News: Chris Rowbottom)

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