Drivers line up for 2019 Targa
THE Targa Great Barrier Reef returns next year at virtually the same time as the just completed inaugural event.
The tarmac rally, which wrapped up on Sunday, has been described as a huge success by organisers, drivers and the Far North community.
The three-day event injected $2.5 million into the Cairns economy and a three-year deal for Targa Great Barrier Reef has been secured.
But now all eyes are on the 2019 competition, which will run from August 30 to September 1.
Entries open this Friday and one driver eager to sign up again is Cairns builder Steve Van der Brug.
Driving his 2010 Subaru in the GT4 category, alongside side his partner and co-driver Linda Rankine, he said Targa Great Barrier Reef had become one of his most memorable experiences.
“It was fantastic, I loved every minute of it,” he said.
“I think a lot more locals will enter next year after witnessing what they did.
“All the people out on stages and the crowd down on the Esplanade on Saturday, I wasn’t expecting anything like that.
“It made the whole event very memorable.”
Mr Van der Brug said, while he enjoyed each of the various stages, there was one that stood out for him.
“Probably going up the Kuranda Range (was my favourite stage). Using both sides of the road is something that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
“That was a great Father’s Day present.”
A range of new stages across the region are also expected to be introduced to the 2019 Targa Great Barrier Reef event.
The picturesque drive between Cairns and Port Douglas has been tipped to potentially form part of next year’s event, while the Copperlode Dam stage is expected to remain a permanent part of the program due to its popularity with drivers.
Event director Mark Perry said driver numbers would be capped at 250 for next year’s event, making it the second largest tarmac rally in the world after Targa Tasmania.
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