Targa gathers momentum
Popular race keen to build on FNQ success
TARGA Great Barrier Reef boss Mark Perry said he would like to keep the event in Cairns “forever” following a huge jump in entrants for this year’s rally.
About 270 cars have already been registered for the August 30-September 1 event, which is a 40 per cent increase on the 195 in last year’s inaugural Targa GBR.
Originally a three-year contract, Targa Australia chief executive Mark Perry said they would begin negotiations with Tourism Queensland and the State Government after this year’s event and were hoping for a much longer relationship. “We’ll be here forever, as long as we’re welcome,” he said.
The rally is expected to give the region a $3 million boost this year, after last year recorded an economic windfall of $2.3 million.
Barron River MP Craig Crawford said he would support a permanent Targa event in Cairns. “We’re more than happy to keep working with them,” he said. When: August 30-September 1 Current Entries: 270 2018 Entries: 195 International Entries: 6 Course: Final course to be announced in two weeks will include a stop in Mareeba and only one lap of Copperlode Economic Impact: $3 million 2018 Impact: $2.3 million Competitors: Growth in local competitor numbers, along with extra entries from Sydney and Melbourne
WE’LL BE HERE FOREVER, AS LONG AS WE’RE WELCOME
The final course map is due to be released in two weeks, but Mr Perry revealed it would include only one lap of Copperlode and a lunchtime stopover in Mareeba.
“We don’t like using the same road twice. If competitors get too familiar with the road, they tend to overdrive it,” he said. “We were really keen to get Mareeba in; they’ve been so supportive right from the word go last year.”
He said the growth in entries had been driven by a larger number of local competitors and more entrants from Sydney and Melbourne.
There will be six international competitors this year, after none in 2018, and Mr Perry said this was an area they wanted to grow.
He said the GBR event could very quickly outgrow the Targa Tasmania rally and there was a scope to increase it to up to 385 if needed.
Cairns driver Scott Smith entered his 2015 model Porsche GT4 in last year’s event and said he had encouraged friends to get involved this year.
“I think we’re just a great fit. Great weather, great location, we can handle accommodation and a lot of visitors, fantastic roads, so I think we tick all the boxes,” he said. “I’ve done a bit of recruiting myself.
“I know people that are actually building cars for the event and really getting into it, which is great.”