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Press Release
Targa Takes Tasmania to the World
15 April 2008
Tasmania’s internationally renowned tarmac rally, Targa Tasmania, got underway in George Town today with a record number of competitors.
The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, said the six-day event was Australia’s premier tarmac rally.
“Each year Targa Tasmania propels our Island into the national and international motorsport spotlight,” Ms Wriedt said.
A record 302 competitors will take part this year with entrants from around Australia and from as far away as Japan, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“As they tackle today’s prologue and the five-stage 1800-kilometre race course, competitors will take on one of the most exhilarating driving locations in the world,” Ms Wriedt said.
“Targa Tasmania has added some exciting new features this year, including a new street stage in Devonport and the first ever overnight stage on the spectacular but gruelling West Coast.
“It’s much more than a car race, with the event generating millions in direct economic return each year, and hundreds of thousands of dollars more in publicity,” Ms Wriedt said.
Competing in this year’s 17th Targa is Peter Hall, Motoring Editor for leading UK newspaper the Telegraph, whose participation was secured through Tourism Tasmania’s Visiting Journalist Program.
“Peter’s Targa experience will be featured in a series of motoring articles for the Telegraph newspaper, which reaches more than two million readers each week,” Ms Wriedt said.
The Targa stories will also appear on Telegraph TV and on the Telegraph website, where Peter has already been blogging about the race lead-up.
“Peter’s navigator, freelance journalist Franca Davenport, will be writing her own Targa features for numerous lifestyle and car magazines,” Ms Wriedt said.
“To further boost the State’s publicity in the UK, the Telegraph released a 16-page Tasmania travel supplement to its millions of readers over the weekend.”
Ms Wriedt said Targa Tasmania had helped to position the State as an ideal touring destination, with growing numbers of car clubs choosing to tour Tasmania throughout the year.
“Tasmania is increasingly recognised as a major event destination, and events like Targa Tasmania help to showcase Tasmania as an easy-to-access, contemporary and vibrant State,” she said.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the thousands of Tasmanians who support the annual event each year, without their wonderful support this event would not be the success it is,” Ms Wriedt said.
“Three thousand Tasmanian volunteers will support event operations and many thousands more will watch the competitors as they travel across the State,” Ms Wriedt said.