After nearly three years, Targa Tasmania is set to return in November 2025, with the road rally event now operating with a heavily revised set of regulations and entrant application process.
Prospective drivers, co-drivers, and officials can now apply via the Targa website, with the 2025 event set to run from November 16-21.
The new regulations and the event’s postponement follows Targa splitting from Motorsport Australia following the death of four competitors across the past two Targa events and the ensuing coronial inquest.
Targa Tasmania was originally intended to run again in April 2024, but Targa chief executive Mark Perry told ABC that “the full scope of work needed for a successful return [made] running the event in April 2024 an unachievable task.”
The most noteworthy of all changes is that all entrants will now be required to complete a nine-hour Targa Academy Course on November 14-15 ahead of the event. This course will brief entrants on all rule changes, with training to address their responsibilities, In Vehicle Safety, driving, co-driving, medical procedures, and signage interpretation.
Additionally, all competition entrants and crew will traverse a section of closed road that will include a Stage Start and Stage Stop, all on course signage and safety zones, potential hazards, and medical incident procedures.
Nine competition options will be on offer in addition to the TSD Trophy, with a range of speed limits across three vehicle age categories: Classic (1946-1988), Early Modern (1989-2007), and Modern (2008-2025).
Trophy competitions for each vehicle category will be capped at 130km/h in the dry and 110km/h in wet weather, Cup competitions limited to 160km/h in the dry and 140km/h in the wet, and Supercup competitions to 190km/h in the dry and also 140km/h in the wet.
Additionally, the maximum average speed for each stage has been reduced from 132km/h to 125km/h, with a goal average speed of 120km/h. Targa Tour entrants are now limited to 100km/h in wet weather. Designated ‘Low Speed Areas’ and ‘Speed Limited Sections’ have also been introduced. Entrant speeds will be monitored by mandatory RallySafe devices, along with mandatory forward-facing cameras.
A number of vehicle specification changes have also been implemented for 2025. ‘R specification’ track tyres are no longer allowed, while all vehicles must have a minimum 100mm ride height regardless of competition category. Vehicles entering Cup and Supercup competition categories are also subject to updated safety cage regulations.
The 2025 Targa Tasmania is capped at 300 entrants, with the breakdown as follows:
- Competition Vehicles: 100
10 vehicles per category (TSD Trophy, Classic Trophy, Classic Cup, Classic Supercup, Early Modern Trophy, Early Modern Cup, Early Modern Supercup, Modern Trophy, Modern Cup, Modern Supercup) - Tour Vehicles: 200
Organised groups of minimum 10 vehicles: 150
Direct tour entries: 50
Due to applicants’ requirement to meet much stricter experience criteria, medical fitness standards, and willingness to undertake suitable training before taking part, entry fees for Targa Tasmania will no longer be published publicly. Annual licenses will also no longer be issued, with ‘Blue Chips’ now issued to entrants based on meeting the aforementioned eligibility criteria.
