AFTER 13 highly successful years TARGA High Country will not return to Mansfield following the final event held under the current agreement, which ran in February earlier this year.
The event has had its fair share of troubles over the past few years, with COVID postponements and restrictions in the way the event could be run.
Following multiple tragedies at TARGA Tasmania, a Motorsport Australia safety review of the sport led to a reduced High Country event earlier this year, with the removal of the highly successful and unique to Mansfield Street Stage.
TARGA CEO Mark Perry expressed great sadness at the changes required to the February 2023 event, which saw a reduced benefit for the Mansfield community.
“TARGA High Country and Mansfield have worked hand-in-hand alongside Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Resort Management since first meeting in 2009 to deliver an international motorsport event in the region, including an iconic and unique street stage in the heart of Mansfield,” he said.
“We have made lifelong friends along the way but the reality of the post-safety review requirements, combined with increasing costs, means running the Mansfield Street Stage is no longer possible.”
“We also understand Council’s concerns around the street stage.
“The discussion between us was an easy and positive one with agreement that this stage would not be run in the February 2023 event, which was the final event under the current agreement.
“We sincerely thank the Mansfield Shire Council for their loyal support of TARGA for over a decade.”
Mansfield Shire Mayor Cr James Tehan said the past 10 years of TARGA have been fantastic.
“For the past decade Mansfield Shire has worked with TARGA to deliver this event for the benefit of our local businesses and community,” he said.
“Mansfield Shire very much appreciates all the work done by TARGA.”
Concerns were raised earlier this year about the viability of event after the way the Mansfied leg was run meant that the benefits to the town were being diluted.
Local motorsport doyen Brian Dermott said in January this year, "I'm concerned that the economic impact will be greatly reduced; with no recceing, fewer nights and minimal spending dispersal, there will be a big hole in many businesses February turnover.
"We say either go back to the format of 2014, or let the Australian Tarmac Rally organisation, sanctioned by Winton–based AASA (Australian Auto–sport Alliance) which runs three very successful tarmac rallies in Victoria, take it over."
He pointed to other incidents at other TARGA-run events which were inhibiting the competition in Mansfield.
"Unfortunately Targa High Country has been caught up in the debacle of Targa Tasmania," said Mr Dermott.
"After running for 28 years with two fatalities in 1996 and 2012, there were suddenly four in 2021 and the first day of 2022.
"Motorsport Australia cancelled all tarmac rallies until various reports were completed forcing Targa to downgrade the High Country event.
"Targa ran safely for many years but as soon as the requirements for a licence and medical and the type of cars accepted were relaxed by CAMS (Motorsport Australia, formerly the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport), becoming simple on line questionnaires and declarations, there were crashes.
"In response, speed limits and virtual chicanes were introduced but the crashes kept happening.
"Road safety experts know cognitive distraction is their biggest enemy and would say that letting cars capable of 300km/h enter and then restrict them to 200km/h is asking for trouble.
"Better to rediscover the formula of history – properly qualified crews in appropriate vehicles for the chosen roads."
Earielr this month, TARGA Australia announced that it will suspend all future motorsport-based events until the full ramifications of Motorsport Australia’s review into tarmac rallying can be quantified and assessed.
This means that the 2023 editions of TARGA Tasmania and TARGA Great Barrier Reef have today been cancelled.
TARGA argues the uncertainty and the lengthy review process has seen a record drop in entry numbers.
They added the reduction of the TARGA Tour speed to just 110km/h has seen the withdrawal of over 80 per cent of tour participants in the part of the event which has sustained TARGA’s commercial viability in recent years.
“Our events can only be run with the support of our loyal participants, and on the whole, they are understandably disenchanted with the current landscape, and we completely understand why,” said Mr Perry.
“We have waited and been incredibly patient with the process put in place, however this process has now taken a year longer than similar reviews in the past.
“Competitors have little certainty with what the future looks like for them and are rightly holding off on entering our events.
“While it is another sad day for everyone involved in TARGA, we must now explore every conceivable option available to us to ensure the survival of TARGA and the return of the ultimate tarmac rally, TARGA Tasmania in April 2024.”
