AFTER 13 highly successful years TARGA High Country will not return to Mt Buller following the final event held under the current agreement, which ran in February earlier this year.
In July 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.
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.
The loss to Mt Buller, a major event which drew crowds to the mountain over the summer period, will mean a loss to businesses and promotion for the mountain.
But negotiations are continuing to help revive this much loved mountain event.
Chief Operating Officer for Mt Buller Mt Stirling Alpine Resorts, Mark Bennetts said last week: “It is certainly a shame that the owners of the event have found it necessary to cancel Targa High Country as a result of rule changes recommended by Motorsport Australia after the very unfortunate deaths of several competitors in the past two Targa Tasmania events.
“Competitors have loved coming to Mt Buller and the broader region each year, and we are continuing discussions with Targa representatives on new ways in which this might be able to occur from 2024,” Mr Bennetts said.
“Targa High Country has been a very successful event over many years and will be sadly missed.
“Based at Mt Buller, it has brought action to the resort during the quiet months and provided much needed revenue to the accommodation houses and food and beverage outlets who were happy to host the hundreds of drivers, navigators and support crew, as well as the people who came to enjoy watching the spectacular cars wind their way up the challenging 16km stages from Mirimbah to Mt Buller before finishing in the Mt Buller Village."
TARGA CEO Mark Perry expressed great sadness at the changes required to the February 2023 event, which saw a reduced benefit for the Mansfield and district communities.
“TARGA High Country has 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,” Mr Perry 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 (Mansfield Shire Council) 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 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.
"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 license 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,” Mr Dermott said.
"Better to rediscover the formula of history – properly qualified crews in appropriate vehicles for the chosen roads."
TARGA's Mr Perry said, “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.
“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.
“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,” Mr Perry concluded.
