Targa High Country establishes 'Targa Triple Crown'

A new event based in Victoria's north east, Targa High Country, will join established events, Targa Tasmania and Targa Wrest Point, in making up the prestigious Targa Triple Crown.

To be based in the Mansfield and Mt Buller area, the inaugural event will be held from November 5 to 7 later this year.

Details of Targa High Country were announced this week by event promoter Octagon Australia, with plans already well under way for what will be Victoria's only multi-stage tarmac rally.

The three-day event is generating strong interest with entries already pushing 100 plus.

Targa High Country will include a street stage of nearly five kilometres through the streets of Mansfield on Friday, November 5, followed by a 'TargaFest' in the main street at Mansfield that night.

The event will see eight stages each day heading north to Wangaratta, via Whitfield, and Eildon, via Jamieson. Both days will end with a 20 kilometre stage to the summit of Mt Buller, where the event will be based each night.

It is envisaged that the full course, along with stage reconnaissance notes, will be released at Targa Tasmania in April.

It has long been thought that a multi-stage tarmac rally was an impossible dream in Victoria.

"Targa High Country has become a reality because of the passion and hard work of the Mansfield Shire Council, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board, the Rural City of Wangaratta, the Murrindindi Shire Council and the Victorian Police," Octagon's Mark Perry says.

"We would like to thank them all for sharing the vision with us and we hope to make some further announcements in the weeks ahead."

The event entry fee is less than $2000 and offers a competitive distance of 230 kilometres.

Targa High Country will operate independently from any other tarmac rallies in the region.

-source: targa tasmania