Preparations for Targa Tasmania are in full swing as drivers and their navigators complete final maintenance on their vehicles before a week-long journey that will test skill, trust and durability.
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Now in its 25th year, the event will showcase hundreds of cars across 11 categories, competing in 40 competitive stages to determine the ultimate winner.
The track predominantly stays the same each year but there are always a few new additions or changes, driver of the 1985 Porsche 944 turbo Peter Nunn said.
“Tasmanian roads are the best in the world for this sort of event and they’re all closed off just for us to use, so we are privileged to be able to use the roads and you just get a buzz out of that,” Mr Nunn said.
Kicking off in Legana on Monday April 11 and finishing up in Longley on Saturday April 16 there is a massive list of road closures to support the event.
Mr Nunn, now driving for his sixth year, said in the lead up you question why you entered but come race day all those thoughts disappear.
“Motorsport is an addiction, it gets in your blood and all the crazy times leading up to it you think is this worth it and then once you are in the car doing stages you think yeah this is why we do it,” Mr Nunn said.
Throughout the five previous races owner of the car and co-driver Keith Johnstone has always been Mr Nunn’s navigator and having trust in your partner plays a massive role, Mr Nunn said.
Targa Tasmania inflict rigorous safety restrictions on drivers and co-drivers, the Porsche is fitted with roll cages, and safety gear is thoroughly checked prior to takeoff.
The race is well-known for its ferocity and it is no stranger to accidents and breakdowns.
“We’ve done five Targas and finished two,” Mr Nunn said.
“We’ve had one accident that was reasonable bad, last year we were leading classic by a minute or so when the engine blew up.”
Mr Nunn and Mr Johnstone hit speeds of up to 220kmh, so they attempt to eliminate mechanical issues by replacing anything they knew had failed in the vehicle as well as comprehensively checking the condition of the car.
“It is a big challenge just to get to the end, you’ve just got to prepare the best you can in budget,” Mr Nunn said.
“We are pretty confident the car is as good as it can be.”
