Renault have spent a year away from the iconic race but are back this year represented by the well-paired duo who will compete in the 2012 Renault Megane RS 265.

This will be Denyer’s second opportunity to compete in Targa from start to finish and he plans to win.

“I like driving cars fast so to do it safely and on a well-controlled event with some of the most beautiful roads in the world (is fantastic),” Denyer said.

“I’ve done a lot of circuit racing in my life, driven a lot of V8 supercars, three Bathurst 1000s, but this is more of a pure motorsport experience.”

Denyer said that Tasmania had two of his favourite things: a spectacular landscape and motor racing.

Navigator Gelsomino has been a professional codriver since 2004, competing all over the world.

“Targa’s reputation is considered a legendary event outside of Australia,” Gelsomino said.

‘‘So, now I’m here, looking forward to experience it for myself.

“It’s unlike any other event in the world, It’s like the Tour de France of motorsport.”

Born in Italy, Gelsomino has since moved to the US, and then Australia.

This week he has visited Tasmania for the first time.

The pair said they were excited to be working together – Gelsomino labelled his teammate’ s as a ‘'party person'’ after researching him online.

Targa Tasmania officially begins in Launceston on April 27 and finishes in Hobart on May 2.