THE weather gods were smiling on Targa Tasmania's entrants and spectators for day one of the 23-year-old event.
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Spectator-favourite stage George Town had extra oomph this year, as it was the event's first race stage, rather than the line-up determining prologue.
Instead, competitors tested their engines in prologue stages at Legana, Holwell and Kayena.
By the time the cars reached George Town, fans had filled the streets and were more than ready for the smell of burning rubber.
While there were petrol heads camped out from the RSL on Main Road, and all along Macquarie Street, the favourite viewing position remained Regent Square.
Young and old hung over the barriers, craning their necks to catch that spinning tyre as the cars rounded the corner and flew over the dip into the Regent Square car park.
Racing legend Jim Richards and TV personality Grant Denyer drew big cheers from the crowd — as did anyone with a loud exhaust or who pushed the pedal right down to the metal.
When the racing wrapped up, it was time to inspect the machinery.
As is tradition, the Targa cars lined up on the lawns of Regent Square, allowing petrol heads to get a whiff of what's under the bonnet.
A spokesman for Targa Tasmania quashed rumours circulating that this was the last year that George Town would feature in the program.
He said that it was "definitely not the plan" to remove the George Town stage.