Best mates back on the Targa Tasmania track at George Town for day one

Despite Oliver stepping down from competition last year, the duo was back in action on Monday for the George Town leg of the rally, driving in the Targa Tour.

Richards said he basically retired too, but did not announce it.

"I just couldn't go without the old Bazza," he said.

"We're still having a drive in the tour, and it's a lot of fun. A lot better than everyone thinks it is, really.

"You can only go 100km/h, but you can have a lot of fun going 100km/h going around windy roads.

"I often say to people, 'how many times can you go 100km/h over the Sidling?'"

Richards said there were a few major differences between the rally and the tour.

"There are no times taken and no results in the tour," he said.

"You're in a line, and you just go through the stage. You don't have any helmets on or overalls.

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"You just drive through like you're on a fast drive in the country, except you know no one is coming the other way."

Over the years the duo had participated in 26 Targa rallies, and numerous more throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Out of their 26 Targa rallies, they had won eight.

Richards said one of the things that brought him coming back to Targa was the camaraderie.

"We can get in the car and have a chat and laugh and giggle and have a beer each night, have a meal, then drive as fast as we want to on the roads each day," he said.

"It's just fantastic. Any other time you get caught and locked up."

Oliver said he enjoyed the variety.

"Jim used the analogy; where else in the world can you do six or seven closed road stages, per day for six days, and not traverse the same piece of road twice," he said.

"It's just so different, and it's the enjoyment factor. Certainly in the later years we haven't worried about our times too much.

"It's just a case of two good mates in a beautiful car, fantastic roads, having a great time, getting to the finish."

For more information about Targa Tasmania, visit targa.com.au.