Since the course details for Targa Tasmania 2020 were released on Wednesday, I have spent some time analysing what competitors will face over the six days starting Monday, April 27.
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The short answer is that this TT will be the toughest in the 29-year history of the iconic event, and a real test of endurance for both cars and teams. Just getting to the finish will be a major achievement.
Previously, day one has been no more than a dial-in day for the teams, but next year - after a short run through Legana - it gets more serious with three traditional stages at Moriarty, Paloona and Mount Roland.
Then there is a sting in the tail with a brand new 12km stage at Golden Valley ,which I have no doubt teams will love, before an 11km run down the treacherous Poatina hill.
This stage will be a huge challenge for the teams as outright speed will not be the issue, but whether the brakes can survive the 720-metre elevation plunge with the numerous hairpins and tight corners to negotiate. It might be wise to have some fire extinguishers at the ready at the final control point to put out the brake fires.
These last two stages have been on the drawing board for years but couldn't be used because the link past the Great Lake to Liawenee was unsealed.
Day two is the traditional run from Launceston through the Sidling, Moorina, Weldborough Pass, Pyengana, Elephant Pass and Rossarden. It's the shortest day, at just 66 competitive kilometres or 11km less than day one.
Day three is the second longest at 129 competitive kilometres and will put the teams under immediate pressure with the day, starting with the signature 38km Cethana stage.
The day will finish with the 35km Rinadeena stage from Queenstown to Strahan, which was last used in 2013 but in between there are stages at Castra, Isandula (last used in 2014) Oldina (last used in 2017) and Hellyer Gorge.
Bear in mind at this point while the event is halfway in days, it is well short of halfway in terms of competitive kilometres.
The fourth day will be the longest at 145 competitive kilometres, starting with a fast run on the Pieman stage (last used in 2012) then to Hellyer Gorge reverse (last used in 2014) Gunns Plains, Riana, Hellyer Gorge and finishing with Reece Dam which is the reverse of the Pieman stage.
There are only minor changes to day five with the traditional stages of Strahan, Queenstown, Mount Arrowsmith, Tarraleah, Molesworth (last used in 2018) and Grasstree Hill for a total competitive distance of 116km.
There are eight stages on the final day, and while the competitive distance is only 94km the teams have already covered 532 competitive kilometres. At this point, teams will just hoping their cars will get them to the finish.
The day will start with the Pelverata stage - which is probably the roughest stage I have encountered in 26 years of competition - followed by Gardner's Bay, Oyster Cove and Cygnet.
At this point in the past teams would have gone to the final stage at Longley, but in 2020 the teams will have to go back and contest Gardner's Bay, Oyster Cove and Cygnet again before going to Longley.
Apart from the 626 competitive kilometres in six days, to put the whole event in perspective teams have to also cover another 1817km of transport sections between the closed road Targa stages.
With all of the above in mind, the major issue will be how the drivers manage tyre wear because of the additional competitive distance of 153km over last year.
By regulation only six tyres, including the four on the car, are permitted for the entire event and if you need an additional tyre there is a 10-minute time penalty for each additional tyre.
In general terms, the softer the tyre compound the faster you can go. But the penalty is excessive tyre wear, so the choice of tyre is critical bearing in mind the competitive kilometres to be covered.
The other problem to consider is that many of the competitive cars have different size wheels front to rear, so in selecting your two spares what do you choose? Two fronts, or two rears or one of each? Just to complicate the issue even further, in many cases there are a limited number of choices available depending on the size of the tyres and their speed rating.
On Friday, I spoke with seven-time winner Jason White who agreed that tyre wear would be a major issue on the winning Dodge Viper ACR Extreme.
"Realistically, we need to have at least three days of wet running to get through with our present setup," the respected race and rally car builder said.
"But if it's a dry event, we can't make it without going much slower. We are looking at alternatives, but in doing so we have to make some compromises."
There's no doubt this is going to be a fascinating event.
