Burnie will host a new three-day Targa rally from 2027 under a deal organisers say secures a second event for Tasmania.
The event, called Targa Florio, will run on the state’s north-west coast from April 16 to 18, 2027.
Targa Australia announced the rally on Tuesday, confirming a three-year deal with Events Tasmania and the Burnie City Council that runs until 2029.
It will sit alongside the existing Targa Tasmania, which returned in November 2025 after a three-year break.
The rally will feature 16 stages over more than 220 kilometres of closed public roads.
There will also be free public events, including a Targafest in central Burnie on the Saturday night.
The Targa Florio name dates back to a race first held in Sicily in 1906. That event inspired the launch of Targa Tasmania in the early 1990s.
Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby said she first approached Targa about the idea a couple of years ago.
“When I first reached out to Targa CEO Mark Perry a couple of years ago, it came from a genuine belief that Burnie was ready to once again embrace an event of this calibre,” Brumby said.
She said the rally would bring visitors and economic activity to the region.
“Events like this bring energy, economic benefit, visitation and an incredible atmosphere to our community,” she said.
Targa chief executive Mark Perry said the past few years had been difficult for the organisation.
“We have had a tough road to travel in recent years that at times left us feeling like Targa would never return,” Perry said.
“So when it did late last year relief was the overwhelming emotion.”
He said the state’s support had convinced organisers to add a second event.
“This year has seen us set up a plan for the long-term viability of Targa and we felt strongly that Tasmania needed a second event, given the state’s unwavering support during the tough times,” he said.
The next Targa Tasmania event runs from November 18 to 22, 2026.
Targa Florio will then debut the following April, with similar dates planned for 2028 and 2029.
