The Make Smoking History Targa West is back for another year with a strong 54-car field to battle it out in Western Australia’s popular tarmac rally this weekend.
Starting on Thursday morning, competitors will embark on four day journey around Perth and its surrounding regions and complete 268 competitive kilometres across 36 tough, but picturesque stages.
With the ceremonial start to kick off the event at 10am local time and Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas to flag off the first cars around two hours later, participants are in for one of the toughest editions of the event run in recent years.
Throughout the four days, crews will be driving through regions such as Toodyay, Chittering, Bullsbrook, the infamous Zig Zag roads of Kalamunda, Ellenbrook street stages and around the state’s capital city, including Sunday’s finale along the spectacular Swan River.
The Zig Zag. Photo: Absolute Edge Media
Headlining the predominantly local based entry list is RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship regulars John O’Dowd and Toni Feaver, with O’Dowd to run in his 15th Targa West.
While the reigning Motorsport Australia WA Rally Champions have spent the past two years driving their Skoda Fabia R5, this year they have left the World Rally Championship spec rally car in the garage and have opted to run in Peter Major’s 2004 Porsche 996 that won last year’s Targa West.
“The Skoda doesn’t have the legs for the long stages, although it was great fun to drive it last year,” O’Dowd said.
“Over the years I’ve driven lots of different cars in Targa West including Holden, Subaru, Lamborghini, Skoda and this year it's a Porsche and I’m looking forward to driving it.
“The plan of attack is to enjoy the rally and have some fun and give the car back in one piece of course.”
Other big names likely to give O’Dowd and Feaver a run for their money in the Competition Modern and Classic Category, as well as the outright standings, are Mark Cates, Will White and 2018 winner Peter Rullo.
Rullo in action last year. Photo: CMR Photographic
Behind the wheel of the 2019 SSC Lotus Exige Targa GT, Rullo alongside co-driver James Marquet will be entering the rally for the 12th time this year and is looking forward to the event which features a mix of both new and old stages.
“It’s good that the organisers are mixing it up with some new stages and running others in reverse, it means no one can’t use notes,” Rullo said.
“We did our final test in the car last week and our preparation has gone well, we’re feeling pretty confident, but you never know how the warm weather will affect things.”
The Modern and Classic Competition isn’t the only category to be taking place with another three to make up the event, including Targa 165, Targa 130 and Targa 2Day – the latter seeing competitors just taking part in the weekend stages.
The other big winners ahead of the big event are Motorsport fans with all spectating free of charge and most stages offering different vantage points where people can watch the cars go by.
Fans will also be able to attend multiple car displays on Sunday with Shannons Classic on the Park and the Celebration of Motorsport on Langley Park to showcase more than 600 vehicles and beautiful cars from yesteryear.
The 16th Make Smoking History Targa West tarmac rally takes place on the closed streets of Perth and surrounding regions from 22 to 25 October.
Other events around Australia
Targa West
Targa West Pty Ltd
Perth & Surrounds
22-25 October
2020 Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race
Western Desert Racers
Kanowna and Surrounds
22-25 October
Can-Am Loveday 400
Loveday Event Management Pty Ltd
Loveday 4x4 Adventure Park,
23-25 October
2020 NAMSC Fun Day/Sponsors Day
North Australian Motor Sports Club Inc
Hidden Valley Raceway
23-25 October
Round 4 Gravel Khanacross
FNQ Motorsports Club Inc
Tepon Speedway
24 October
Khanacross Summer Series Round 1 & Junior Training Day
500 Car Club of Tasmania Inc
Baskerville Raceway
24-25 October
HDCC October Motorkhana
Hills District Car Club Ltd
Richmond Race Club
24 October
Dirt to Bitumen
Whitsunday Sporting Car Club Inc
Tonker Park
24-25 October
KMORC Test and Tune
Kempsey Macleay Off Road Club Incorporated
Circuit Lane Dondingalong
24 October
Super Sprint # 4
Porsche Club of SA
Mallala Motorsport Park
24 October
Gold City Challenge 216
North Queensland Offroad Racing Association Inc
Milchester Motorsports Complex Charters Towers
24-25 October
Come and Try Day/End of Year Break-Up
Millmerran Auto Club Inc
Reserve Raceway
24-25 October
SDCC Test and Tune
Shepparton & District Car Club Inc
Little Road Track Mooroopna
24 October
2020 eV Challenge Powered by Synergy
eV Challenge
Tiger Kart Club Wanneroo
24 October
2020 TASMANIAN CIRCUIT RACING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 4
MG Car Club Of Tasmania Inc
Buckby's Symmons Plains Raceway
24-25 October
Kyneton Car Club Inc. Closed Club Test & Tune
Kyneton Car Club Inc
Rollinson Reserve, 180 Redesdale Rd, Kyneton Vic 3444
24 October
Racing Together Drive Days
Racing Together Limited
Norwell Motorplex
24-25 October
TRACK SPORTS
The Bend Motorsport Park Pty Ltd
The Bend Motorsport Park
24 October
Airport Motorkhana
Ararat Car Club Inc
Ararat Airport
24 October
DSCC Autocross & Khanacross Round 10
Deniliquin Sporting Car Club Inc
Deniliquin
25 October
CQMSC October Motorkhana/Khanacross
Central Qld Motor Sporting Club Inc
Rosel Park
25 October
October Come N Try Motorkhana
Bathurst Light Car Club Ltd
The Quarry
25 October
BCC Khanacross/Motorkhana
Bendigo Car Club Inc
Bagshot Motorsport Complex
25 October
Superkart Race Meeting including Regularity
Adelaide Superkart Club Inc
Mallala Motor Sport Park
25 October
WASCC Tarmac Sportz Series #11 - Hillclimb
WA Sporting Car Club Inc
Wanneroo Raceway
25 October
Rallycross Round 3
Raleigh Motorsports Association Incorporated
Raleigh Raceway
25 October
FIAT Club of NSW Club Motorkhana
Fiat Club NSW Incorporated
Ansell Park Richmond
25 October
Targa City Sprint
Targa West Pty Ltd
Perth City
25 October
Ringwood Park Tar Series Hillclimb Championship - Round 5
MG Car Club (Newcastle) Inc
Ringwood Park
25 October
TOPCAR Drive Day
Wakefield Park Motorsport Pty Ltd
Wakefield Park
25 October
Club Come & Try Day
MTA Car Club
45 Albertson Road Barnawartha
25 October