The 2021 Western Australia Tarmac Rally calendar will begin on a high later this month with the Targa Albany Sprint securing a major sponsor and expanding the event threefold.
Now known as the Auto One Targa Albany Sprint, the two-day event is scheduled to run over the state’s Labour Day long weekend at the end of February and has been expanded to three courses over two mini sprints instead of just one.
Up to 100 classic and modern cars will feature in the Albany based event, with day one, the Auto One Targa Quaranup Sprint, to see competitors race against the clock on a two kilometre course and a four and a half kilometre course up the historic Camp Quaranup.
Drivers will tackle the short speed course on their own, before acquiring the services of a co-driver and a full safety setup for the longer course, which will run as a rallysprint.
The headline act, the Auto One Targa Albany Sprint will then occur on day two with the challenging 2.8km course to have competitors start from the Hybla Tavern at Middleton Beach and move up to the Anzac Centre on Mount Adelaide.
Drivers will get five attempts up the course with top honours to be awarded to the car who posts the fastest run, as opposed to the sprint’s usual format of the fastest accumulated time.
With the tarmac rally always popular among competitors and fans alike, event organiser Ross Tapper OAM was excited for the 2021 season opener.
“It’s a competitor favourite and great for spectators with stunning views over Frenchman Bay and along Marine Drive,” Tapper said.
“We limit entry to 100 discerning cars and it’s totally free for spectators.”
One of those cars to be competing will be the new major sponsor owner in Ramon Panizza, who will be running the event in his 1976 Ford Escort Mark II.
As partner of the 30-year-old family-run automotive parts retailer, Panizza was thrilled to be able to be associated with the event, as well as get the chance to compete in it.
“Targa Albany Sprint is a professionally run event and to have cars racing along the iconic Marine Drive is awesome,” Panizza said.
“We love to get behind local events and we’re looking forward to welcoming competitors, crews and fans to Albany for a long weekend of motorsport action.
“And Auto One will be open all long weekend if any competitors need any last minute parts.”
With spectating and the pit area free for fans, the event will also welcome other exciting activations throughout the event including a special flypast from the RAAF, exciting acrobatics and a presentation dinner at Hybla Tavern after the event.
The 2021 Auto One Targa Albany Sprint takes place in the City of Albany from Sunday 28 February to Monday 1 March.