Classic Targa Adelaide
The streets of Adelaide will come alive this September with classic vehicles making a return to South Australia for a new annual rally.
Tourism Minister John Rau has announced that the State will play host to a new classic car rally called Classic Targa Adelaide, which will be held this year from September 15 to 18.
Classic Targa Adelaide will be open only to classic cars and will be part of the classic series, the Australian Targa Championship, which includes the prestigious rallies, Targa Wrest Point, Targa Tasmania and Targa High Country.
The Classic Targa Adelaide will be run by global sports and event marketing group, Octagon and will mark the triumphant return of classic cars to the streets of Adelaide since the Classic Adelaide Rally ended in 2009.
“South Australia has an excellent track record for staging major events, including an ever-growing line-up of sporting events such as the Santos Tour Down Under and the Clipsal 500 Adelaide,’’ Mr Rau said.
“I am proud to say we can now include the Classic Targa Adelaide on our exciting calendar of events.’’
A course for the rally has yet to be finalised, but there are plans to incorporate Adelaide and regions including the Adelaide Hills, Barossa and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
“Events like this are a great addition to South Australia’s tourism offering,’’ Mr Rau said.“They provide valuable media coverage, attract participants to the State from interstate and overseas and provide a great spectacle for the public, whether they are from Australia or overseas.’’
Minister for Motor Sport, Kevin Foley, said he was thrilled a classic car rally would once again grace the streets of South Australia.
“We are committed to motorsport as a tourism drawcard and we are extremely delighted to see a classic car rally back on the streets of South Australia,’’ he said.
The South Australian Tourism Commission, through its events arm Events South Australia, went through an extensive process to ensure the company heading up the new classic car event would add value not only to this event but to the State going forward.