Targa High Country gets new five-year deal through to 2022

Mainland Australia’s biggest motorsport rally, Targa High Country, has secured a new five-year deal with the Mansfield Shire and Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management that will ensure its future through until 2022.

The annual event, based on the highly successful Targa Tasmania model that will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, is held annually on the second weekend of November.

Targa High Country is now the second largest rally of its kind in Australia, and more than double the size of any other rally except for the Tasmanian event, regularly attracting over 200 cars and crews.

Since its inception in 2010, it has contributed more than $15 million in direct-spend return to the High Country region.

Based at Mt Buller, the three-day rally takes cars across the north east of Victoria, using roads in and around Mansfield, heading out to Euroa on the Friday, up to Whitfield on the Saturday, and the Lake Eildon district on the Sunday.

Mark Perry, Managing Director of the event organiser, Targa Australia, is delighted that the funding brings certainty to the future of the rally.

“The support from the Mansfield Shire and Mt Buller has always been fantastic and this new deal means that we are now able to plan with certainty, and this allows us to invest in the event to make it even bigger and better,” Perry said.

“Already we are working on the 10th anniversary event in 2019.

“We have seen what Targa Tasmania brings to that state, and I know that Targa High Country can gain a similar level of support and bring significant economic benefits to the region.

“The roads in the region are superb, the competitors love them, and the run up to Mt Buller is one of the best tarmac rally stages anywhere in the world.”

Mansfield Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Paul Sladdin said: “We are delighted to have secured Targa High Country until 2022.

“Targa High Country provides excellent opportunities to showcase all that our region has to offer, whilst driving significant summer visitation and providing a boost to businesses.

“Our focus now is to work with Targa Australia, Mt Buller and State Government in further developing the event and our destination on the national and international stage.

"Mansfield Shire acknowledges the importance of collaborative partnerships and will continue to build on relationships with key stakeholders such as Victoria Police and Vic Roads, who are an integral part of the successful growth of this event. We look forward to some exciting times ahead with Targa High Country."

Chief Executive Officer for Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management, John Huber, has welcomed the opportunity to secure Targa High Country at Mt Buller for a further five years.

“Since it began in 2010, Targa High Country has become a highlight of the Mt Buller summer event calendar and offers competitors and spectators a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the region.

“As hosts of the event we take great pleasure in being able to showcase all the Mansfield-Mt Buller region has to offer, from incredible scenery and world-class driving, to wonderful food and wine experiences and more.

“Targa continues to drive summer visitation throughout the area and provides a boost to local businesses, and this new deal provides confidence and certainty that the High Country is a great place to visit and host an event of this calibre.

“We look forward to working with the team at Targa Australia to continue to deliver this fantastic event at Mt Buller right through until 2022.”

Entries for the seventh running of Targa High Country go on sale today, with the field expected to fill quickly before the Early Bird discount ends on May 15.

More than 200 Targa cars are likely to make the pilgrimage to the High Country for another exciting weekend of Targa rallying action from November 4 to 6.

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