August 15th, 2003 2004
course schedule (provisional) 2004 will be the 13th annual
staging of the Targa Tasmania tarmac rally since it began in 1992. The total distance will
be approximately 2000km, with about 450km in 44 competitive stages, the same number of
stages as in 2003. As in the past, there will be four competitions in Targa. They are Shannons Historic (for
cars from 1900-46), Shannons Touring Classic (1947-65), Classic (1900-81), and
Modern (1982-2004). They will be joined for the second successive year by the
non-competition Shannons Tour class category for rare and exotic historic and classic
cars. Octagon Tasmania general manager
Rob McGuire said the 2004 course is still provisional, and would be finalised in December,
and there would be an inspection by a CAMS course checker in January. A total of 41 of the 44 stages in
the 2003 course have been retained for next year's rally. There are two new stages on the
provisional list, Holwell (4.2km), situated about 40km north-west of Launceston, on the
opening leg, and Channel (4km), which has been added to the third leg. Tribunna returns to
the second leg. The three stages in the 2003 rally
not included in next year’s event are High Plains replaced by Holwell on the opening
leg, Perth, replaced by Tribunna in leg two, and New Norfolk. McGuire said the Holwell stage had
been created to shorten the touring section to Moriarty on the opening leg. “Perth was included in 2003
because we spent an extra night in Launceston, but Tribunna now comes back because leg two
is returning to its previous schedule and finishing in Hobart,” said McGuire. “New Norfolk, which has
traditionally been the final stage, can’t be held in 2004 because of development on
the Lachlin River property. However, the cars will still re-group in New Norfolk so the
‘locals’ there will have a chance to see all the cars up close.” “We certainly haven’t
closed the door on a stage at New Norfolk in the future if a suitable venue can be found.”
The rally will begin with the
traditional Temco Prologue at George Town to determine starting positions.
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