2010 Targa High Country- Initial Stage information

2010 Targa High Country Course Notes

Leave your thoughts in the comments- can it be as great as Targa Tassie?

Personally, I think it is a wonderful opportunity for Victoria and the high country region, to bring sporting tourism in for something other than snow skiing and fishing (both of which, admittedly, are great, but don’t sustain the communities through the lean months).

I want to see some tie-in with the local gourmet food and wine producers, with static displays of Lamborghinis sure to appeal to the Masterchef set. Also, there needs to be lots of promotion in Mansfield itself, as the old Buller Sprint had the town thronging when the prologue was run through the town’s streets. When that was removed, the Sprint was then confined to the hill itself, in turn confining spectators to only a couple of spectating zones and no way to move off the hill until the road re-opened.

The roads themselves appear well picked. All the tarmac guys rate Buller itself as one of the best stages in Australian rallying, and to expand on that with runs through Whitfield, Tolmie and Jamieson provide a great mix of quick and curly curves.

This event being on the mainland is a bit double-edged when compared to its illustrious forebear. On one hand, the access to the region is far better than in Tassie, but many would argue that the wilderness and seperation of the Apple Isle is what is at the core of its appeal in the first place. Budget wise, though, Targa High Country makes more sense to more people. It remains to be seen if it can be profitable…fingers crossed.

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