And so it begins: the long countdown to the start of Targa is almost over. We are finally in Launceston in northern Tasmania (or Tassie as we Aussies call it), having passed scrutineering and attended the drivers’ briefing and now ready for the rally prologue tomorrow. So the car is emblazoned in T11 paraphernalia, bearing special T11 number plates and ready to go. But the truth is we’ve been on the road to Targa for months. The entry process is rigorous. To qualify you need a car worthy of the world’s best rally. An E30 M3 of course passes this test, as its motorsport credentials are impeccable and as the LHD only E30 was never brought to Australia by BMW they are still rare here. In fact it is the only E30 M3 in the rally. And then you need to satisfy the requisite motorsport experience/licence. Having been rallying and racing on and off for about 25 years I managed to get the tick in that box too.
So with the car retrieved from the workshop, we began our journey on Friday morning. For those in the UK who don’t know the distances involved in Aussie travel, getting to Tassie from Sydney is like leaving London for a rally on the Isle of Skye. First we trailered the car to Melbourne, a 700 mile trip. Then caught the overnight ferry across Bass Strait to Tassie. A great opportunity for a few beers with other entrants on board. Then an 80 mile drive from the port at Devonport to Launceston where the rally starts. And so here we are: in a town of less than 100,000 now completely filled with motorsport fanatics preparing to drive wild on some of the planet’s best roads. With over 300 entrants Targa is now the world’s largest competitive rally.
No comments:
Post a Comment