Australia to host Targa Florio Tribute race

Australia has won exclusive rights to host the official Targa Florio tribute event.

It will be the first time a Targa Florio event will be held outside of Italy in its 101 year history, with Australia beating off competition from Florida, America.

Set to be held from November 30-December 3, the Targa Florio Tribute will run on a route centered around Melbourne, including Geelong and Albert Park, before stretching to San Remo and Healesville.

The four-day race, which is expected to attract competitors and a range of historic cars from overseas, will culminate in an official closing ceremony at Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, with awards given to the first three cars.

In the same manner as the famous Sicilian event, the Targa Florio Australian Tribute race will see over 200 historical race cars including Ferraris unfold over four days, with two main races being run on the same route with identical rules and trials.

The Targa Florio Australian Tribute classic car regularity race is open to cars from 1906 to 1976 that will compete at an average speed of max 50 km/h.

Meanwhile, the Ferrari Trophy class is open to Ferrari cars from 1977 to present.

First held in 1906, the Targa Florio established itself as one of the most challenging events in global motorsport, which was part of the World Sportscar Championship from 1955-1977.

Sir Stirling Moss is among the names to have successfully conquered the race held on a 72km road course.

The Targa Florio, now run as a rally held on the Italian island of Sicily, continues to attract a selection of worlds’s finest road and rally cars.

Confederation of Australian Motor Sport CEO Eugene Arocca believes the event will be a welcomed addition to the Australian motor racing landscape.

“As the national sporting body for four-wheeled motor sport, we are extremely proud to be associated with such an iconic, international motor sport event and congratulate the event organisers, Visit Victoria and the Victorian Government for hosting the Targa Florio on some of our most famous roads,” said Arocca.

“We can’t wait for this to get underway at the end of this year and are looking forward to seeing yet another amazing motor sport event being held in Australia, on top of other memorable events such as Victoria’s own Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian round of the World Rally Championship.”