The future of Targa rallies across the country hangs in the balance following a bombshell decision by Motorsport Australia to suspend permits pending an investigation into the latest fatality in Tasmania.
The organisation — which sanctions and insures the high-speed event — made the decision on Saturday following a string of fatal crashes, with three participants dying within two days during the 2021 event and 59-year-old driver Tony Seymour losing his life last month.
Motorsport Australia chief executive Eugene Arocca said the board had made a difficult decision but had little choice.
"While many competitors acknowledge that motorsport is dangerous, we cannot accept that death is an outcome of competition as has been suggested to us," he said.
"There are far-reaching consequences following such incidents, whether it be for the first responders who attend, the volunteer officials that are part of the event or witness these incidents, as well as the enormous impact on family and friends.
"There are also insurance and legal ramifications that impact the wider sport when incidents such as this occur.
"There are flow-on effects that follow incidents such as these, widely impacting all aspects of motorsport, including license costs and permit fees for all disciplines."
Non-competitive, touring-style events can still go ahead provided organisers conduct a targeted risk assessment and ensure drivers follow all road rules, including speed limits, regardless of whether roads are closed.
But the competitive elements of Targa Great Barrier Reef, set to be held in Cairns in September, and Targa High Country, to be held near Mount Buller in November, remain in doubt.
The Motorsport Australia Board met on Saturday and decided to suspend permits and create a Targa Review to investigate the latest fatality and make recommendations for the future.
The panel will be chaired by Garry Connelly AM and assisted by the Motorsport Australia Risk and Safety Committee, which was established last year.
"As the peak governing body for four-wheeled motorsport in this country, Motorsport Australia must do everything it can to prevent these tragic incidents, and this will often mean having to make difficult decisions for the safety and sustainability of our sport," Mr Arocca said.
"At this current time, we are not in a position to establish the cause of this recent incident, and this may take some time.
"Accordingly, the Board has determined that a Review Panel will be appointed to investigate the cause of the incident and to conduct a wider review of this form of competition."
Mr Arocca said he wanted to "again extend our sympathies to the Seymour family during this tragic time and will remain on hand to support them, as well as the wider motorsport community".
Targa Tasmania chief executive Mark Perry has been contacted for comment.
'The show must go on', with or without Motorsport Australia
Some commentators argue Targa's future lies in becoming a non-competitive event, especially given the number of touring drivers at Targa Tasmania has ballooned from 30 to 300 in the past five years.
But driver Casey Price said that simply would not cut it for some.
"There are competitors out there who are just there to race and understandably," she said.
"They are serious teams with serious gear and that's really what they are doing. They spend a lot of money and time getting these cars prepared to not use them."
Price said competitors were "really disappointed" by Motorsport Australia's decision.
But she said this year's fatality was a "pure tragedy" given how many safety initiatives had been implemented.
"They were all taken on so well from a competitor's point of view," she said.
Launceston racer Ben Newman has driven in multiple Targa events across Australia and said competitors wanted the event to continue.
"There is danger in most sports, whether it's mountain biking, skateboarding," he said.
"It's very hard, very sad for everyone involved but the overwhelming response from the group is that the show should go on.
"We're well invested in it, mentally and financially, and the sport brings in hundreds and thousands and millions of dollars a year.
Newman said Motorsport Australia members were "frustrated" by a lack of information about the future, but believe Targa could continue even if that organisation walked away.
"Targa has been associated with other bodies for short periods in the past," he said.
"And, to be honest, Targa has its own rules, its own management. In many ways, they don't need Motorsport Australia. They can just go to another insurance underwriter."
Newman said there were enough "passionate and smart people involved" in Targa to ensure it would continue.
