This year's Targa Tasmania will feature speed limits as part of sweeping changes introduced in response to three deaths at last year's event.
Competitor Shane Navin died when his car crashed on a wet road at Mount Arrowsmith near Strahan in April.
The next day Leigh Mundy and his co-driver Dennis Neagle were killed when their car hit a dip in the road and crashed into trees at Cygnet, in southern Tasmania.
Motorsports Australia investigated the deaths and handed down 23 recommendations, including changes to race routes, reducing speeds on some sections of the course, and reviewing telecommunications capacity.
Event director Mark Perry told ABC Radio Hobart 17 of the recommendations had been adopted to "make the event safer".
The other six recommendations are also expected to be adopted but are the responsibility of Motorsport Australia, not Targa Tasmania organisers.
Mr Perry said the event would no longer be run at unlimited speed.
Instead, an effective speed limit of 200 kilometres per hour will be introduced.
"We've run two events now with the 200kph speed limit for the more experienced crews, so even they have been … slowed down dramatically from what they were allowed to do previously," Mr Perry said.
Biggest field ever expected
Mr Perry said organisers were expecting 500 cars at this year's event — a record field to mark the race's 30th year.
The fastest Targa Tasmania competitors have previously been clocked at speeds of up to 250kph on Tasmanian public roads.
The changes to speed limits have already been trialled at other Targa events in Queensland and Victoria.
"All the recommendations, other than some things around Motorsport Australia's licensing, will all be in place."
Motorsport Australia licensing rules to determine if drivers have relevant skills to take part in the event might not be implemented in time.
Instead, Targa Tasmania organisers are taking licensing into their own hands and have increased requirements for drivers taking part.
"In fairness to the governing body, given their control of an entire sport with insurance, setting up a formal licensing program has taken them longer than they anticipated," Mr Perry said.
"Anybody coming to Targa Tasmania for the first time, regardless of how many other Targa events they've done … you can't just step into Targa Tasmania on a full competition [licence].
Organisers have also made changes to the course so drivers don't get complacent, reducing speed limits in some areas, and ensuring drivers can inspect the track before racing.
They will also avoid crests, jumps and dips that can make cars airborne.
"It was very unfortunate about what happened last year but I think the positive that will come out of that is that it will speed up the transition," Mr Perry said.
Launceston's Barry Oliver has a long association with Targa Tasmania — as a navigator, he competed 26 times and won a record eight titles.
He is not convinced the changes will make the event safer.
"Tarmac rallies are probably one of the most dangerous motorsport events you can compete in," he said.
"People go into these events understanding that they are extremely dangerous and I think what Targa have tried to do here as a result of the inquiry is to try and make the event as safe as possible."
The Targa Tasmania 2022 event starts on April 26.
