The Targa Classica Experience

Cars. Every era and marque is welcome.

Competition. A regularity format that rewards precision and teamwork – whether you’re chasing a podium or simply soaking up the experience, you can lean into the competitive side as much or as little as you like.

People. The Targa Classica culture is built on community and a shared passion. First-timers are supported, and friendly rivalry quickly turns into camaraderie. You’ll trade tips at controls, share tools in carparks and swap stories over dinner.

Lifestyle. Local hospitality and produce, shared stories and easy conversation—the social side that surrounds the cars and reminds us why we do it.

Community. Along the route, regional communities open their doors – showcasing produce, wine and hospitality and experiences – while spectators line the roads and media capture event stories.

What is a Regularity?

A regularity rally rewards accuracy and precision. You follow the route to a series of set trials.  Cars are required to match exact times (PC’s) or average speeds (PM’s) if the car arrives early or late/ fast or slow at the timing tube or hidden timing points, they receive penalties. The fewest penalties accumulated over the 4 days of the event wins.

Time Trials (exact time) – “PC” – Prove Colometrate.

Over 4 days competitors will experience 60-70 PC’s.  PC’s require the car to travel between tubes laid on the road in exact time.

• Typically, there are 3-5 PC’s grouped together.
• The time between the tubes is recorded to 1/100th of a second.

Average Speed Tests – “PM” – Prove Di Media.

There are typically 1-2 PM’s each day through the event.  For these trials, it is important to maintain the nominated average over the distance of the PM.

• A “PM START” sign signals the start of the PM.
• Hidden or known checks compare your elapsed time to the ideal.
• Each 1/10 of a second, at the checkpoints, early or late, results in a penalty point.

After more than a century of events in Sicily, the Palermo Car Club agreed to support a sister event in Australia … with that the Targa Florio Australian Tribute was born. Victoria’s strong Italian community, rich motorsport history and world-class driving roads made the perfect stage for a regularity rally with deep heritage.

As the event matured and fields reached capacity, it developed a new chapter: Targa Classica reflecting a wider connection to Italy’s 5 Grandi Eventi. The name reflects what the rally has become – an Australian celebration of driving that now stands as a meaningful fixture on the motorsport calendar.

In the early 1900s, the motor car arrived and car clubs across Europe set out to prove what their machines could do. At opposite ends of Italy, Palermo and Brescia created events that became legends: the Targa Florio in Sicily and the Mille Miglia in the Brescia. Drivers and manufacturers came from around the world to test cars and skill on real roads, through towns and over mountains.

These were speed events. Marques invested heavily, built specialised cars, and attracted the best drivers. Development was rapid, competition fierce and the stories became legendary.

Each event celebrating twisting mountain roads down to cobbled city streets earned a reputation for being beautiful and brutal. The greatest names – drivers and marques alike – were drawn to the challenge. For more than a century it has stood as one of the sport’s most enduring symbols of passion.

As speeds climbed and averaged more than 100 miles per hour, accidents resulted in a change to a new form of challenge, the European Regularity.  Single-day road races gave way to multi-day rallies with timed sections, average speeds and precise controls. The Italian Grandi Eventi emerged – iconic road rallies that celebrate heritage, craft and consistency rather than outright pace. Fans still line the roads; competitors return year after year.

Today these events honour classic cars, great roads and the communities that host them. Historic entries run alongside “Legend” classes for modern classics, keeping the field vibrant and welcoming.

Targa Classica draws on that tradition –  with the same spirit, in a distinctly Australian setting.