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Dec 04
Love0

2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio vs. Australia’s Best Driving Roads

By Classica, News, sponsors

It’s 5 am on a slow Wednesday morning in Albury, NSW, and I’m prepping the 2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio for Australia’s best driving event, the Targa Classica. This four-day event is based on the famous Targa Florio in Italy where Alfa Romeo has a special connection.

The story goes that Italian racing driver Ugo Sivocci couldn’t win a race. Then, one day he decided to paint a ‘lucky’ four leaf clover on his car. When he did, he started winning races. The first race he won was the Targa Florio in 1923, and this was the first race where the Quadrifolgio symbol appeared on an Alfa Romeo. Sadly, one day Sivocci was testing the new Alfa Romeo P1 at Monza without the four leaf painted on it. During a high-speed test lap, Sivocci crashed and was tragically killed and the brand’s four leaf clover, which has one corner missing, symbolizing his absence, has been fixed to every performance-focused Alfa Romeo since.

Together, the 2025 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and I will drive some of the best roads in the country while competing in 70 to 80 time trials, including Gymkhana-style courses, point-to-point legs, average speed tests, and even some time on a race track to explore the car’s full potential.

READ the full article on manofmany.com
Dec 04
Love0

Targa Classica competitors roll into Melbourne to kick off Grand Prix weekend

By Classica, News

A convoy of 100 modern and classic sporting cars arrive in Melbourne this week – here’s where to see them.

Australia’s take on the infamous Targa Florio road rally, the 2025 Targa Classica concludes its 2025 event with a display of all competitor vehicles this Thursday March 13 at Melbourne Olympic Park.

The 200-odd competitors, fresh from four days and over 1250km of touring and competition stages will gather for public viewing at Garden Square (behind Rod Laver Arena), at the Melbourne Park Tennis complex, between 3:30 and 7:30pm Thursday afternoon.

The Targa Florio road rally has been run in Sicily since 1906, and in 2017, with the support of the Palermo Car Club, the Targa Florio Australian Tribute was launched. It became the first event to ever carry the famous name outside of Italy.

Nov 28
Love0

Introducing Targa Classica

By News

From 0 to 100!  |  From TARGA FLORIO to TARGA CLASSICA

Introducing Targa Classica

For the last 6 months the Targa Team have been developing the next chapter of the event and we are delighted to finally share the news with everyone.

Like you, we are driven by an inner passion for classic motor cars.

And when combined with incredible landscapes, Victoria’s best driving roads, sumptuous food and wine along the way and the company of like-minded individuals, the event is a classic in every sense.

Broadening the event’s Italian Heritage to add the influences of the Championship 5 Italian “Grandi Eventi” events, we wanted to ensure the event delivers as the truly unique blend it offers every participant – a wonderful Australian experience, with Classic Italian flare at every twist, turn and pit stop. Targa Classica. Our dream is to see the event continue to evolve into an event that delivers to everyone involved the joy and passion of the Grandi Eventi.

So join us as we grow our own tradition – and make Targa Classica   become the legend as our Italian counterparts have for over 100 years.

The Targa Florio Australia event has been transformed into the event we hoped it would be. With a capacity field we feel it’s time for the event to create a new chapter and take its place as an import part of the motorsport calendar.

 

Now heading to its 5th event in Australia
the event has become:

Oct 27
Love1

Targa Florio Australia | New milestone in 2023

By News

Targa Florio Australia is officially

SOLD OUT for 2023

The field reaches the 100 mark, meaning the capacity of the event has been reached for the first time in its history!

In another new milestone for Targa Florio Australia, we have officially registered 100 cars to compete in this great event for motoring enthusiasts. Hitting the 100 mark means we have reached capacity with our overall aim for our events to provide the best quality, premium motoring experience possible. After a fantastic 2022 event covering many regions of Victoria and culminating in our own taste of the F1 experience at the Australian grand Prix, we have reached capacity.

Andrew Lawson, Event Organiser and Classic Car Passionista is thrilled by the public response;

“The event is now in its 5th year. Every year it has grown. Every year we have provided and refined our offering based off the feedback of our competitors. We all have a Passion for Motoring and we love to enjoy our cars with a group of like minded people, in fantastic surrounds, with great food, with great laughter and now all great friends!”

The new milestone means that the 2023 waitlist is now open. The waitlist is important in case there are any withdrawals for the 2023 event. If you have registered, you will then be invited to participate. Below is the Registration Link for the Waitlist, don’t delay and make sure you’re part of Motoring History!

Oct 26
Love1

Targa Florio Classica 2022 belongs to the Sicilians

By Italy, News

Targa Florio Classica 2022 belongs to the Sicilians

The Targa Florio Classica 2022 in Sicilia was a triumph for locals with two Sicilian crews coming home in the top 5 in Fiat 508 C cars.

Mario Passanante and Dario Moretti won in their 1937 Fiat 508 C.  the event proving very exciting tussle with the decided in the last meters of the race which resulted in Angelo Accardo and Filippo Becchina, securing second place at the finish line. Francesco and Giuseppe Di Pietra, third ahead of Gianmario Fontanella and Annamaria Covelli in a 1939 Lancia Aprilia and fifth a Sicilian team from Trapani, Campobello di Mazara Enzo Ciravolo and Francesco Messina.

Also driven to the last meter the three way duel won for the series championship  was won by Francesco and Giuseppe Di Pietra who finished ahead of Fontanella – Covelli in the race standings, and thus are the new Italian Champions of the Great Event series and winners of the ACI Storico Series, which combines the scores of the Targa Florio, the Coppa D’Oro della Dolomiti and the “Mugello Road Circuit”. The father and son, secured the title for Campobello di Mazara for the second time after triumphing in 2018.

-“A very difficult victory in the most critical event – said Passanante – Three mechanical failures that delayed us and we recovered – amazing. We are very grateful to the mechanic Fabrizio Falanga who enabled us to win. A strong joy”.

-“The first stage was very difficult for us, as Giuseppe had competed with another person, – explained Francesco Di Pietra – a race that earned a title, demanding with certainly strong opponents, decided at the last meter. We competed with a lot of luck and we won our second Italian Major Events Championship”.

-“The Targa Florio is confirmed as very competitive, nothing is taken for granted until the end, especially if the opponents are those with whom we measure ourselves in these days– said Accardo – The Campobello school is very competitive. Regularity is an exciting discipline and thanks to the communication work carried out by the Federation, it is increasingly in the foreground”.

Success in the Ferrari Tribute to Targa Florio 2022 goes to the Tuscan’s Fabio Vergamini and Anna Maria Fabrizi in a 2015 Ferrari 488 GTB. Second position to Mauro Ferrari and Maria Paola Saetti in a Ferrari Monza SP 2, ahead of the Roman team of Celestino and Oreste Sangiovanni.

Three days in which Sicily expressed all the affection towards its race born in 1906, which brought the crews and classic cars to discover many places on the island, many of which are inextricably linked to car competitions.

Sep 20
Love1
mt-hotham-roads

Targa Florio Australia | Dates Locked In 2023

By Drivers, Ferrari, News, Victoria
Ferrari 1971

The announcement of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2023 has enabled us to set the dates for Targa Florio Australia 2023.

La Dolce Vita continues with fabulous new locations, more cars, more competitors and lots of fun over four days of this increasingly popular event for motoring enthusiasts.

 

New locations and Confirmed Dates

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has been locked in for 2023 from March 30th to April 2nd.  In a win for motoring enthusiasts Targa Florio Australia will again provide the link from Victoria’s regions to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The Targa Florio Australia field of Classic and Supercars will once again finish at the Albert Park circuit after 4 days of fabulous driving around picturesque Victoria. Competitors once again have the chance to enjoy the sights and sounds of the biggest motor sport event in Australia.

Targa Florio Australia will commence on Monday 27th starting in Healesville. The event will then travel north to My Hotham linking the north of the state before returning to finish at the Australian Grand Prix on Thursday 30th March 2023.

The Route 2023

Monday: RACV Healesville to RACV Healesville

The Yara Valley Loop.  Starting at the majestic RACV in Healesville, Day 1 winds its way to the Yarra Ranges National Park, via Yarra Junction, Warburton and Reefton before looping north to Marysville and back to the RACV  Healesville.

Tuesday: Healesville to Mt Hotham

Tuesday is a day for drivers! Victoria’s Alpine region is a delight year-round.  Leaving behind the Yarra Valley we drive north to Tagarty, Eldon Weir and Yark before arriving in Bonnie Doon for Lunch.  The afternoon sees the cars continue on to the alpine roads via Whitfield, Myrtleford, Bright and the fantastic 100 sweeping corners up to Mt Hotham.

Plans are being made for a spectacular Mt Hotham stay you as you enjoy the sun setting across the Victoria Alps.

Wednesday: Mt Hotham to Nagambie

Leave your curtains open and enjoy the sun rising over the mountains then strap yourself in for an exciting drive curving down and around the mountain ranges, valleys, and amazing roads from Mt Hotham to Mount Bogong lookout then looping round to Yackandandah, Beechworth, Winton and end the stunning day at the equally stunning Mitchelton winery.

Thursday: Nagambie to Albert Park

From Michelton Winery to Eastern Lions, Seymour, Romsey you should have a smile fixed on your face – you will have enjoyed 4 of the best days driving across 6 of Victoria’s regions and you are heading to the finale at the AGP.  The champagne will be on ice.

Targa Florio Australia seeks to bring together great driving roads, great comradery and people that enjoy using their cars as the maker intended! The event is planned meticulously to include:

  • the best driving roads Victoria has to offer each day
  • a perfect balance of fun and competition, community and spectators to awe at your classic car and ensure each of us gets to feel like a rockstar!
  • Add great food and accommodation and you have a week not to be missed.