Category

News

Targa Classica to Turn One

By Classica, News, sponsors, Supercar

Across four autumn days in Victoria, 95 crews set out on a journey defined not by speed, but by precision. In a 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, one Porsche team discovered the quiet discipline – and immense joy – of regularity rallying, among friends old and new.

From city streets to country rhythm

Leaving Melbourne behind, the road turns south toward the Mornington Peninsula, where traffic fades into vineyards, farmland and wide coastal skies. Autumn light settles across the landscape, the air cool and clear enough to sharpen the senses.

At first, it feels like any road trip. Then the details begin to matter. Distances are measured. Times are noted. Conversation narrows to numbers, directions and instructions.

We are no longer simply travelling. We are driving with intent.

Precision, not speed

Targa Classica celebrates a different kind of driving. This premier four-day regularity rally honours classic and modern automotive culture. Rather than racing outright, crews aim to hit precise target times and speeds over defined sections of road. Too fast or too slow – even slightly – and penalty points accumulate. What sounds simple quickly proves otherwise. Gradients alter momentum, corners interrupt rhythm and every small input suddenly matters.

From the beginning the experience belongs to two people. My wife, Kerry, and I share the roles of driver and navigator. The navigator interprets the road book and calls distances and timing points. The driver listens and responds.

Gradually a rhythm forms between the numbers and the road ahead. Regularity rallying rewards patience, communication and trust.

Read the full article on newsroom.porsche.com

Italy’s Hottest Sedan Is Nearly A Decade Old. Rivals Still Can’t Match What Matters Most

By Classica, News, sponsors

Standing trackside, watching more than 100 machines, Porsches, Ferraris, the odd Holden Torana, thread through some of Victoria’s best roads, it’s easy to feel like a kid with his nose pressed against the glass. The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio sitting behind you is not helping.

That’s the thing about Targa Classica, Australia’s version of Italy’s legendary Targa Florio. Four days, 1200km of hand-picked Victorian roads, almost 80 timed stages. From the Mornington Peninsula to the Yarra Valley, wrapping up in Melbourne during F1 week. It gets under your skin fast.

The spectating is good. The driving? It’s even better when the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is your steed.

Why a Targa Event and a Quadrifoglio Belong Together

The Quadrifoglio badge traces directly back to a Targa. In 1923, Ugo Sivocci painted a four-leaf clover on his Alfa Romeo before the Targa Florio and won the race. Sivocci later died testing a car that did not carry the badge. The symbol has meant something ever since and duly appeared on Alfa Romeo performance flagships.

Read the full article on dmarge.com

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

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.

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: