Jalopnik: targa tasmania

Mazda3 MPS To Tackle Targa Tasmania

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:40:00 EDT

What happens when you take the already devilish Mazdaspeed3 (better known as the Mazda3 MPS there) and throw it into the challenging Targa Tasmania? Madness. The folks at Mazda Motorsport are bringing their hot hatch to the 2008 race to compete with the hot pink Nissan GT-R. Unlike other rallies, this race features cars that are mostly stock and include all of the electric systems and upholstery that came with the original car. We imagine this makes it a bit more comfortable for Alister McRae and his co-driver.

This will be the eighth race for Mazda and the second for the MPS rally car. The vehicle features the stock 2.3-Liter direct injection turbo fourbanger that's good for 255 horsepower, routed through a six-speed manual transmission. The race runs from April 15-20 and you should be able to follow the updates at Mazda Australia's Targa Site, if it updates. [Mazda via World Car Fans]

Nissan GT-R In Hot Pink For Tasmanian Racing, Godzilla Goes Femme

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:45:00 EST

Why would anyone take a brand new R35 Nissan GT-R and paint it hot pink? Racing, of course. The Targa Tasmania, the Australian version of the Mille Miglia, is coming up and the folks at Just Jap Imports have been tasked with painting it pink for Team Donut King (I hope some of those words make sense together). The team posted the photos at the Skyline Australia forums and we couldn't resist posting them here.

Some may hate it, but I actually find it charming in that bizarre foreign livery sort of way. [Skyline Australia via JPCNews]

The Hulk's Ride, Pre-Smash: Eric Bana's Aussie Ford Falcon

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:11:08 EDT

Considering how many of us wreck or otherwise trash our first cars, it was a vicarious thrill to hear actor Bana had kept his first, a 1974 Ford XB Falcon coupe, for 23 years. When his star rose, he had enough A$ scratch to restore the coupe to the muscle-car glory it never achieved as a lowly six-cylinder beater. Alas, as we reported yesterday, he smashed it into some trees in the Targa Tasmania rally — a race in which he's been competing for 11 years — this past weekend. But Hot Rod had just recently documented the car's extensive rebuild, which included a kind of resurrection from a rusty death. Maybe the latest damage will buff right out. – Mike Spinelli

1973 XB Ford Falcon Coupe - Extreme Makeover [Hot Rod]

Devilish: The Targa Tasmania

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:30:00 EST

Having been run since 1992, the Targa Tasmania is the older brother of the Targa Newfoundland and Targa New Zealand. The five-day rally traverses the Australian island best known for a certain whirlwind of a cartoon mammal. And sometimes, people crash with rather dire consequences. Thanks to Chris for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson