From Italy to Australia - Targa Florio Races to Regional Victoria
Italy's renowned Targa Florio vintage car rally will race to regional Victoria later this year, competing outside of the European nation for the first time ever.
Clayton had the story on the Arvo Flow.
The four-day event will see more than 200 classic cars travel across 1,200 kilometres of the state, expected to attract thousands of car lovers, celebrities and international media.
The route has been designed to promote some of Victoria’s top regional destinations including Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Flow regions along the Great Ocean Road, Queenscliff to Sorrento, Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and Flow regions in the Yarra Valley.
Before Formula 1 racing, the Targa Florio was the most difficult and challenging race for cars on earth.
First run in 1906, the race has always started and finished in Palermo, Italy.
It attracted the best drivers and the most important international car makers, such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Bugatti, Lancia, Maserati, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche.
The prestigious road race will now celebrate its 101st anniversary in Victoria in November.
Powerhouse trio ‘Il Volo’ – who have performed alongside Barbara Streisand, Placido Domingo and at the Eurovision Song Contest – will perform at the race’s closing ceremony.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said:“These classic cars will travel to some of our most breathtaking destinations, breathing more life into regional communities across Victoria.
“Our love of sport and fast cars, coupled with our beautiful scenery and large Italian community, makes us the perfect host for such an occasion," Mr Eren said.
The race will run:
Thursday 30 November – registered vehicles will make their way from Melbourne CBD to the City of Greater Geelong via Torquay and back to Geelong for the official opening ceremony
Friday 1 December – vehicles will drive from Geelong to Apollo Bay via Lorne and then onto Queenscliff. Vehicles will be transported by ferry from the Bellarine Peninsula to the Mornington Peninsula
Saturday 2 December – registrants will drive from the heart of Mornington’s wine region through Red Hill to San Remo and onto Healesville
Sunday 3 December – departing from Healesville back towards Melbourne CBD and via Albert Park, finishing at the Sponsors’ village at Docklands.
Image Source - Brian Snelson