This year’s 15th anniversary Targa Tasmania has attracted approximately 250 entries. The competitors will kick-off from Launceston’s Country Club on Tuesday 25th April and cross the line at the Wrest Point in Hobart five days later.

Heading a highly competitive line-up that includes a number of manufacturer-backed entries will be the two Lamborghini Gallardos that dazzled when they competed in last year's edition. Jason and John White will be bidding for overall victory with the machine that lead the event in the hands of Paul Stokell last year until the Lamborghini Australia pilot dramatically crashed out while contesting the lead. Numbered at 934, the Australian crew will bring plenty of Targa Tasmania experience to go with their new four wheel drive 10-cyl, 5-litre V10 sportscar, as both have competed in the last six consecutive editions of the tarmac encounter.

Meanwhile at No 991 will be Kevin Weeks and Rebecca Crunkhorn who will enter the car used by Australian Pro-Golfer Stuart Appleby on last year's event. "There is no doubt the Gallardo has the potential to be a winner," said Weeks recently. "The four-wheel-drive will be a positive advantage, I can't wait! No more wrestling 500bhp through only two wheels." The crew have built up experience of the car by entering a number of rallies this year, and line the White's example, both cars have had factory upgrades and will be taking now part built to MY2006 specification.

The two Lamborghini crews will be flying the flag for Italy in the top class as the only other Italian car listed in the 'Modern' category entry list is the Lancia Integrale of New South Wales pairing, Geoff Thomas and Colin Gray.

This year’s Targa Tasmania will feature more talent than a travelling circus outfit with the 15th anniversary event boasting entries from some of the country’s top television, and motor sport personalities. Aside from the two Lamborghini crews, heading up the list is Network Ten’s motor sport commentator Daryl Beattie and the exciting return of ten-time Bathurst champion Peter Brock. Known for his commentary work on Network Ten’s motor sport program RPM and his calling of the V8 Supercars, Beattie will make his debut in the 2006 event driving a brand new Mitsubishi Evolution IX. Possessing a strong pedigree in motor sport, Beattie will have RPM Executive Producer Scott Young navigating for him, whilst Australian motor racing legend Brock, will make his competition comeback driving a 2000 model Daytona Coupe with event first timer Mick Hone. In the early nineties, Beattie was a 500cc motorcycle front-runner. He won three Grands Prix and finished second to Mick Doohan in the 1995 world championship.
 

With the necessary piloting and concentration skills already perfected on two wheels, it will be interesting to see how well Beattie goes on four. Brock’s return to the event he considers “the best motor sport event to exist anywhere” is part of his gradual reappearance back to professional driving following his decision to retire from his long-time profession in late 2004. “I have done a few other events over the last couple of years and I thought to myself, I should compete in Targa. It’s not that I want to go and prove that I’m better than anyone else, it’s just the sheer enjoyment of driving a really magnificent piece of machinery on some really magnificent roads.”

Powered by the same engine type as Brock’s usual Targa Tasmania car of choice, the Monaro, the 250bhp Daytona is 450kg lighter and offers an incredible power-to-weight advantage that his sturdy ‘signature’ Monaro did not have. Manufacturer entries have also been received from MINI Australia, who is entering three Cooper S JCWs, Porsche, Subaru,  Mitsubishi, Mazda, Hyundai and Skelta Sports Cars. Subaru will have top gravel rally driver Dean Herridge trying his hand at tarmac with co-driver Bill Hayes. Targa Tasmania is the third tarmac test for the Western Australian boys and judging by their previous result at Mt Buller and Rally Tasmania, their factory-bred WRX will certainly be putting its Targa opponents through the paces. Mazda Australia have rally-prepared a Mazda6 MPS for this year’s event - in what is a world motor sport debut for the car. They will have motor sport journalist Dean Evans behind the wheel in what will be an incredible tarmac test for the popular road car.

Targa top contenders Warwick Rooklyn and Linda Long have teamed up again for this year’s Targa Tasmania but this time with a helping hand from Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, who have prepared an Evo IX for the pair to play with. A blast from the past is 1994 Targa Tasmania winner Andrew Miedecke, who is entered in a factory-assisted Hyundai Tiburon. All eyes will be on Miedecke to see whether or not the New South Welshman still has his golden touch. Needless to say, of course, Jim Richards is back and will be contesting his thirteenth Targa Tasmania. The all-conquering Richards will be campaigning to reclaim his Targa Tasmania title with navigator Barry Oliver. Former V8 Supercar driver Tony Longhurst is back for his second Targa Tasmania. Longhurst will be back behind the wheel of his Subaru WRX STi to take on the pack and improve on his result from 2005.

The Targa Tasmania Shannons Classic Competition and the Unique Cars Classic Sprint and Historic Competitions have once again attracted a selection of some of the world’s unique and exquisite classic marques – spanning a 70 year production period. The Italian representation in this competition is truly mouth watering - as usual - and includes classics such as the Fiat 600, Abarth 750 and 124 Sport, Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia Spider, Giulia Super, Montreal, Alfetta GTV 2.0, GTV6 2.5, Lancia Beta HPE, Bizzarrini GT America, Maserati 3500 Vignale and Ferrari 308GTB.

The 15th anniversary Targa Tasmania course will travel over 2,100km of Tasmania’s most brilliant and challenging roads, 450km of which are competitively timed spread over 45 Targa stages. Competition in all four of Targa Tasmania’s main competitive categories will be the most heavily contested yet.