Run annually in the North Island, the colossus that is the Targa tarmac motor rally is coming to the Mainland for the first time this October, celebrating its 20th anniversary in southern style. Motorsport writer Catherine Pattison tells you everything you need to know about the event.
Eye-wateringly expensive supercars, through to the classics your parents grew up with, will be charging through closed, sealed roads around our region for the lion's share of the six-day Targa tarmac motor rally.
Targa New Zealand managing director Peter Martin sums up what we can expect of the ultimate road race.
''The event is more than just its motorsport element - we are bringing a $25 million roadshow to your district.''
Some key questions ahead of the rally:
What are the dates and where is it going?
Targa South Island will cover 870km of competitive stage driving and 1780km of touring from Monday, October 27 to Sunday, November 2.
It starts in Christchurch and travels to Dunedin, Invercargill and Cromwell before finishing in Queenstown.
Competitors will also race at all four tracks in the South Island, in this order: Mike Pero Motorsport Park (formerly Ruapuna Park), Levels Raceway, Teretonga Park and Highlands Motorsport Park.
What exactly is it all about?
Drivers and their co-drivers, entered in the three classes, race over closed tarmac road stages, leaving time controls generally at one-minute intervals.
The winner is determined by the fastest overall time at the end of the marathon event.
Co-drivers instruct their drivers on which intersections to take but teams are not allowed to undertake a reconnaissance of the roads and do not have full pace notes for every corner, like are used in gravel rally events.
Targa NZ works with local councils, tourism operators, residents and community groups to minimise interruption through road closures and maximise fundraising opportunities for feeding the travelling entourage of about 2500 people each day.
What's happening each day?
Prologue day: Monday, October 27 (Christchurch)
After documentation and scrutineering, the Targa entrants head for the hills for two gnarly stages. Day ends with a stage around Mike Pero Motorsport Park.
Overnight: Christchurch.
Total stage distance: 47km.
Day one: Tuesday, October 28 (Christchurch to Dunedin)
Head south of Christchurch starting with stages near Pleasant Point. The racing includes four laps of Levels Raceway. Lunch at Timaru's Caroline Bay. Head south to Dunedin, where the roads become narrower and more winding.
Overnight: Dunedin.
Total stage distance: 171km.
Day two: Wednesday, October 29 (Dunedin)
Head north of Dunedin, where the first stage is right on the outskirts of the city in the steep hills. Keep travelling north, taking in Palmerston, Duntroon, Ngapara and Windsor. Lunch in Oamaru.
Overnight: Dunedin.
Total stage distance: 139km.
Day three: Thursday, October 30 (Dunedin to Invercargill)
Head west and south of Dunedin. The day starts with a 30km stage in one of the narrowest and steepest gorges of the event. This is then contrasted with open and flowing roads along remote Otago farmland. Back to the city and along the top of the Otago Peninsula hills. Then south again into Lawrence, Milton (for lunch), Balclutha and the Catlins. This day has the event's longest stage at 44km. Day ends with a twilight stage of four laps around Teretonga Park.
Overnight: Invercargill.
Total stage distance: 151km.
Day four: Friday, October 31 (Invercargill to Cromwell)
Head north, traversing through Lawrence, Clydevale, Moa Flat, Heriot, Tapanui and Waikoikoi. One stage not only has one of the steepest descents but about 20 intersections darting and diving in all directions. Lunch in Gore. After the day's last road stage, entrants travel through Roxburgh and Alexandra to Cromwell, where they will have four laps of Highlands Motorsport Park.
Overnight: Cromwell/Queenstown.
Total stage distance: 183km.
Day five: Saturday, November 1 (Cromwell to Queenstown)
Start the day with another four laps of Highlands but in the reverse direction from the previous afternoon. Five stages on what the organisers have dubbed ''probably the most iconic roads in the Central Otago area, if not New Zealand'', which will include the Glenorchy Queenstown Rd and the Crown Range. The last stage is a hillclimb up Coronet Peak skifield.
Finish is in Queenstown.
Total stage distance: 143km.
Classes and cost to enter
2WD Classic: $5600
2WD Modern: $5800
4WD Allcomers: $6000
Tour $4100: A non-competitive, convoy option, which offers participants the opportunity to drive on closed roads in a controlled manner. Open to classic cars, European exotic or cars that are special to their owners.
Economic impact for the region
From $1.2 million to $1.5 million per day of the event for the town the competitors are based in, according to a report Targa commissioned. Plus about $110,000 daily directly into voluntary community groups.
How many people involved?
About 150 competitors, plus co-drivers, with at least three service crew members per team and about 80 drivers on the non-competitive Targa Tour. An estimated entourage of about 2500 people, including support crew/family members and friends of the competitors.
Between 1500 to 2500 volunteers. A total of 156 Targa officials.
Where can spectators see the Targa competitors?
At lunch stops, service parks, and the parcs fermes at night. Closer to the event, spectator areas on the stages will be announced.
