Targa Florio is ready to roll

IN EXACTLY a week, for the first time in history, the Targa Florio will race outside of Italy.

Starting next Thursday, the Targa Florio Australian Tribute will call Victoria home for four days, with the touring race to take in Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Otways.

The event will coincide with the 101st anniversary of the race and will see classic cars from around the world participate.

On November 30, cars will start arriving at Eastern Beach in the morning before the official race start on the Geelong Waterfront in the early afternoon. Portarlington and Point Lonsdale are next to welcome the race, before cars traverse the bridge between Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads just before 4pm. Torquay is the final stop, with drivers making their way back to Cunningham Pier to conclude day one. An early start on December 1 sees the Targa Florio arrive in Anglesea at 8.30am, continuing down the Great Ocean Road through Aireys Inlet before arriving in Lorne at 8.45am. The race then moves inland through Deans Marsh, Forrest, Beech Forrest and Lavers Hill, as the Apollo Bay foreshore and its seafood festival organisers prepare to welcome the vehicles for a festival precursor lunch (the festival itself runs February 16-18 next year) at noon. Wye River is next on the agenda ahead of a trip back down the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff, where the vehicles will be on public display from 3.30pm next to the Brewhouse. Viewing concludes at 4pm, when all vehicles have boarded the ferry to Sorrento.

With a week to go, details of some of the impressive cars competing have been released, which includes the highly sought-after Tucker. Number 45 of just 49 in the world, the car is worth about $3 million and is owned by automotive enthusiast and special interest vehicle collector Terry Dowel. Joining him will be retired Mornington resident and first entrant of the Targa Florio Australian Tribute, Stewart Webster, who will drive his rare 1962 Porsche 356 T6B.

For more information on the race, head to targaflorioaustralia.com.