Motorsport Australia have created a special Investigatory Tribunal following the deaths of three competitors in last weekend’s Targa Tasmania tarmac rally.
The annual six-day Targa Tasmania made national headlines last Friday when a Mazda RX7 driver died after his car rolled and landed upside down in a creek.
The following day, the event’s last, a further two competitors were killed when their Porsche GT3 left the road at high speed and hit two large gum trees.
“Motorsport Australia remains in close contact with the event organisers and Tasmania Police, and is committed to working closely with other relevant government authorities as they also investigate these incidents,” Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca said.
“Today’s announcement of an Investigatory Tribunal will allow Motorsport Australia to look closely at all aspects of the incidents and determine a number of recommendations that will be put to the Motorsport Australia Board for consideration.
“The Tribunal will be led by Garry Connelly AM, and also include a number of key motorsport safety personnel, including competitors, team owners and medical and safety experts.”
Connelly, the former Rally Australia clerk of course, is now Australia’s Delegate to the FIA, and Chair of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety. He also sits on the FIA Safety Research Strategy Group, and is currently a Permanent Chair of the Stewards in Formula 1.
Unfortunately, the deaths have thrown unwanted publicity onto both motorsport and Targa Tasmania, which is Australia’s biggest annual rally in terms of size and competitor numbers.
“It’s a tough and tragic time for the Targa family,” Targa Australia chief executive Mark Perry said.
“We’re all banding together.
“We’ll learn from this. There’s a lot of expertise and Garry Connelly, in particular, is a world-renowned expert, very high up in our sport around the world.
“We will accept all recommendations from the tribunal as we have in previous situations where there have been tribunals set up.”
Both incidents will also be investigated by the coroner.
Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, told reporters on Monday that the state government would work with organisers and police to work out what a future Targa may look like.
“Obviously, we have engaged with the officials at Targa. In terms of the three deaths, let me just say that is tragic and our sympathies are there for the families and their colleagues and other competitors. It’s just a tragedy.
“But we will need to work through these matters, and these matters will be guided by the coroner as well …
“This is still very raw and we need to understand what has occurred and work with Targa Tasmania, but also with the police, in terms of what a future event may look like.”
Targa Tasmania is held over 2000 kilometres of public roads and closed road special stages throughout the state.
The two drivers who died, Shane Navin and Leigh Munday, were 68, while co-driver Dennis Neagle was 59.
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