The eighth annual rally will see almost 80 cars in Classic and Modern categories tackle 215 kilometres over 30 closed-road special stages, finishing in a sprint beside the Swan River on Sunday afternoon.
Making it all run smoothly will be almost 500 officials, mostly volunteers, who will staff road blocks, spectator areas, competitor control points, rally headquarters and many other locations.
A wide variety of machines from classic Porsches to Aussie V8 muscle cars are expected to put on a spectacular show as they race through Kalamunda, Toodyay, Bullsbrook, Malaga and central Perth.
They will be flagged off at 1.30pm tomorrow in the 3.78 kilometre Go Gear Prologue time trial, which will set starting order for stage one on the same route just two hours later.
Throughout the event, spectators will be able to see the action free at many familiar vantage points, but thousands more are expected to turn out for the new Complete Portables Malaga stage on Sunday morning.
The 12.22 km stage, to be run three times from around 8.45am, goes past hundreds of businesses in the showcase industrial precinct, giving bosses the chance to host staff and customers at trackside parties.
“There are 2200 businesses in Malaga and a workforce of about 20,000. We’ve got overwhelming support for the stage and very little negative,” said City of Swan Councillor Mel Congerton.
“A lot of people are setting up barbecues in front of their offices and one company has 60 members of their staff coming.
“It’s good to see something like this in Malaga. It will showcase Malaga – it’s the flagship industrial estate of the City of Swan and the gateway to the north, west, east and south.”
Quit Targa West Clerk of Course Ross Tapper said he had been advised more than 80 Malaga companies would be holding parties, but there would be plenty of spots also for public viewing.
“The main spectator area will be on Malaga Drive, but there are plenty of other places to get in and see the cars in action.”
The 2012 Quit Targa West route will take rally crews to Whiteman Park tomorrow, Kalamunda on Friday, Toodyay and Bullsbrook on Saturday and Malaga and Perth on Sunday.
Kalamunda will feature the Outback Constructors Australia Zig Zag – a spectator shuttle bus will be available – plus an extended stage on Mundaring Weir Road and a service stopover in Haynes Street in the town centre from 11am. Live music and other entertainment will provide the backdrop as spectators stroll among the cars and meet the competing crews.
Toodyay also will offer residents and spectators a feast of rally action and car displays and two of the best stages will be run in Bullsbrook. The event will finish with the spectacular Killarnee City of Perth stage along Riverside Drive in the heart of Perth from 2pm.
Podium presentations will start in Plain Street, East Perth, at 4pm.
A detailed Spectator Guide, plus entry list, competition itinerary and other information is available on the event website, www.targawest.com.au
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