Bespoke Rallies Debuts Its Tiger Tasmania Rally in Nov 2020

By Mike Tomkins - April 7, 2020

The 3,581-mile route takes in much of Tasmania and southeastern Australia, before circling back to Melbourne for the finish.

Do you feel the need for a bit of vehicular adventure in your life? If you’re a big motorsports fan with a love of travel and new experiences, a very cool opportunity just opened up for you later this year. This November, you and your vehicle can join an event which plans to retrace most stages of the Targa Tasmania. Along the way, you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to take in the sights of both southeastern Australia and nearby Tasmania.

The inaugural 2020 Tiger Tasmania Rally is the latest addition to an ever-expanding list of events conducted in Europe and around the world by the UK’s Bespoke Rallies, which is based out of Cranleigh, Surrey. Founded in 2013 by John Brigden and his partner Fiona Davies, Bespoke Rallies aims to combine the endurance aspect of rallying with exploration and a taste of local culture.

Bespoke Rallies director Brigden was previously the head of the Rover Mini works rally team from 1994 to 1997, with Northern Ireland’s Paddy Hopkirk (one of the first four inductees in the Rally Hall of Fame) at the wheel, and Ron Crellin as co-driver. Since then, Brigden has built up an impressive two decades of experience organising rallies round the world, both for Bespoke and others.

Bespoke’s rallies are a mixture of competition, enduro and touring events, both on and off-road. While many are shorter four-day events within Europe, the company sometimes takes its customers for much longer expeditions, and much further from home. Past events have taken in such far-flung locations as the Himalayas — including the first ever rally to drive through Butan — as well as the Amazon, central and south America, India and even Madagascar.

And now, there’s a new addition to the roster, with the 26-day 2020 Tiger Tasmania Rally scheduled to take in southeastern Australia and most of Tasmania later this year. The event takes place from November 4-29, 2020, and as well as planning the route, accomodation, most meals, and ferry and car rentals as needed, Bespoke Rallies also arranges mechanical backup to help ensure you make it to the finish line. Early bird pricing is currently in effect, with an entry fee of around US$21,000 per two-person team.

The Tiger Tasmania Rally kicks off with an 11-hour evening ferry ride from the Victorian capital of Melbourne across the Bass Strait to Devonport in Tasmania. From there, you’ll drive along predominantly paved roads — there’s a little gravel enroute, but it’s said to be smooth — through Georgetown, Launceston, Coles Bay, Port Arthur, Hobart, Strahan and Cradle Mountain, before heading back to Devonport for the return to Australia. From there, you’ll head to Warrnambool, Horsham, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Lakes Entrance and Yering, before finally returning to the finish line in Melbourne.

In all, you’ll turn around 1,714 miles in Tasmania, and a further 1,867 miles in Australia. Although there is a competition aspect to the event, it’s entirely optional. If you want to take part, you’ll need to be driving a vehicle built in 1985 or earlier to be eligible. If you’d prefer to drive something more modern, though, you’re still welcome to come along and enjoy the event without competing.

And even if you are competing, you’ll find there’s plenty of time to smell the roses along the way. Bespoke Rallies’ brochure for the event promises tours, visits to museums and wineries — including a wine tasting in Launceston — and plenty else besides. Sights you’ll see include the Twelve Apostles off the Victoria coast, the Blue Lake volcanic crater, the gold rush town of Ballarat, the Great Alpine Road and more. Of your 26-day itinerary, five days are set aside as rest days, to ensure you have adequate time to unwind.