# Targa West Is Now Tarmac West: Perth's Rally Under a New Name

Western Australia's four-day tarmac rally ran in September as Tarmac West, with stages in the Perth Hills and a finish in the city. A short guide.

Source: https://lotustrails.com/blog/2026-10-02-targa-west-is-now-tarmac-west/

If you went looking for Targa West this year and could not find it, that is because Perth's tarmac rally now runs as Tarmac West. The format is familiar: four days of closed-road stages in and around the city, held this year from 17 to 20 September.

## The format

The event opened with a ceremonial start in the centre of Perth and stages at Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook. The second day went into the Perth Hills around Kalamunda and Parkerville. The third headed further out to Toodyay and Chittering, and the final day brought the cars back into the city for street stages and a finish on Riverside Drive.

Stages are short and technical by tarmac rally standards, which keeps average speeds down and puts the emphasis on precision.

## Where it fits

Australia has the strongest tarmac rally scene in the world. With [Targa Tasmania](/events/#targa-tasmania) back on the calendar in November and the [Adelaide Rally](/events/#adelaide-rally) following at the end of that month, the spring season is as full as it has been for several years.

For Lotus owners in Western Australia, the Perth Hills roads used by the rally, such as the Zig Zag and the roads around Mundaring Weir, are open to drive the rest of the year.

## Thinking about 2027

Entries for this year opened in April and closed at the end of August. If you are considering it, the practical steps are the same as for any tarmac rally: join a local car club affiliated with Motorsport Australia, look at the touring and regularity categories that accept standard road cars, and talk to crews who have done it.

Details are on the [organiser's site](https://tarmacevents.com.au/), and the full list of rallies is on our [events page](/events/).