One lucky mechanic has been given the chance to drive a 1976 Ford Falcon XC coupe to compete in this year’s Targa Tasmania, which starts in the state’s north on April 15.

Peter Cowie, an employee of Midas in Hobart, was offered the chance to drive for his boss, Andrew McMaster, in Australia’s ultimate tarmac rally.

“Andrew looks after the paper work and I look after the car,” the 52-year-old said. “I reckon I will be wearing disposable overalls over my racing gear.”

This year’s rally has attracted the largest entry list in its 17 year history, with more than 300 competitors from Australia, the USA, UK, UAE, Japan and Hong Kong vying for honours.

“We’ll be happy to finish mid-field as there are a lot of Classics entering this year,” Cowie said.

The local team has certainly set themselves a mighty challenge, deciding not to enter the Rookie Rallye in their first year.

“We just wanted to go the whole hog. I’ve done some speedway in WA, as well as karting, but Targa is going to be a lot harder.

“The first year is always hardest with everything, but Midas Australia has helped us out.”

However, the 2000 kilometre event will be an adventure and Cowie is preparing for the challenge ahead.

“It’s going to be a headache getting up at the crack of dawn, competing and then parking it at the end of the day in the dark. There are going to be some very long days ahead for us,” he said.

The event kicks off from Launceston on April 15 and will take competitors through the heart of Tasmania, along some of the best roads in the country, to the finish line at Hobart’s Wrest Point on April 20.