Targa Newfoundland
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Targa Newfoundland is a rally race held annually every September since 2002 in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is the most prestigious tarmac rally in North America. The event covers about Template:Convert over scenic coastal roads and through towns and outports on eastern and central parts of the island of Newfoundland. The next Targa Newfoundland rally will be held September 11-18, 2025.
The rally gives the owners of historic, classic and modern performance vehicles the opportunity to drive them the way they were designed to be driven in a rally competition. In the event, each team of driver and co-driver competes against itself on a handicap basis as well as against other vehicles.
Timed stages are run on public roads, which are closed to other traffic during this time. Some stages, such as Gander and Brigus, race through towns and outports.
Targa Newfoundland is divided into four divisions:
- Targa Tour, a non-competitive event which allows the owners of classic and exotic cars to drive them the way they were meant to be driven, within the limits prescribed by the event, without the stress of competition;
- Grand Touring, a time-speed-distance rally (TSD Rally) emphasizing precision in maintaining the average speed set by the organizers;
- Targa 1 and 2, competitive events where the objective is to meet or slightly better the stage times set by the organizers for the age, displacement and modification level of the vehicle. Targa 1 is for cars without roll cages while Targa 2 is for cars with roll cages. Every competitor who completes all stages within the established trophy times wins a Targa plate.
Trophies are awarded for overall placing in the Touring and Targa events, and for placing within the various categories within the Targa event. There are also trophies for national and marque teams, and for the best-placed novice team.
Targa Newfoundland is made possible though the efforts of dozens of volunteers and residents of 70+ Newfoundland communities.
Event formatEdit
Targa Newfoundland begins and ends in the city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. This is the tentative format for the 2025 event (subject to changes):
- Skills Review and Practice Session – mandatory for 1st time entrants (September 11) – St. John's
- Stage Review – mandatory for all participants (September 12) – St. John's
- Prologue and Leg 1 (September 13) – Southern Shore - Bay Bulls and Witless Bay
- Leg 2 (September 14) – Placentia Bay – Southwest Avalon Peninsula: Placentia Bay, Cape Shore, St. Bride’s, Ship Harbour, Long Harbour, Gander
- Leg 3 (September 15) – Notre Dame Bay – North Central Newfoundland: Glenwood, Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles, Glovers Harbour, Appleton
- Leg 4 (September 16) – Bonavista Bay – Eastport Peninsula: Bonavista Bay, Eastport, Happy Adventure, Salvage, Burnside, Port Blandford
- Leg 5 (September 17) – Trinity Bay and Random Island: Weybridge, Hickman’s Harbour, Lower Lance Cove and Petley
- Leg 6 (September 18) – Conception Bay Central: Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk's Gut, Georgetown, Brigus
- Free time and Awards Ceremony Banquet (September 19) – St. John's
2024 Targa Newfoundland ResultsEdit
Overall Deumila - Targa 2 (cars with roll cages)Edit
1st Place: Keir Pollard and Lance Campbell, 2006 MINI Cooper S
Overall Deumila - Targa 1 (cars without roll cages)Edit
1st Place: Randy Pobst, and Paul Abbott, 1989 Porsche 911 Targa
2nd Place: Robert Thompson and Justine Ronayne, 2020 Lachute Performance LP400S (Subaru WRX STI)
3rd Place: Justin Crant and Erin Crant, 2009 BMW 135i
2023 Targa Newfoundland ResultsEdit
Targa Newfoundland paused from 2019 through 2022 and returned in 2023. Targa Divisions were renamed in 2023 and the results are reflected below.
Overall Deumila - Targa 2 (cars with roll cages)Edit
1st Place: #276 Dave Wallingford and Leanne Junnila, 2017 Ford Fiesta
2nd Place: #205 Jim Turner and Mark Russo, 1995 BMW 325
Overall Deumila - Targa 1 (cars without roll cages)Edit
1st Place Modern 2WD: #133 John Hume Sr., Randy Pobst, and Craig MacMullen, 2013 MINI Cooper GP
2nd Place Modern 2WD: #135 Justin Crant and Erin Crant, 2009 BMW 135i
3rd Place Modern AWD: #132 Sam Marshall and Rick Marshall, 2016 Subaru WRX
Overall Duemila – Grand TouringEdit
1st Place: #333 Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza, 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA 45
2nd Place: #380 Martin Pond and Christopher Seiwald, 1980 Mercury Zephyr
List of past winners – Targa DivisionEdit
| Year | Driver | Navigator | Vehicle | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Template:Flagicon Len Cattlin | Template:Flagicon Gayle Cattlin | 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback | 0:01:36 |
| 2003 | Template:Flagicon Bill Arnold | Template:Flagicon Peter Guagenti | 1972 BMW Bavaria | 0:00:38 |
| 2004 | Template:Flagicon Bill Arnold | Template:Flagicon Tamara Hull | 1972 BMW Bavaria | 0:00:10 |
| 2005 | Template:Flagicon Bill Arnold | Template:Flagicon Alan Ryall | 1972 BMW Bavaria | 0:00:45 |
| 2006 | Template:Flagicon Glen Clarke | Template:Flagicon Evan Gamblin | 1979 Porsche 911 | 0:02:30 |
| 2007 | Template:Flagicon Roy Hopkins | Template:Flagicon Adrienne Hughes | 1969 BMW 2002 | 0:01:46 |
| 2008 | Template:Flagicon Roy Hopkins | Template:Flagicon Adrienne Hughes | 1969 BMW 2002 | 0:00:25 |
| 2009 | Template:Flagicon Roy Hopkins | Template:Flagicon Adrienne Hughes | 1969 BMW 2002 | 0:00:10 |
| 2010 | Template:Flagicon Scott Giannou | Template:Flagicon Ray Felice | 1981 Porsche 911 SC | 0:00:58 |
| 2011 | Template:Flagicon Scott Giannou | Template:Flagicon Ray Felice | 1981 Porsche 911 SC | 0:01:04 |
| 2012 | Template:Flagicon Andrew Comrie-Picard | Template:Flagicon Brian O'Kane | 2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX | 0:00:26 |
| 2013 | Template:Flagicon Dan Aweida | Template:Flagicon Tina Aweida | 2008 Ford Mustang FR500S | 0:03:07 |
| 2014 | Template:Flagicon Matthew Oldford | Template:Flagicon Brian Oldford | 2004 Subaru WRX Sti | 0:02:07 |
| 2015 | Template:Flagicon Jean Luc Bergeron | Template:Flagicon Yvan Turcotte | 1999 Subaru RS2 | 0:00:40 |
| 2016 | Template:Flagicon Ludovic Lognay | Template:Flagicon Lauriane Lognay | 2008 Subaru WRX Sti | 0:00:12 |
List of past winners – Grand Touring DivisionEdit
| Year | Driver | Navigator | Vehicle | Total Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Template:Flagicon Alan Ryall | Template:Flagicon Carolyn Ryall | 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX | 0:00:00 |
| 2003 | Template:Flagicon Jean-Francois Drolet | Template:Flagicon Rejean Beaulieu | 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe | 0:00:00 |
| 2004 | Template:Flagicon Jean-Francois Drolet | Template:Flagicon Rejean Beaulieu | 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe | 0:00:04 |
| 2005 | Template:Flagicon Brian Crockatt | Template:Flagicon Gail Walker | 1987 BMW 535i | 0:00:16 |
| 2006 | Template:Flagicon Bruce Terris | Template:Flagicon Andy Proudfoot | 1991 Subaru Legacy Turbo | 0:00:06 |
| 2007 | Template:Flagicon Alan Kearley | Template:Flagicon Greg Martin | 2004 Mazda 3 Sport GT | 0:00:18 |
| 2008 | Template:Flagicon John Vandemierden | Template:Flagicon Stu Lehmann | 2008 Lotus Elise | 0:00:03 |
| 2009 | Template:Flagicon Ferdinand Trauttmansdorf | Template:Flagicon Christoph Trauttmansdorff | 1990 BMW 325i | 0:00:00 |
| 2010 | Template:Flagicon Alan Townsley | Template:Flagicon David Fuhrmann | 2003 Acura RSX | 0:00:02 |
| 2011 | Template:Flagicon Justin Crant | Template:Flagicon Justin Russell | 1997 VW Golf trek | 0:00:00 |
| 2012 | Template:Flagicon John Hume Sr. | Template:Flagicon Craig MacMullen | 2011 BMW 335is | 0:00:16 |
| 2013 | Template:Flagicon Jon Riddell | Template:Flagicon Briar DeLange | 2008 BMW 135i | 0:00:14 |
| 2014 | Template:Flagicon John Hume Sr. | Template:Flagicon Craig MacMullen | 2013 Mini JCW GP | 0:00:13 |
| 2015 | Template:Flagicon Marinus Damm | Template:Flagicon Renee Damm | 2012 BMW 328xiT | 0:01:43 |
| 2016 | Template:Flagicon Marinus Damm | Template:Flagicon Renee Damm | 2001 Porsche 996 | 0:00:05 |
| 2017 | Template:Flagicon John Hume Sr | Template:Flagicon Christina Kroner | 2013 Mini JCW GP | 0:00:22 |
| 2023 | Template:Flagicon Satish Gopalkrishnan | Template:Flagicon Savera D'Souza | 2023 Mercedes Benz GLA 45 AMG | 0:00:17 |
<ref>2002 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2003 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2004 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2005 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2006 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2007 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2008 Targa Newfoundland Results by Rally Scoring</ref> <ref>2011 - 2013 Stage Times & Results Template:Webarchive by Targa Newfoundland</ref> <ref>2014 Targa Newfoundland Results Template:Webarchive by Targa Newfoundland</ref> <ref>2015 Targa Newfoundland Results Template:Webarchive by Targa Newfoundland</ref> <ref>2016 Targa Newfoundland Results by Targa Newfoundland</ref>
Event HistoryEdit
After competing in the Targa Tasmania in Australia in 2001, Canadian automotive journalist Jim Kenzie and public relations executive Doug Mepham were inspired to bring the excitement of that rally event closer to home. As Jim wrote in Toronto Star Wheels, “We got talking and thought: Island; welcoming population; needs tourism dollars. How about Targa Newfoundland?”
Kenzie wrote about the idea and Mepham sent the article to Robert Giannou, a businessman and racing enthusiast who had promoted Formula Atlantic races in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in the early 1970s. Giannou got the support of the provincial government and put the organization in place. A year-and-a-half later, Targa Newfoundland was born. Targa ran for the first time in 2002 and there have been 23 runnings of the famous road rally since then.
Robert Giannou was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Class of 2022 as a competitor, builder and significant contributor. Robert joined an elite group of more than 290 members who have been recognized for their contributions to motorsports in Canada.
Giannou joined the St. John’s Motor Club in 1958, where he began organizing rally, solo and hillclimb events in 1962. Giannou also raced himself, winning titles in club karting and rallying, hillclimb and B Sedan. He brought the club into the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs (CASC) ranks and negotiated with the U.S. Embassy in Newfoundland to use two of their properties for events, including runways at Naval Station Argentia, where he eventually brought the Molyslip Endurance Series.
Giannou has held various roles with CASC over the years, including Race Director Atlantic Region and Assistant National Race Director, most notably starting Targa Newfoundland in 2002.
Without Robert’s vision and guidance, we wouldn’t have such an exceptional event today that challenges drivers, cars, and teams, and brings communities across the island of Newfoundland together for the love of motorsport. In 2010, he worked with Janet Brake to create a safety protocol that made Targa Newfoundland the safest of the three main Targa events, with incident rates reduced from 17% to 1.5%.
ReferencesEdit
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