Targa Newfoundland has updated the rules for 2025 to enhance safety while keeping the event exciting and challenging for entrants of all levels of skill and experience.
The most significant changes are in the Targa 1 division. Top speed has been increased to 155 kph in Targa 1 and cars entered in this competitive category must now have a minimum of a single hoop rollover protection. Removable roll bars are acceptable. Targa allows this so drivers can return their cars to stock appearance after the rally.
Details about roll bar sizes and design will be announced in a future newsletter and included in the rulebook.
Open and convertible cars like Team Jellybean’s Beaumont have long been required to have a roll bar in every division. New in 2025, all cars entered in Targa 1 will need roll-over protection.
Lessons from Targa Tasmania
“Targa Newfoundland has worked hard to achieve an exemplary safety record and this is still our number priority. Over the past 10 events, we and our competitors have successfully reduced our incident rate to almost zero. In fact there have been only a couple of minor off course excursions in recent years,” says Targa chairman Robert Giannou.
“The Targa executive team made these adjustments after studying the experiences of Targa Tasmania, which has been doing this even longer than us. We want to ensure Targa Newfoundland continues to be competitive, challenging, and exciting while also being as safe as possible for teams in every division.”
Cars competing in Targa 2 must have a full roll cage like the one in Savage Rallysport’s Ford Fiesta.
Rule changes for all divisions
Other changes for all divisions concern recce runs and pace notes. Recce (i.e., reconnaissance) runs won’t be allowed once a leg has started for a given day. Pace notes are not permitted in the rally. Detailed route books are provided prior to the start of Targa.