Team: DBM Racing

Driver: Mark Rittenhouse 

Co-driver: Mark Laitenberger 

Car: 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X

Division: Targa 2

Country: Canada

Mark Rittenhouse has earned a win and several podiums at Targa Newfoundland and looks to add another with co-driver Mark Laitenberger. (Photo: Mark Rittenhouse)

Past Targa champion hunts for another win

Seven years ago, the team of driver Mark Rittenhouse and navigator Corey Prosser took the plate for first overall at Targa 2018. This year, Mark is back in hopes of repeating that success. There is another Mark in the co-driver seat – Mark Laitenberger – and they’re racing under the name DBM Racing*. Combined, the two Marks bring 17 years of racing at Targa Newfoundland and several podium finishes.

Getting light crossing the single lane bridge in Brigus. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)

They’ve raced the Chihuahua Express Rally together for five years, finishing first in class in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The team also won the Rally Historico Transpeninsular held in Baja Mexico in 2018.

Their rally car is a mighty 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X sponsored by FourStar Motorsports and Eagen Motorsports. Car mods include X-Shift sequential gearbox, Motec ECU, Proflex Suspension, and Owen Development Custom Turbo.

FourStar prepared the car for rallying while company principal and rally legend Dan Sprongl served as service crew at the 2018 Targa. Dan even won an award for great service crew for helping other competitors that year.

After a few years off, Mark and Mark look forward to coming back to “Race the Rock.”

Mark and Mark, we’re looking forward to seeing you again at Targa Newfoundland too.

Rittenhouse and Prosser were flying in 2018. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)
Racing along the shore in 2018. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)
Rittenhouse and Prosser celebrating their win in Targa 2018 on George Street, St. John’s.
(Photo: Ralph Saulnier)
Mark Rittenhouse (aka “Rittenoff”) placed third in the 2015 Targa.

* Notice the cheeky decal on the hood of the 2015 rally car in the photo above? The nickname “M. Rittenoff” came from a rival team as a joke. That might be a hint to the dark humour behind the name of the team this year, DBM Racing, which is short form for “Death Bed Memories”. Rittenhouse says “that’s what car racing is.”