Some people must be destined to compete in Targa Newfoundland. As a young boy, Devon Knight of Corner Brook, NL was already fantasizing about fast cars and Targa Newfoundland. He even did a school project on the history of the legendary rally in his home province that we highlighted back in 2013 (see below).
The Targa bug bit him early. From a young age he watched Targa on the Speed Channel and dreamed of competing one day. After moving to the Toronto area, he took driver training, spent many weekends doing track days in southern Ontario and got into autocross, something he helped launch in western Newfoundland when he returned there.
It took 11 years but Devon made his Targa dream come true by entering the shorter Bambina event in the fall of 2024 with his thundering V8-powered 2015 Ford Mustang GT. After ripping through the streets of Gander he was really hooked and determined to come back for the full event.
“It was unreal,” says Devon. “I can’t name one time I’ve ever felt like that in my life. It was the most excited I ever remember being. You’re talking about memories and building friendships with all these people from all over the world and all walks of life.”
Devon says track days and autocross just don’t compare to experiencing the Targa rally on city streets and closed country roads.
“Running on a road course or competing in an autocross you don’t really comprehend what it feels like to be on the street because everything’s right there next to you on these narrow lanes. You’re hitting 100 kilometres an hour and it feels like you’re hitting 200 kilometres on the track. It’s the way everything’s flying by.”
Last fall, Devon and co-driver Logan King-Gaudon returned for the full rally and impressed everyone by wheeling their way to a well-deserved second place in Targa 1 just behind pro racer Randy Pobst and Paul Abbott. Dreams can come true.
About Targa Newfoundland
Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of only three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. Since 2002, Targa Newfoundland, the ultimate tarmac rally in North America, has attracted professional and amateur racers from around the globe to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Held each fall on the ruggedly beautiful island of Newfoundland in eastern Canada, the rally covers 2000 kilometres of challenging, twisty roads through amazing scenery across the island including about 500 kilometres of thrilling stages at speed on closed sections of public roads.
Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.