For the first time ever, Targa Newfoundland will be streamed live and free on YouTube. Dejero Smart Blending Technology brings North America’s only tarmac rally to a global audience for the event’s landmark 25th anniversary.

WATERLOO, ONTARIO – May 5, 2026 – Dejero, the global leader in intelligent connectivity for broadcasters, public safety agencies, and mission-critical operations, today announced a partnership with Targa Newfoundland as the event’s official critical connectivity partner for 2026. Together, they will do what no one has done in the rally’s history: stream it live and free to a global audience.

“We are delighted to be partnering with a company that can literally help solve the age-old communications problems in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Robert Giannou, Founder of Targa Newfoundland. “We look forward to working with Dejero to bring their concept into reality for our province.”

The Rally the World Couldn’t Watch

Every September, dozens of drivers speed across the island of Newfoundland, through outport towns, past cliffs that drop straight into the North Atlantic. Since 2002, Targa Newfoundland has attracted competitors from across the globe to drive 2,000 km, including 500 km of competitive stages on some of the country’s most breathtaking and most isolated roads.

The event has built a passionate following, earned national media coverage, and seen its community grow with each passing year. But there has always been one limitation. Once the cars left the start line, the live story disappeared with them. No reliable signal. No way for the world to follow the race as it happened. In 2026, that changes.

Newfoundland is one of Canada’s most connectivity-challenged provinces. Targa 2026 won’t solve that problem but it will show what becomes possible when the right infrastructure arrives.

“We chose Targa Newfoundland because it’s the hardest possible test. Two thousand kilometres of remote terrain, six days of rallying, zero tolerance for failure,” said Kevin Fernandes, Chief Revenue Officer at Dejero. “This is exactly what we’re built for. That’s not a marketing claim. It’s a proof point.”

The Fans Who’ve Been Waiting

For competitors like Sam and Rick Marshall, two brothers from South Florida who have raced Targa for the past three years, the livestream means something personal. Their grandfather was born in St. John’s in 1900, orphaned at nine, and left for Boston at nineteen. Decades later, his grandsons traced the family roots back to Ireland’s Eye and Trinity and found their way home through Targa.

“The racing is an 11 out of 10. The people are better,” says Sam Marshall, competitor, Targa Newfoundland.

This September, for the first time, people like the Marshalls, scattered across the Newfoundland diaspora, will be able to watch the race live as it happens, from the roads that have always called them back.

Powered by Dejero Smart Blending Technology™, Targa will benefit from the same critical connectivity that keeps news crews live from disaster zones and first responders communicating in the field. Smart Blending Technology intelligently blends all available network connections, including LEO satellite, simultaneously in real time. The result is a single, resilient and reliable network connection delivering seamless performance in even the most challenging terrain.

A 25th Anniversary of Firsts

Targa 2026 arrives with a full set of historic firsts, including a concurrent showcase to the global broadcast technology community at IBC 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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About Dejero

Driven by its vision of reliable connectivity anywhere, Dejero delivers real-time video and networking solutions that provide resilient, uninterrupted internet connectivity for critical communications. Powered by intelligent network aggregation technology, Dejero combines diverse telecommunication networks including 4G/5G cellular, GEO/MEO/LEO satellite, and fixed broadband, to create a software-defined ‘network of networks’ managed in the cloud. The result is enhanced reliability, expanded coverage, and greater bandwidth for its global customers. Founded in 2008, privately-held Dejero is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Learn more at www.dejero.com.

Media Contact:                                                

Ivy Cuervo, Director, Global Brand & Marketing                                              

Tel: +1 519 772 4824, x1413 | media@dejero.com                

About Targa Newfoundland

Targa Newfoundland, which first ran in 2002, is the only tarmac rally of its kind in North America. Held each fall on the ruggedly beautiful island of Newfoundland in eastern Canada, the rally covers 2000 kilometres of challenging, twisty roads through spectacular scenery including about 500 kilometres of thrilling stages at speed on closed sections of public roads and town streets. This year’s rally runs from Sept. 10-18, 2026, including two days of training and six days of competitive stages.

The Indiana team of Jack Rogers and C.J. Strupp along with C.J.’s husband and crew chief Steve Strupp were virtually unbeatable in a 1965 Ford Mustang, winning the Classic Division three times in 2014, 2017 and again in 2018.

It wasn’t always a smooth run though. Their rally was cut short in 2013 due to engine failure halfway through. A rollover couldn’t stop them from finishing in 2015, rolling across the finish line in their bruised and battered Mustang.

As Targa owner Robert Giannou recounted to Spotlight on Business Magazine, the pair were unstoppable even when faced with great adversity:
“We’ve had a lot of very interesting competitors show up here over the years. We had a team out of Indiana: Jack Rogers and a lady by the name of C.J. Strupp. C.J. and Jack would come here every year in an old Mustang and enjoy it thoroughly.”

“C.J. was diagnosed with cancer and she showed up at Targa (in 2014) with no hair. She still did the run. Her only complaint was that because she had no hair, there was no traction on the helmet. The next year, she came back with a full head of hair and a clear bill of health. They did really well, too. They did so well, in fact, that they were in second place in the last stage. They then barrel-rolled the car, landed safely, and drove over the finish line to great applause.

Targa is about people who want to persevere with life; people who recognize that life is very special that it has its dangers and that you might as well live it for all you’re worth. That’s what it’s about.”

C.J. and Steve have also seen success in the Chihuahua Express and La Carrera Panamericana in their Mustang. The pair own ECTA Motorsports LLC (formerly East Coast Timing Association), the principal sanctioning organization for Land Speed Racing in the Central United States with a strip in Blytheville, Arkansas. When not racing or building race cars for others, the Strupps stay busy running the same farm Steve grew up on in Southern Indiana.

Driver Jack Rogers is a successful realtor in Evansville, Indiana and a “gentleman racer”. In addition to Targa, he’s competed at La Carrera Panamericana and at Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rogers’ racing team holds multiple land speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He piloted his “757” Camaro to its first world land speed record of 225.366 mph.

Rogers’ career first began with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio, and he later took a job with Boeing in Seattle. In 1968, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent a year in Vietnam after basic training at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. Rogers was injured in combat and received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

When asked about the danger, he replied: “I have been through Vietnam. After that, nothing is terrifying.”

Photos: Ralph Saulnier

Sources:

Racing Ahead – Evansville Living Magazine

Meet Steve & CJ – ECTA Motorsports

Real roads. Real cars. Real adventure.

The adventure returns for the 25th anniversary on Sept. 10, 2026.

Roy Hopkins and Adrienne Hughes from Spencerport, New York were a force to be reckoned with in the early years of Targa. The husband and wife team won the Modern division in 2004 in a BMW M3 and then claimed the Classic division and Overall title three years in a row in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in Woodstock, a classic 1969 BMW 2002.

Adrienne captured what it was like to win in the wet in 2009 in this excerpt from her article in GVC’s der BAYERISCHE brief, their BMW club publication:

“Woodstock has no de-frost, no heat, and the windows are Lexan held in by magnets. They are not weather proof. Gaps abound. My feet are soaking wet and the dampness is creeping up to my ankles. It is absolutely pouring now. Water is coming in everywhere, with the small puddles turning into ponds. Woodstock is slipping and sliding all over the road …

A quick transit to Brigus, a quaint little town with lots of picket fences lining the road — daring you not to hit them — and another wooden deck bridge. The bridge is no problem, since we are in the air most of the way across … We tiptoe through the wet corners, and get every bit of acceleration Woodstock can manage on the straights … Only in the last half kilometer does the rally computer show we are ahead of the required time. Suddenly it’s over and we’re done. Soggy, wet, exhausted, drained, cold and wet winners!”*

From the Winter 2011 edition of the GVC magazine: Roy got involved in the local BMW club in 1983, after purchasing his high school chemistry teacher’s BMW 2002. Over the years he competed in autocross, winter rallies, One Lap of America, Targa Newfoundland, BMW Club Racing, hill climbs and ice racing. He was competitive in all of these venues, and is truly that driver who can jump into any vehicle and drive it to its limit.

“He has run at over 60 different race tracks around the United States. His One Lap experience consists of 17 runs, with eight class wins — placing as high as 4th overall. This occurred while driving a BMW 318i with a Euro motor, accompanied by co-drivers Nancy Becker and Danielle Salley.

“His Targa Newfoundland experience includes seven runs with three overall wins. Roy maintains a stable in Spencerport where you might find him working on anything from a Fire Arrow to Woodstock (his ’69 BMW 2002 Targa winner). He has owned a range of vehicles including a Bavaria, 635, 323i, countless 2002s, and 320is, 528s, 535s, Arrows, Horizons, Darts, Ambassadors, Neons, 325i’s, E30 M3’s, VW Rabbits, a Corvette-powered Tahoe, and Dodge trucks.”

“When the mild-mannered and softspoken Roy is not driving or turning a wrench, he may be found at his paying job, which is either IMR Test Labs in Ithaca or consulting at Arnprior Aerospace (formerly Kodak Labs ) where he is a ‘metallurgist.’ There he performs failure analysis and materials engineering for a wide variety of components — to make them not break and work better! Roy resides in Spencerport with a patient woman who shares many of his automotive interests.”

Adrienne was involved in autocross and rallying with the SCCA for decades. She and Roy competed in the One Lap of America event multiple times. With their club, the Genesee Valley Chapter BMW Car Club of America, she served as a driving instructor, driving committee member, rallymeister and president. Outside of the automotive arena, Adrienne studied the culinary arts in Paris, France and at Johnson & Wales University. She is a connoisseur of single malt scotch whiskey and has been known to travel to Scotland in pursuit of shares of a barrel of a fine brand.**

Photos from The Car Guide, Andrew Harvey, James Lewis and Gordon Sleigh/ GVC der BAYERISCHE brief.

Sources:

* Excerpt from GVC’s der BAYERISCHE brief, Summer 2010

**Excerpt from GVC’s der BAYERISCHE brief, Winter 2011

GVC_2009_12.pdf

Real roads. Real cars. Real adventure.

The adventure returns for the 25th anniversary on Sept. 10, 2026.

(April 1, 2026, St. John’s, NL) … Competitors will have additional technology in their vehicles for the 2026 rally – an historic development not only for the event, but car rallying as a whole.

For the first time in motorsports history, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be employed to assist competitors in some of the more mundane aspects of car rallying such as navigating and steering. Partnering with international AI firm ChatAFD, the newly developed software and the required hardware will be provided to competitors as part of their event registration.

Targa owner and co-founder Robert Giannou is eager to see how the new technology will impact the competition. “With AI becoming ubiquitous in daily life, including it as part of Targa just made sense,” explained Giannou. “We’re confident that it will improve our safety record but also improve the experience of competitors.”

ChatAFD will action requests such as “Hey car, go faster,” and “Which one is left again?” in real time with near 100% accuracy. Drivers will still be expected to stay alert in case the AI fails.

Veteran competitors and Targa organizers, Corey Finkelstein and Tom Pokorny of Ontario, have been evaluating the technology over the winter. “It’s been working great so far,” reported Pokorny. “Honestly, I don’t use the route book or navigate for Corey anyway, so AI removes a lot of the pressure. Why use my own intelligence when there’s an artificial option?”

First competing at Targa Newfoundland during the 2018 event, Finkelstein echoes Pokorny’s enthusiasm for the new technology. “We estimate approximately 99% accuracy. On a good day, Tom tops out at 50%. AI’s personality is an upgrade as well.”

Despite the initial positivity, ChatAFD has not been infallible. During a local test, a driver asked their vehicle to “turn left in 10 metres onto Duckworth Street.” The AI instead set an alarm for 10:00 p.m. and returned a recipe for duck à l’orange.

“We’re confident that the technology will be ready for September,” said Giannou. “Worst case scenario, we’ll eat well.”

About Targa Newfoundland

Targa Newfoundland, which first ran in 2002, is the only tarmac rally of its kind in North America. Held each fall on the ruggedly beautiful island of Newfoundland in eastern Canada, the rally covers 2000 kilometres of challenging, twisty roads through spectacular scenery including about 500 kilometres of thrilling stages at speed on closed sections of public roads and town streets. Targa Newfoundland celebrated its 1000th stage in 2025.

This year’s rally is scheduled from Sept. 10-17, 2026, including two days of training and six days of competitive stages.

*Use at your own risk. April Fools.

The idea for Targa Newfoundland was born on a ferry off the coast of Australia 25 years ago in 2001.

The inspiration for the rally came to public relations executive Doug Mepham and automotive journalist Jim Kenzie from their experience at Targa Tasmania. After pitching the idea to Newfoundland racer, promoter and businessman Robert Giannou, the hard work to make it happen began.

Newfoundland International Motorsports Ltd. was incorporated in December 2001 when Premier Roger Grimes approved the concept. The first rally hit the streets and roads of Newfoundland the following year in September 2002.

Now 25 years later, Targa Newfoundland is one of only a few motorsports events of its kind in the world. Competitors get to run their cars at speed and test their skills on closed public roads through the countryside and the streets of dozens of communities in eastern and central Newfoundland. Last fall, the legendary rally celebrated its 1000th stage in the outport of Salvage.

“This represents a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a remarkable achievement,” says Giannou. “I’m not sure a thousand stages have been achieved anywhere else in Canada or North America and with the best safety record.”

Since 2002, Targa has attracted some big names in rallying and racing from around the world, such as Steve Millen, Andrew Comrie-Picard, the Sprongl brothers, and Randy Pobst, as well as celebrities from the entertainment world, and enthusiasts of all stripes who want to test themselves and compete against other teams for Targa bragging rights.

Giannou says it gives him an immense amount of pride looking back over the last quarter century. “It’s the excitement and joy the rally brings to competitors, volunteers and Newfoundland communities, and a fantastic milestone in an area not known for motorsport.”

What’s next for Targa? “We continue to get bigger and better every year since the rally restarted after the pandemic. Last year was our biggest rally in years. This year, we’re planning some new stages in new communities. We have a number of returning teams and new ones already lined up. It’s going to be another great event.”

You can read Kenzie’s story on the early days of Targa here:

Targa Newfoundland – How it all began

And watch this video from the first Targa…

Real roads. Real cars. Real adventure.

The adventure returns for the 25th anniversary on Sept. 10, 2026.