About 30 rally and sports cars roared to life at the Mary Brown’s Centre in downtown St. John’s on Saturday morning before heading to the Southern Shore for the first stages of Targa Newfoundland 2025.

Teams are running in four divisions in this epic week-long, 2000 km rally from eastern to central Newfoundland and back again with the finale in the town of Brigus on Thursday, September 18. There are three competitive divisions – Targa 2, Targa 1, and Grand Touring – and Targa Tour, a non-competitive motoring adventure.

“This is the biggest and best Targa Newfoundland in years,” said Targa owner Robert Giannou. “We’ve attracted rally enthusiasts from across North America and parts of Europe with a large number of returning competitors and exciting new teams. Targa Newfoundland is back!”

The deep field of tough competitors includes a number of past Targa winners gunning for another victory. They include the team of American professional road racer Randy Pobst from Georgia and co-driver Paul Abbott of St. John’s who took the Targa 1 crown last year; John Hume Jr. of Ontario and Justin Crant of Paradise, Newfoundland & Labrador, who won the Targa Modern division twice before; last year’s Targa 2 winner Keir Pollard from Prince Edward Island; 2018 Targa winner Mark Rittenhouse from Ontario; and two-time Grand Touring champs Marinus and Renee Damm from Oregon.

Also in the running are some new teams with serious rally experience. They include the Rally Brothers, Chris and Jeff Mason, who have run the famous La Carrera Panamericana in Mexico several times as well as the Mille Miglia in Italy. Enrico “Rico” Bouchard and Patrick Levesque of Quebec have had success in the Canadian Rally Championship in a vintage BMW. Read team profiles on the Targa website.

Targa 2025 Stages

Visit the Event Stages webpage for information about each day of the event and stage maps. A detailed event schedule is also posted.

Be a smart spectator. Think safety!

• Stand at least 15 metres from the road.
• Never stand on the outside of a turn.
• Choose high ground.
• Never stand behind red tape.
• Always stand, do not sit down to watch
• AND remind others to do the same.

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 hundreds of 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. Now in its 23rd year, Targa Newfoundland will reach an incredible milestone – the 1000th stage – during this fall’s event.

Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.

Downtown St. John’s will wake up to revving engines as rally cars line up for the official start of Targa Newfoundland 2025 at the Mary Brown’s Centre on Saturday, September 13.

About 30 teams from across Canada, the United States and parts of Europe are competing in the epic week-long, 2000 km rally from eastern to central Newfoundland and back again with the finale in the town of Brigus on Thursday, September 18.

Teams will depart from the Mary Brown’s Centre at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 13 then head to the Southern Shore communities of Burnt Cove and Bauline East for the prologue and first stages of the rally. Teams will parade through Bay Bulls after lunch.

“We’d love to see a great turnout of fans to cheer the teams on,” said Targa owner Robert Giannou. “You’ll see rally cars, sports cars, classics, muscle cars, and even luxury cars take on the ultimate tarmac rally this year. This will be our biggest Targa in years. Come downtown and show the teams Newfoundland enthusiasm and hospitality!”  

What: Official Start of Targa Newfoundland 2025

When: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13

Where: Mary Brown’s Centre, 50 New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL; car show at Hickman’s Chevrolet on Kenmount Road, St. John’s starting at 5 p.m.

Who: About 30 rally teams

Targa 2025 Stages

Visit the Event Stages webpage for information about each day of the event and stage maps.

Be a smart spectator. Think safety!

• Stand at least 15 metres from the road.
• Never stand on the outside of a turn.
• Choose high ground.
• Never stand behind red tape.
• Always stand, do not sit down to watch
• AND remind others to do the same.

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 hundreds of 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. Now in its 23rd year, Targa Newfoundland will reach an incredible milestone – the 1000th stage – during this fall’s event.

Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.

With the 23rd running of Targa Newfoundland about to hit the road from September 13-18, safety of the competitors, volunteers, and spectators is the number one priority.

Targa Newfoundland has a safety record second to none and goes to great lengths to keep everyone involved with the rally safe.

“Targa Newfoundland has been running for over 20 years, and we take pride in our enviable safety record, one of the best in our sport,” said Targa owner Robert Giannou. “There have been no major incidents in recent years and we intend to keep it that way.”

Following two days of classroom training and practice runs, teams will line up for the official start of Targa 2025 at the Mary Brown’s Centre in downtown St. John’s on the morning of Saturday, September 13 at 9:30 a.m. About 30 teams are competing in the epic week-long, 2000 km rally from eastern to central Newfoundland and back again with the finale in Brigus on Thursday, September 18.

“We do everything possible to minimize risk,” said Competition Director Joe Dowden. “We provide training for the teams, marshals and volunteers, carefully select and inspect the stages, and keep communities well informed. We want everyone involved to have a safe and fun event.”

Safety for competitors

The specially created Course Familiarization Program prepares drivers and co-drivers before the rally begins. The two-day course includes safety training, a driving skills review, and practice session. The training is provided by event officials as well as law enforcement and medical professionals.

All drivers and co-drivers must wear approved helmets as well as fire resistant suits. Cars in Targa 2, the fastest division, must have a roll cage. Roll bars are required for Targa 1 and Grand Touring as well as all open cars. All vehicles must be equipped with a fire extinguisher(s) and safety triangles. Teams undergo a breathalyzer test each morning of the rally.

Safety for volunteers

Rally volunteers take several weeks of training covering topics that include safety procedures, rally operations, communications, and role responsibilities. All volunteers on course must wear safety vests and teams are in radio contact throughout the event.

Safety for spectators

Targa officials advise communities well in advance of the route. Rally stages are taped off to keep spectators at a safe distance. Marshals are stationed along the course to keep spectators safe and report any issues during the event. Rally officials drive the course prior to the competition to ensure there are no hazards and that spectators are in safe viewing areas.

Be a smart spectator. Think safety!

• Stand at least 15 metres from the road.
• Never stand on the outside of a turn.
• Choose high ground.
• Never stand behind red tape.
• Always stand, do not sit down to watch
• AND remind others to do the same.

Targa 2025 Stages

Visit the Event Stages webpage for information about each day of the event and stage maps. A detailed event schedule is also posted.

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 hundreds of 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. Now in its 23rd year, Targa Newfoundland will reach an incredible milestone – the 1000th stage – during this fall’s event.

Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.

Since the first Targa Newfoundland in 2002, the world famous rally has attracted racers from the around the globe but it has also brought out plenty of local talent. And several have taken home trophies. Once again, Newfoundland & Labrador is well represented among the ranks of drivers and co-drivers taking on this legendary and gruelling tarmac rally.

A couple of past Targa winners from The Rock will be in the co-driver’s seat this fall on teams fighting for the Targa 1 title: Paul Abbott of St. John’s and Justin Crant from Paradise.

As for Abbott, this will be his fifth Targa and second time navigating for pro racer Randy Pobst. He first experienced Targa when it raced past his house in Flatrock. He’s achieved class wins three times before as a driver and co-driver, including last year’s victory in his 1989 Porsche 911 with Randy in Targa 1. This year they’ll race a MINI GP as the Maxi Mini Rally Team. What keeps bringing him back to Targa?

“It’s a unique motorsport experience and apparently addictive,” said Abbott. “Every year leading up to September, I can’t help but think about it and my friends. Targa is my ‘home track’ and I like to showcase what we have to offer here.”

Justin Crant will reunite with John Hume Jr. in Team Hume Media in hopes of repeating past glory. The pair has two previous wins together in the competitive Targa Modern division where they raced a 2004 BMW M3 to victory in 2017 and 2018. This year they are racing in the competitive Targa 1 division in an Audi S4. In addition to sharing the podium multiple times before with John, Justin was the co-driver in the winning entry in Targa Modern in 2012 and drove to victory in GT in 2011. He and his wife Erin finished a close second in Targa 1 in 2023 and 3rd in 2024 in their 2009 BMW 135. Last fall was Justin’s 14th Targa.

“I love Targa,” Justin said. “Every year it’s great. Every year has struggles. Every year has high points, but just getting to the finish with all your fellow competitors is incredible.”

Local competitors, MaxZen Racing, emerged as a grassroots motorsports team in 2015, when Gordon Maxwell and Wayne Lorenzen joined forces. Gordon ran again with co-driver Mark Notftall in 2018 and they claimed triumph in the Modern Open Targa 2 Bambina AWD division. In 2023, Gordon and Justin Gatehouse teamed up for another Bambina class win. They are eager to awaken their mighty 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR, affectionately nicknamed “Leo,” from its slumber.

“MaxZen Racing returns to competing in Targa for one goal, to run the Brigus stage side-by-side, taking turns in the driving seat in the car that we rally prepped from scratch,” said Maxwell.

Devon Knight and Logan King-Gaudon of Knight Motorsports were just buzzing after the Gander town stage in 2024. Right then the pair of enthusiasts from the Corner Brook area knew they had to come back for more. Devon dreamed about doing Targa since watching coverage as a boy. He’s an experienced autocrosser and also has done track days in Ontario but says Targa is on another level.

“It was unreal,” said 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 like that, you’re talking about building friendships with all these people from all over the world, all walks of life.”

It took all of one stage for Cameron Combdon and Andrew Keeping of WSP Motorsports to become hooked on Targa. The pair from the west coast of Newfoundland took part in their first Targa Newfoundland in 2024 in the shorter Bambina event. Before they finished, they’d already decided to return for the full Duemila event in 2025.

“I had no idea what to expect coming into Targa,” said Cameron. “I’d heard the name Targa but I’d never actually seen a stage. Coming out to this was super exciting for us. It still exceeded my expectations. It just made us have to do the full event.”

Targa is something of a homecoming for Stephen Dawe of TADA Motorsports. In early 2002, Stephen drove a shiny new silver Nissan Spec V off a lot in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and later that year left the island just before the very first running of Targa Newfoundland. Now, 23 years later, both car and driver have returned home to “The Rock” from Alberta to live out a racing dream that has been building for more than two decades. He’s joined by his wife and co-driver Talia Bell and co-driver Craig Lundrigan.

“We have consistently heard Targa is nothing short of a magical experience from the passion of the event to the teams, the support, the volunteers, and to every community that participates in this mystical place called Newfoundland,” said Stephen.

Last but not least is one of the original participants in Targa, Edison Wiltshire, aka The Faster Pastor, from Random Island near Clarenville. A fixture at Targa since the rally began in 2002, Rev. Wiltshire returns this year with his grand-daughter and co-driver Olivia Wiltshire-Ryan maintaining a perfect record of participation. Edison and Olivia are the oldest and youngest competitors in the rally respectively.

“I’ve done every Targa since 2002 when Robert Giannou (Targa owner) asked me to be rally chaplain,” says Edison. “I’ve provided countless numbers of encouraging chats with folks, especially when they ran out of talent and need a shoulder to cry on.”

Rev. Wiltshire once performed a wedding during Targa. Midway through the intense competition, Edison took a break to unite a couple in matrimony, with all the competitors joining in the celebration.

Read profiles of these and other teams on the Targa website.

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 hundreds of 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. Now in its 23rd year, Targa Newfoundland will reach an incredible milestone – the 1000th stage – during this fall’s event.

Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.

Be a smart spectator. Think safety!

• Stand at least 15 metres from the road.
• Never stand on the outside of a turn.
• Choose high ground.
• Never stand behind red tape.
• Always stand, do not sit down to watch
• AND remind others to do the same.

Targa Newfoundland 2025 roars into action in just a few days covering close to 2000 km from eastern to central Newfoundland. The ultimate tarmac rally will travel through 30 communities from September 13-18. There are many places where people can catch the action along the way. Some of the best viewing spots are in the town stages such as Bay Bulls, Gander, Glenwood, and the finale in Brigus.

Be a smart spectator. Think safety!

• Stand at least 15 metres from the road.
• Never stand on the outside of a turn.
• Choose high ground.
• Never stand behind red tape.
• Always stand, do not sit down to watch
• AND remind others to do the same.

Targa 2025 Stages

Visit the Event Stages webpage for information about each day of the event and stage maps. A detailed event schedule is also posted.

Saturday, September 13

Official Start, ​Prologue and Leg 1 – St. John’s and Southern Shore

Teams will gather at the Mary Brown’s Centre at 50 New Gower Street in downtown St. John’s for the official start of the rally at 9:30 a.m. and then proceed out of the city travelling along the Atlantic Coast via the Southern Shore Highway. The Prologue will be held in the area of Bay Bulls in the morning with stages in Burnt Cove and Bauline East in the afternoon.

Car Show: After the stages, there will be a meet-and-greet for the public at Hickman Chevrolet on Kenmount Road in St. John’s.

Locations: Bay Bulls, Burnt Cove, Bauline East

Sunday, September 14

Leg 2, Placentia Bay and Gander

Teams will head out on the Trans-Canada Highway to the Placentia Bay area. They will then proceed to the Cape Shore, along the cliffs and down into the river valleys with stages in Point Verde and Sanctuary. In the afternoon, teams will tackle the narrow, winding road to the Cape St. Mary’s bird sanctuary followed by the St. Bride’s stage. From there, teams will transit to Gander for the final stage of the day – the Come From Away Memorial Stage through the streets of the historic airport town.

Car Show: After the stage is completed, there will be a public meet-and-greet at Hickman Chevrolet on Airport Boulevard in Gander.

Locations (click on links for maps): Point Verde, Sanctuary, St. Bride’s, Cape St. Mary’s, Gander

Monday, September 15

Leg 3, Notre Dame Bay

Monday’s first stage is in the former logging community of Glenwood on the Gander River, then proceed to stages in the communities of Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, and Leading Tickles, with a stop at scenic Oceanview Park. In the afternoon, stages take place in Leading Tickles and Glover’s Harbour. 

Locations: Glenwood, Bobby’s Cove, Pleasantview, Point Leamington, Leading Tickles, Glover’s Harbour

Tuesday, September 16

Leg 4, Bonavista Bay – Eastport Peninsula

Tuesday will take teams to Eastport Peninsula on Bonavista Bay. Known for its rugged shoreline and soft sandy beaches, the area will host morning stages in the historic fishing communities of Happy Adventure and Salvage.

A stop at the new Salvaje Longhouse will include a celebration to mark the 1000th stage of Targa Newfoundland and a meet-and-greet. In the afternoon, teams will run stages in Salvage, Eastport, and Burnside. There will be a public meet-and-greet at the Royal Canadian Legion in Eastport before teams head east to Port Blandford for the last stages of the day.

Locations: Eastport, Happy Adventure, Salvage, Burnside, Port Blandford

Wednesday, September 17

Leg 5, Trinity Bay – Random Island

On Wednesday, teams will make their way to Random Island in Trinity Bay. Random Island is home to many lively communities that will host some of our key stages. We’ll start in Robinson Bight and Martin’s Hill and then move on to the fishing and lumbering communities of Lower Lance Cove and Petley. After lunch at Hickman’s Harbour Community Centre, teams will run stages in Hickman’s Harbour and Petley before heading back to Clarenville for the night.

Car Show: The public are invited to an evening meet-and-greet at Hickman Chevrolet on Shoal Harbour Drive in Clarenville to see the cars and meet the teams.

Locations: Random Island – Robinson Bight, Martin’s Hill, Hickman’s Harbour, Lower Lance Cove and Petley

Thursday, September 18

Leg 6, Conception Bay Central

On the last day of competition, the rally will move to the Conception Bay area towns of Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, Georgetown, and Brigus. These towns will host some of the most competitive stages of the event.

Some of the stages will be repeated multiple times for the ultimate challenge. The day will begin with the John Curran Memorial Stages in Conception Harbour and Colliers followed by the Mary O’Flaherty Memorial Stages in Marysvale and Turk’s Gut and then on to stages in Georgetown. The rally will come to a fitting conclusion through the narrow, winding streets of that historic town of Brigus.

After the last stage in Brigus, teams will head to downtown St. John’s for the trophy presentation on famous George Street.

Locations (click on links for maps): Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, Georgetown, Brigus, and St. John’s

Celebrating our 1000th stage!

The 36 stages over the weeklong rally will take teams through 30 communities including the historic outport of Salvage on the Eastport Peninsula where Targa will celebrate the major milestone of its 1000th stage on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

The winners of the competitive divisions likely won’t be decided until the final stage on Thursday, Sept. 18 in the town of Brigus followed by the trophy presentation on famous George Street in St. John’s starting at 6 p.m..

“People come to Targa for different reasons,” said Targa owner Robert Giannou. “For some competitors, this is a bucket list event – a life-long dream, for others it’s the desire to stand on top of the podium at one of the only rallies of its kind, and lastly there are those drawn by the sense of adventure in a spectacular setting.”

Let the adventure begin.

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 hundreds of 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. Now in its 23rd year, Targa Newfoundland will reach an incredible milestone – the 1000th stage – during this fall’s event.

Visit the Targa website targanfld.com for more information.

On the final day of competition, teams will head to beautiful Conception Bay for the most challenging stages of the rally in a spectacular setting. Teams will zip through scenic Conception Harbour, Colliers, Georgetown, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut and Brigus before the winners are decided.

Conception Harbour has a history of fishing, whaling, and ironworking. In the mid-20th century, American construction companies recruited Newfoundland fishermen from this area to work the high steel because they were used to climbing the high rigging on fishing schooners and weren’t afraid of heights. The men were called “Fish” and they helped build the impressive skylines of Boston and New York City including the Twin Towers.

The many shipwrecks in the waters off Conception Harbour attract divers. If you prefer to stay on land, you can view a shipwreck near the shore.

Colliers was considered as a preferred place for the first English settlement in North America in the early 1600s by John Guy, merchant venturer, colonizer, and first governor of the colony in Newfoundland.

In Brigus, you can take a leisurely hike around charming, twisting streets sloping up into green cliffs, before stopping for a slice of homemade blueberry cheesecake. The town is a picture postcard, reminiscent of the quaintness often found in European villages. The rich history of this early English settlement, which was founded in 1612, is celebrated in the architecture and people. There are archaeological sites uncovering the secrets of the past, and a three–day festival that celebrates the humble blueberry.

Visit the Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador site for more info. 

Several first-timers will join the Targa family this fall. Here are some of the new teams that will “Race the Rock” for the first time.

Making their debut in Targa Newfoundland is the team of Wounded Warriors Racing or WWR for short. Driver Sonny Chauhan from British Columbia and team manager Lauralee Mills are military veterans and co-driver Greg Fung, a long-time friend of Sonny’s, is an engineer living in Germany. They are racing a Ford Fiesta in support of veterans and first responders by raising funds for Wounded Warriors Canada.

Another team new to Targa is Scalar Performance. Brian Bourne and co-driver Omar Khan are excited to join the event and take in all that Newfoundland and the rally have to offer. This will be Brian’s first rally of any kind, and he’s extremely happy to have experienced co-driver Omar at his side. While rallying is new to Brian, his passion for speed began with motorcycle racing in the late ’90s. More recently, he became the co-founder and CEO of Scalar Performance, a company that builds and integrates modern high-performance powertrains into unique and compelling vehicles. Omar is a proud “come from away” who once called Newfoundland home and he’s excited to return as part of this unique and historic event.

Doug and Phyllis Bain – Team Bain – from Ontario first explored Newfoundland in 1977, traveling the island in Doug’s 1973 Datsun 510 – a classic rally car of its era. That unforgettable road trip planted the seed for a return, and nearly five decades later, they’re back, this time as participants in the Targa Tour division behind the wheel of a 2020 BMW M2 Competition.

Taking on the challenge of Targa Newfoundland has been a long-time dream of the Quebec-based rally team of Enrico “Rico” Bouchard and Patrick “Pat” Levesque. They’ve rallied together in the Canadian Rally Championship under the name Stream Racing and won in the Vintage class. “Not long after we started rallying together with the vintage BMW (1968 BMW 1600ti) it became our goal to make it to Targa,” says Enrico. “It’s the ultimate race for a vintage car in North America.”

Chris and Jeff Mason, Driving La Carrera, grew up in New Jersey but life took them in opposite directions. Jeff headed west to Colorado and Chris went east to Venice, Italy. Rally racing together has become a way to bridge the distance and stay close with each other. They’ve done numerous rallies including La Carrera Panamericana, the seven-day vintage car rally across México, which they’ve run three times achieving an overall class podium and numerous stage wins. Their car is a 1965 Volvo Amazon 122S appropriately named Mzcalero.

Targa is something of a homecoming for TADA Motorsports. In early 2002, a shiny new silver Nissan Spec V drove off a lot in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. Later that year, it left the island with owner Stephen Dawe just before the very first running of Targa Newfoundland. Now, 23 years later, both car and driver – and a kick-ass co-driving team of Talia Bell and Craig Lundrigan – return home to “The Rock” from Alberta to live out a racing dream that has been building for more than two decades.

Other Targa first-timers include Charles Brooks in a Nissan 240SX; Daniel Bottichio in a Subaru STI; Tom and John Flanagan in a Ford Mustang; Joshua Mousseau and Keith Libolt in a Porsche 944; and Robert and Kathleen Donally in a Honda Fit.

We wish a warm Newfoundland welcome to all the new and returning teams!

Read profiles of these teams and more on the Targa website.

In just about one week, about 30 teams from across North America and parts of Europe will converge on St. John’s for the 2025 edition of the legendary Targa Newfoundland tarmac rally.

After two days of classroom training and practice runs on Thursday and Friday next week, they’ll hit the road for six gruelling days and about 2000 km of driving from eastern to central Newfoundland and back again. They’ll be competing in one of the last events of its kind in the world where competitors get to drive at speed on closed sections of public roads.

“We’re extremely proud of the legacy of Targa Newfoundland,” said owner and co-founder Robert Giannou. “Since 2002, we’ve attracted hundreds of professional and amateur rally enthusiasts from around the world to this beautiful island. We’ve met some amazing people who’ve become lifelong friends.”

Official Start at Mary Brown’s Centre

The official start of the rally is set for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Mary Brown’s Centre in downtown St. John’s where spectators will see the cars line up and hear the engines rev as they depart one-by-one for the first stages along the Irish Loop on the Atlantic coast.

“We’d love to see a great turnout of fans to cheer the teams on,” said Targa owner Robert Giannou. “You’ll see rally cars, sports cars, classics, muscle cars, and even luxury cars take on the ultimate tarmac rally this year. This will be our biggest Targa in years. Come downtown and show the teams our Newfoundland enthusiasm and hospitality!”  

What: Official Start of Targa Newfoundland 2025

When: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 13

Where: Mary Brown’s Centre, 50 New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL

Who: 30 rally teams

Celebrating our 1000th stage!

The 36 stages over the weeklong rally will take teams through 30 communities including the historic outport of Salvage on the Eastport Peninsula where Targa will celebrate the major milestone of its 1000th stage on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

The winners of the competitive divisions likely won’t be decided until the final stage on Thursday, Sept. 18 in the town of Brigus followed by the trophy presentation on famous George Street in St. John’s.

“People come to Targa for different reasons,” said Giannou. “For some competitors, this is a bucket list event – a life-long dream, for others it’s the desire to stand on top of the podium at one of the only rallies of its kind, and lastly there are those drawn by the sense of adventure in a spectacular setting.”

Let the adventure begin.

There will be plenty of familiar faces at Targa this fall including several past winners who are returning in September plus more previous competitors who just can’t get enough of this epic rally.

Professional racing legend Randy “The Rocket” Pobst of Georgia has twice claimed the Targa 1 title with different co-drivers and different cars. Pobst won the Targa 1 division title in 2023 with Craig MacMullen and John Hume Sr. in a 2013 MINI John Cooper Works GP. In 2024, he teamed up with Paul Abbott of St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, also a previous winner, in Paul’s 1989 Porsche 911 Targa to win the division again. This fall, he and co-driver Paul return to race in Hume’s MINI GP as the Mini Maxi Rally Team.

Targa 2018 winner Mark Rittenhouse is back as DBM Racing in Targa 2 in hopes of repeating that success in a well prepared Mitsubishi EVO. In addition to running many years at Targa, Mark raced the Chihuahua Express Rally for five years, finishing first in class in 2017, 2018 and 2019. His team also won the Rally Historico Transpeninsular held in Baja Mexico in 2018.

Veteran ralliers Marinus and Renee Damm are coming back to Newfoundland for the first time in years. The husband and wife team from Oregon, racing as Dammralliers, are no strangers to the top step of podiums at various rallies. They claimed the Grand Touring (GT) division title in 2015 and again in 2016.

This year will also see the reunion of the winning duo of John Hume Jr. and Justin Crant as Team Hume Media in Targa 1. They’ve won the Modern Division twice together in 2017 and 2018. John and Justin will run an Audi S4 this fall. John and his father have been Targa regulars for over a decade. Justin, who lives in Paradise, Newfoundland & Labrador, has done 14 Targas, including several with his wife, Erin, and can’t get enough.

The island of Newfoundland will be well represented by two teams of young and talented enthusiasts from the west coast: WSP and Knight Motorsports. Cameron Combdon and Andrew Keeping of WSP tried their hand at Targa Bambina and loved it so much they decided they had to experience the full event. The same goes for Devon Knight and co-driver Logan King-Gaudon. Devon had been dreaming of Targa since he was a kid. He and Logan were hooked after racing through Gander.

Local Newfoundland competitors, Maxzen Racing, emerged as a grassroots motorsports team in 2015, when Gordon Maxwell and Wayne Lorenzen joined forces. Gordon ran again with co-driver Justin Gatehouse and they claimed triumph in the Modern Open Targa 2 Bambina AWD division in previous events. They are eager to awaken their mighty 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR, affectionately nicknamed “Leo,” from its slumber.

Edison “The Faster Pastor” Wiltshire of Newfoundland has also been with Targa as a competitor and official chaplain since the very beginning 23 years ago. First with his wife Marg-o and now his granddaughter Olivia as co-driver, he’s driven a variety of rides including classic Citroens, a Porsche 911, Saab, and Subaru.

Mark Williams of Maryland, an expert rally co-driver, was the first entrant to register for Targa back in 2002 and he’s raced or volunteered ever since. As well as being the steward for the rally, Mark and his wife Donna will run their fast and elegant Bentley Continental GT in Targa Tour as Team Motoring Event Services.

John Hume has been a fixture at Targa since he started competing in 2009. He won the Grand Touring division three times with co-drivers Craig MacMullen and Christina Kroner and his team also won Targa 1 in 2023. He’s been a loyal sponsor and supporter of the rally for years. This time he’s back behind the wheel of his winged 2021 MINI GP with his granddaughter Katelyn handling navigating duties for Team Hume Media in Targa Tour.

Kurt Penner and wife Luona, Team Jellybean, drove their classic ‘65 Beaumont convertible all the way from British Columbia to run the Targa Tour in 2024. Kurt is coming back with buddy James Murphy in the co-driver seat but this time to compete in Targa 1. And he’s beefed up the suspension to make the old car more competitive.

Targa got into the blood of father and son team of John and Brett Hueston of Aylmer, Ontario too. It wasn’t just their first Targa, it was their first time rallying. As John said, “I spent six months leading up to Targa dreading it, but once it began, I spent six days dreading it would end. This is an incredible event.” Watch Aylmer Express tear up the course in their Subaru BRZ.

The 2024 event was also Keir Pollard’s first Targa Newfoundland but he brought a car that has run the rally so many times it might know the way itself – co-founder Doug Mepham’s rally-prepped MINI. Keir and co-driver Lance Campbell – calling themselves Spud Performance – went home to PEI with the Targa 2 plate. He’s coming back with a new co-driver to defend the title against some stiff competition.

Another returning team is M2 Strategies made up of the Florida brothers of Sam and Rick Marshall. They discovered Targa while exploring their family ties to Newfoundland. Their grandfather was born in Newfoundland and moved to the United States. This will mark their third Targa in a row with their fast Subaru STI. For them, this is as much about the friends they’ve made as the excitement of the rally.

Corey Finkelstein from Wasaga Beach, Ontario entered Targa in 2018 and was instantly hooked. He brought his friend Tom Pokorny along a few years later and they raced in a … rental car (shh, keep that to yourself). Newfoundland has rubbed off on them as this time they are running as the Good Ole B’ys in Targa 1. They aren’t only competitors, they are also volunteers helping to promote the rally throughout the year.

Don Bray from Prince Edward Island got his first taste of Targa Bambina with his brother Frank last fall. He said running the streets of Gander was one of the best driving experiences he’s ever had. Don is bringing his Porsche Cayman S and Nova Scotian friend Jim Pentecost as Rock the Croc, which plays on the names of the place and the car.

Read profiles of these teams and more on the Targa website.

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, teams will make their way to Random Island in Trinity Bay. Beautiful Random Island is approximately 35 km (22 miles) long and is home to many lively communities that will host some of our key stages.

The rally stages will start in Robinson Bight and Martin’s Hill and then move on to the communities of Lower Lance Cove and Petley. After lunch at Hickman’s Harbour Community Centre, teams will run stages in Hickman’s Harbour and Petley before heading back to Clarenville for the night. 

The public are invited to an evening meet-and-greet at Hickman Motors on Shoal Harbour Drive in Clarenville to see the cars and meet the teams.

Random Island was visited often by fishing expeditions starting hundreds of years ago. Random Island’s first permanent settlement, Ryder’s Harbour, was founded in the 1760s. The island’s main industries were fishing, shipbuilding, sawmilling, and slate mining.

By 1900, Hickman’s Harbour, the site of the best deep-water anchorage on the island, had become the centre of the Random Island fishing and shipbuilding industries. You can still see homes with slate roofs on the island. Other methods of employment included sawmilling and slate mining, though the actual quarry was across the sound in Nut Cove.

By 1901, Hickman’s Harbour was the most populous community on Random Island with 309 people. Hickman’s Harbour enjoys a scenic location on Random Island, surrounded by the rugged coastline and the tranquil waters of Trinity Bay. A quaint and charming spot for lunch or afternoon tea is Open on a Nice Day Cafe.

For over 100 years, the island could only be accessed by water but a causeway built in 1954 across Random Bar linked the island with the nearby town of Clarenville, which is the service centre for the region with a wide variety of shops, services, restaurants and accommodations.

The Town of Clarenville is the stopover point for two nights of Targa Newfoundland. Nestled in the beautiful Shoal Harbour River Valley, Clarenville is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. It is located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway about 180 km west of St. John’s and 142 km east of Gander.

Incorporated in 1951, the town has grown into a prominent community and service centre for the region with a population of over 6300 people. Boasting a diverse and vibrant economy, it offers well-established business infrastructure and a wide range of support services catering to the needs of residents of Clarenville and surrounding areas as well as area visitors.

Visit the Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador site for more info.