Targa Newfoundland 2024 was kind of boring for Ryan Burrill and Elizabeth (Liz) Sullivan but in a good way. The two doctors enjoyed their time at their first Targa, making sure everyone was safe, watching the cars flash by, and driving from stage to stage of the rally. But they were quite happy their medical services were not needed.
Targa Newfoundland has a safety record second-to-none in the world of rally racing, but organizers never leave that to chance. Once again, there were no injuries in the 2024 event though the two doctors were on hand throughout the rally just in case something happened. Both are experienced at providing medical care at the highest levels of motorsports, so Targa competitors were in excellent hands.
A lifelong racing fan, Ryan is an ER doctor in Liverpool, Nova Scotia who now also provides medical services at Formula One, IndyCar and Canadian Superbike motorcycle races. “I wanted to incorporate my love of racing into my job.”
When he’s not practicing medicine, you’ll find the racing doctor behind the wheel of his own race-prepped Miata at a track or driving his Subaru WRX rally car on dirt roads at speeds that blur the trees.
What attracted him to Targa?
“I grew up watching Targa on videos so it was something I wanted to do, and it is as insane as I thought it would be. On the logistical side of things, I’m not sure how they continue to pull this off year after year,” said Ryan.
“I thought we should be here so I reached out to Rob (Giannou, Targa founder and chairman) to come and then we were able to get Liz on after chatting with her program director in IndyCar in Toronto.”
Liz is an emergency room doctor in Indianapolis, Indiana, home to one of the most famous races in the world, the Indy 500. In addition to working on the medical team of the IndyCar Series, travelling to races across North America, she works with several other series.
“I’m an ER doctor and then I decided I’m not done with school yet so I’m doing a motorsports medicine fellowship. With that, I work on the medical team with the IndyCar Series and I get to play with lots of other racing series, which is how I ended up here. I work with lots of others – WRC USA Rally, NHRA and NASCAR and soon IMSA and USAC as well – a whole bunch of different kinds of racing.”
Which one is most challenging?
“Rally by far is the craziest medical safety wise,” she said. “It’s just so much fun to be a part of it and see if we can make it better in some way, shape or form.”
Did they mind not having much to do during Targa Newfoundland?
“We like to be pleasantly bored watching cars go fast,” said Dr. Sullivan with a broad smile.
“We’re just trying to make things as safe as possible,” added Dr. Burrill.
Both of the racing doctors plan to come back to Targa. We might even see Ryan as a competitor someday.
Targa Newfoundland 2025 is set for September 11-18, 2025.
Registration is now open.