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.
