Kenzie wrote about the idea and Mepham sent the article to Robert Giannou, a businessman and racer who had promoted Formula Atlantic races in St. John’s in the early 1970s and other motorsport events after that. Giannou secured the support of the provincial government and a year-and-a-half later, Targa Newfoundland was born. Targa ran for the first time in 2002 and continues proudly today.

Where did the name come from?

Targa Newfoundland takes its name from an Italian road race that began in the early 1900s, when the Florio family staged a race around the island of Sicily. The prize for winning Targa Florio was the Florio family plaque (“targa” is Italian for plate or plaque – a family crest).

Targa Newfoundland is two events in one: Duemila and Bambina. “Duemila” is Italian for two thousand. Targa Duemila is so named because the six-day competition covers over 2000 km of roads from eastern to central Newfoundland. “Bambina” is the Italian word for a female child or girl. The Bambina event is the shorter two-day competition.

As we enter our third decade, we offer a 2,000-kilometre (or about 1240 mile) course that brings you through scenery we know you will not find elsewhere. While the courses are fantastic, they are often outdone by the sheer spectacular beauty of the scenery which surrounds the competitive stages. From the pristine seaside and the wild, looming, and rugged ocean cliffs to the centuries-old towns and outports to the uplands and into the mountains; the island of Newfoundland is spectacular! And all this breath-taking view is encompassed by clean fresh ocean air scented with the tangy taste of the saltwater ocean that surrounds this wonderous and beautiful island.

Enjoy the scenic, paved roads that we have selected for your Targa Newfoundland adventure the way few have the privilege of experiencing – at speed – by entering and participating in Targa Newfoundland. Our competitors’ only complaint is that their speeds are so fast, and their focus so complete, that they have little time to enjoy the smell of the saltwater or the up-close and personal views as they drive along the shoreline edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

The competitive sections of the stages are held on roads closed to the general public. They comprise approximately 30% of the total course. The balance of the course takes participants from one stage to another in what we call transits.