Driver: Sam Marshall
Co-driver: Rick Marshall
Vehicle: 2016 Subaru STI
Division: Targa 1
Country: United States

Florida brothers make it a Targa three-peat

Targa Newfoundland has become an annual pilgrimage for Florida brothers Sam and Rick Marshall. This year will make their third Targa rally in a row. What brings them back year after year?

“The first year we were attracted to racing through beautiful towns and the scenic transits between them. Returning, we are most looking forward to spending time with the Targa family,” says Sam.

Rick echoes his brother’s sentiment. “Honestly, the people bring us back. I think if it weren’t for the people, yeah, you’d be running around in cars and racing would be fun. But the people just put it over the top. What other event is there where you go and meet all these different racers that you become friends with and you become friends with the organizers?”

The Marshalls have family ties to Newfoundland. Their grandfather was born in St. John’s and emigrated to Boston in the early 1900’s. The family still have connections in the Trinity Bay area. But it wasn’t until a few years ago that the brothers and other family members returned to Newfoundland to visit the ancestral homeland. That’s how they heard about Targa.

“It’s a unique event,” says Sam. “The weather’s unique. The people are unique each time you get everybody together. It was good to see folks who were here last year. That’s probably one of the main things that we were looking forward to, seeing the folks that put the event on and some of the ones we had driven with last year. That’s really pretty special for us.”

Back home in sunny Florida, they enjoy competing in autocross as members of Gulfcoast Autocrossers and running fast laps at legendary Sebring. They competed in Targa Newfoundland in the Targa 1 division in 2023 and 2024.

Their modified 2016 Subaru STI has proven to be a fast ride on the roads of The Rock. To make it speedy they added an IAG long block, FP Blue Turbo and front mount intercooler and to make it stop quickly it has EBC Red Stuff brake pads.

“We had as much of a blast as we had last year and we’ll be back again,” says Rick. “Where else can you put together racing through town in a car with your brother in a land that my ancestors were roaming around? You can’t beat that. It’s the best. “