Team: MaxZen Racing - Targa Newfoundland

Driver: Gordon Maxwell

Co-driver: Justin Gatehouse

Car: 2008 Mitsubishi EVO X GSR

Division: Targa 2

Country: Canada

*Gordon Maxwell and Justin Gatehouse return to Targa this fall for another run at the podium. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier) )*

Local Newfoundland competitors MaxZen Racing emerged as a grassroots motorsports team in 2015, when Gordon Maxwell and Wayne Lorenzen joined forces to challenge Targa Newfoundland.

Since then, Gordon teamed up with Mark Noftall in 2018 to win the Modern Open Targa 2 AWD division in Targa Bambina. In 2023, he and fellow racer Justin Gatehouse won their class in Bambina. They are eager to awaken their mighty 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR, affectionately nicknamed “Leo,” from its slumber since they last ran in the 2023 Targa.

MaxZen Racing – *Justin Gatehouse (left)* and *Gordon Maxwell (right).*

“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 Gordon Maxwell, the “Max” in the team name.

Gordon and Justin, who both compete in autocross events organized by their club Vinland Motorsport Inc. in St. John’s, will share driving and co-driving duties.

*Gordon and Justin channelling their “inner Viking spirits”. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)*

Gordon, originally from Scotland, moved to Newfoundland in 2004 with his career in the oil and gas industry which he still works in after clocking up over 33 years in various roles, currently working as a principal consultant.

Gordon reckons that his love of cars and speed was instilled in him from an early age watching Group B rally and UK motorsport events. A track day at Knockhill in Scotland as a birthday present from his wife Lauren many years ago got him hooked on testing the limits of whatever he was driving.

*Gordon and Justin last raced Targa in 2023. (Photo: Ralph Saulnier)*

Justin is a native Newfoundlander who works in the marine sector of the oil and gas industry as a 2nd engineer. His shared love of speed and pushing his cars to their limits comes from knowing exactly how everything under the hood of the car works. Autoslalom seat time with Vinland Motorsport Inc. over the years and Targa seat time in 2018 and 2023 has served him well to date with numerous autoslalom event wins over the years.

“Justin is an integral part of the MaxZen team with his sharp and precise driving skills combined with his strong mechanical engineering career,” said Gordon. “Our mutual love and respect of the Mitsubishi Evo X platform drives us to explore the capabilities of our 2008 Evo X GSR a.k.a. ‘Leo’ in a safe and controlled environment.”

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