Driver: Satish Gopalkrishnan
Co-driver: Savera D’Souza
Vehicle: 2018 VW Golf R
Country: USA

Rally champions seek repeat victory at Targa Newfoundland!

Veteran rally champions Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza won the Grand Touring (GT) title at last year’s Targa Newfoundland, and they are hungry for another win. Satish and Savera opted to try their hand at Targa 1 instead in 2024 bringing a speedy VW Golf R to tame the twisty roads of Newfoundland.

The husband-and-wife team, who are from India but now call New Jersey home, are seasoned competitors with numerous victories in time-speed-distance (TSD) rallying where precision takes precedence over speed. They were Indian National TSD Rally Champions in 2012 and have clinched multiple national championships in the SCCA RoadRally series since moving to the U.S. Twice they’ve won the gruelling Alcan 5000 Rally from Seattle to Anchorage, in 2022 and again in 2024.

“We have done a lot of TSD rallies, but Targa Newfoundland is one of a kind,” says Satish. “Speeds are high over dozens of closed stages; each stage presenting unique challenges of terrain and altitude, winding over the hills and running through the labyrinthine Brigus. The organizers and community come together to put up a very special event with exacting safety measures and outstanding hospitality. Savera and I had a lot of fun doing the event last year.”

Savera is widely respected for her navigation skills. “I really enjoyed navigating at Targa Newfoundland last year. But I loved Newfoundland’s breathtaking landscapes, lovely people and the great food more, and can’t wait to come back!”