Large International Field Taking Shape For 16th Annual Targa Newfoundland

ST. JOHN’S (July 18, 2017) – The 16th annual Targa Newfoundland tarmac rally is a little over seven weeks away, and there is a considerable international contingent registered for this year’s event.

With the recent success of the first annual Tom Hollett Memorial Targa Bambina tarmac rally held earlier this month, which had a large number of local competitors, and held only on the lower Burin Peninsula of the island, focus has now shifted to the main Targa event.

The Targa will run in areas of the Avalon, Bonavista and Burin Peninsulas of the island, and cover over 1,500 kilometres in five days of actual competition. The international motorsports community is becoming excited and the number of competitors from all over the world attending the Targa is proof of that.

Competitors from Canada include those from Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta; Americans from California, Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Internationally, competitors are from the Turks & Caicos Islands of the Caribbean, with European entries from Switzerland, Monaco, and the United Kingdom. Targa has never had competitors from either Switzerland or Monaco, so the overall list of countries which have taken part in Targa during its history is closing in on 15.

“The increase in the international competitors for this year’s event is quite exciting,” stated Targa President Robert Giannou. “Pulling competitors from rally hungry counties such as Switzerland and Monaco is quite a step forward for Targa Newfoundland. We have our unique motorsports adventure here that is not available in those countries, and I’m glad these competitors have decided to make the trip over for it.”

Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 2017 competition will start in St. John’s on September 10th and concludes back in the capital on September 15th. The annual rally will cover more than 1,500 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of Newfoundland, including over 430 kilometers of closed-road, flat-out Targa stages.