ST. JOHN’S, NL – After six long, grueling days, 2000 km of challenging roads, and variable weather conditions, the winners of Targa Newfoundland 2024 were crowned Thursday afternoon. Targa Newfoundland capped off the 2024 edition of the ultimate tarmac rally with its premier stage in the historic town of Brigus.
Teams navigated through narrow winding streets, past stone walls, up and down hills, and across a one-lane bridge while dealing with rain and standing water.
Racing legend Randy Pobst from Atlanta, Georgia and Paul Abbott, his co-driver from St. John’s, claimed a well-earned victory in the competitive Targa 1 division in a vintage 1989 Porsche 911 Targa.
This is the second Targa 1 title for Randy Pobst, who adds it to his impressive collection of over 100 professional race wins in a variety of sports car classes over his illustrious career. This is Paul Abbott’s fourth Targa and second win.
“Paul invited me to drive his vintage Porsche 911 and it was fantastic,” says Pobst. “There is nothing else like Targa Newfoundland. It’s the thrill of the open road at speed. It’s only in a place like this could you have an event like this where they close public roads and we go tearing across the countryside and end up in a fishing village on the coast at speed. It’s a unique thrill and experience that you can’t find anywhere else.”
The Targa 2 title for cars with full roll-cages went to the Prince Edward Island team of Keir Pollard and Lance Campbell. They raced a 2006 MINI Cooper S JCW that once belonged to Targa co-founder Doug Mepham.
“I just want to thank the volunteers and all the organizers for doing a fantastic job and making this a really pleasurable experience for the past week,” says Keir Pollard. “Lance and I have been having the time of our lives.”
Newfoundland and Labrador were well represented on the podium with Rob Thompson and Justin Ronayne of St. John’s taking second place in Targa 1 followed in third by Justin and Erin Crant of Husband + Wife Racing.
Congratulations to the top three in Targa 1:
• Targa Tackles Targa – Randy Pobst and Paul Abbott
• Newfoundland MotorHead Racing – Rob Thompson and Justin Ronayne
• Husband + Wife Racing – Justin and Erin Crant
And the winners of Targa 2:
• Spud Performance – Keir Pollard and Lance Campbell
Drivers and co-drivers from across Canada, the United States, and as far away as Germany competed on 18 teams this year. They include competitors from four states – Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey – and five provinces – British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, PEI, and across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Targa Newfoundland: Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of only three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. Since 2002, Targa Newfoundland, the ultimate tarmac rally in North America, has attracted professional and amateur racers from around the world. This year’s event runs Sept. 12-19, 2024. Competitors will cover over 2000 km (about 1240 miles) across the island of Newfoundland including about two dozen towns and outports. Visit the Targa website targanlfd.com for more information.
