The 2009 Targa Newfoundland Route

New Targa route offers fresh driving challenge, organizer says

ST. JOHN'S (June 11, 2009) - The route for the 8th annual Targa Newfoundland has been set and the September motorsports classic will offer more competitive stages, better competition and a new schedule.
The route for the 2009 Targa features new competitive stages in communities like Petite Forte, Boat Harbour and Harbour Grace, a return to competitor favourites like Brigus and Leading Tickles, and a schedule with just two locations for overnight stops in towns on the route.
"Targa is a constantly evolving event and the route changes to accommodate our partners in the communities, to take advantage of new and different driving challenges, and to keep the event fresh for competitors," explains Targa organizer Robert Giannou. "We've changed the route of the event every year and we expect that will always be the case."
One of the largest changes for 2009 is the addition of a second night in the Burin Peninsula. The rally will now overnight in Marystown for Wednesday, September 16 as well as Thursday, September 17. The move was made due to a change in the route in the lower Bonavista Peninsula that has the teams end the day Wednesday in Marystown rather than Clarenville.
Some stages from previous years were taken out of the 2009 schedule when communities on the route scheduled road repairs, while others were added. There are 42 competitive stages in all. At nearly 12 kilometres, the new Harbour Grace stage promises to be one of the most exciting of the event.
Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 8th annual Targa Newfoundland will start in St. John's on Saturday, September 12, 2009, and end back in the capital Saturday, September 19. The competition will cover more than 2,000 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the North and South Avalon, Burin, Kittiwake and Exploits regions, including up to 400 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa stages. Competitors have come from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Holland, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and the U.K. for the first seven editions of Targa Newfoundland and international interest continues to build with competitors registering daily.
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Contact:
Media: Doug Mepham 613-966-4969
d.mepham@bellnet.ca
www.targanewfoundland.com

Competitors: Alexandra Healey 709-687-1150
alexandra@targanewfoundland.com

Sponsors: Scott Giannou 709-722-2413
scott@targanewfoundland.com