2010-2014 Rules and Regulations

I have today published the much-anticipated rules for Targa Newfoundland for the years 2010-2014 inclusive. This is the first major rules revision in five years, and like the previous technical rules and regulation, is intended to bring an element of predictability and stability to competitors building new cars or modifying existing cars for the event.

When we set out to prepare the 2010-2014 rules, we set several objectives. They were:

To maintain the systems and spirit of the event
To ensure that our existing corps of competitors were included
To make the event more accessible for first-time and returning competitors
To constrain the growth in speeds experienced in some classes
To manage, to the extent practical, the current environmental impact of the event
To prepare for future demands for enhanced environmental performance

I believe these rules meet our objectives.
Experienced competitors will see these rules as a logical evolution of the previous technical rules. There are neither radical departures in approach nor in technology. Some of the most profound changes - the restrictions on fuel and tires - were circulated nearly a year in advance of these rules. There should be few surprises.
The biggest change is not a revision to the technical regulations. It is a realignment of the classes within the Targa competition. Effective with the 2010 event, there will be two Christos Awards for the two largest Divisions - Classic and Modern. There will be no overall winner. It has become increasingly difficult to devise factors that bring the myriad classes into some kind of equivalency resulting in an overall winner. As technology races ahead within the Modern Division, with features like active centre diffs, torque vectoring and sophisticated engine management for turbo ad non turbo engined cars, finding a way to give all entries a level playing field is almost impossible.
In concert with this change, Hybrid Division has been brought into Modern as a class. Targa Open Division will continue to exist as a platform for our most innovative entrants, but will have its own award and will not compete directly against either Classic or Modern.
There are also important changes to the sub-categories within both Classic and Modern, with the expansion to three the levels of permitted modification. The new regulations describe the requirements for Level 1 preparation (essentially stock with safety and minimal suspension modification), Level 2 preparation (improvements to suspension and drive train) and Level 3 (extensive modifications to suspension and drive train). Factors will be developed for each class and level of preparation.
A review of the class structure and the factors assigned to individual classes is also being conducted in parallel with the creation of the new rules. These revisions, which will be published shortly, will draw on our eight years of experience, reflect input from competitors and include lessons from other established Targa events. Viewed together, the evolved rules and the revised class alignment are an important step in maintaining a balance of the many interests and constituencies in the event: time-honoured technology and exciting new technology, Classic cars and Modern cars, today's competitors and tomorrow's competitors.
While a number of skilled and dedicated individuals have contributed to the creation of these rules, the responsibility for them begins and ends with the organizer. The Technical Committee, trusted outside resources, competitors with special expertise and other events all contributed heavily to these rules. If you view them favourably, credit them. If you disagree, blame me.
There will always be oversights, loose ends and items that didn't make it into the final draft. These will be dealt with in competitor bulletins. Please watch for them.
In conclusion, I believe these rules will help enhance competition and the experience of competing at Targa Newfoundland. Thanks for your support and we hope we will see you at the 2010 Targa Newfoundland.

Robert Giannou
Please send all comments, questions and concerns to rgiannou@targanewfoundland.com

To view the 2010-2014 Rules and Regulations in detail click on the following link 2010-2014 Rules