Targa Newfoundland

SSS Rallysport - Rallying from Kenya and New Zealand to Newfoundland.

Love of rallying and adventure has taken Targa Newfoundland veteran driver Garry Bimler across the globe. This year marks his first return to Race the Rock since 2018.

Bimler, originally from New Zealand and now living in Vancouver, British Columbia, and co-driver Harpal (Pali) Sudle of Kenya will be running a 2002 Subaru STI AWD provided and serviced by Josh Collins Racing in Targa 2 this fall.

Bimler has had some amazing motorsport experiences including rallying in Targa New Zealand and multiple runs in the East African Safari Classic in Kenya, among others.

Pali is the owner of SSS Rallysport. He is a very accomplished co-driver having competed in Kenya for many years mostly in Datsuns (everything from 260Zs to PA10s). Garry has driven for SSS in Kenya for the past three years.

He placed second with co-driver Alan Cullen in Modern Division back in Targa 2018. Garry and Pali have high ambitions for Targa 2026. “We’re looking forward to the event and bringing home a result in this super competitive STI,” he said.

https://targanfld.com/team-sss-rallysport/

It’s not Targa if it’s not a tarmac rally!

Track days, autocross and drag strips are all fun. But they’re not Targa.

Feel like you’ve missed something?

Targa Newfoundland is the only true targa tarmac rally in North America.

Inspired by the historic Targa Florio in Italy and modelled after the awesome Targa Tasmania in Australia, Targa Newfoundland provides thrilling rally action on closed sections of public streets and roads.

It’s like a year’s worth of track days packed into one adrenaline-fuelled week in an unforgettably beautiful location - the island of Newfoundland on the Atlantic coast of Canada.

Targa Newfoundland, est. 2001:

2000 competitors
1000 teams
1000 stages
130 communities
25 years

Experience the real Targa!

Targa Newfoundland returns Sept. 10-17, 2026.

www.targanfld.com

Targa 2026 Stages: https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Leg 6 of Targa Newfoundland 2026 - The last day of competition.

Thursday, Sept. 17
Conception Bay

After a gruelling and exhausting five days on the road, the rally all comes down to these final stages on Leg 6.

On the sixth and last day of the competition, we’ll be rallying in the Conception Bay area towns of Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, and Georgetown. These communities will host some of the most competitive stages of the event with narrow lanes, twists, turns, elevation changes and even a shipwreck. Some of the stages will be repeated multiple times for the ultimate challenge.

The day will begin with multiple runs of the John Curran-Paddy Phillips Memorial Stage in Conception Harbour and Colliers followed by the Mary O’Flaherty Memorial Stage in Marysvale and Turk’s Gut and then on to stages in Georgetown.

Following the last stage, teams will head to downtown St. John’s for the trophy presentation on famous George Street, the entertainment district of the city.

Locations: Conception Harbour, Colliers, Marysvale, Turk’s Gut, Georgetown, St. John’s

Overnight stay: St. John’s

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.

Photos: Larry Strung, Ralph Saulnier

Leg 5 of Targa Newfoundland 2026.

Wednesday, Sept. 16
Leg 5 – Random Island, Trinity Bay

Teams will make their way to Random Island in Trinity Bay. Random Island is a small island off the coast of Newfoundland near Clarenville that is home to several outports. We’ll start in Lady Cove and then move on to the communities of Lower Lance Cove and Petley.

After lunch at Hickman’s Harbour Community Centre, teams will run stages in Hickman’s Harbour and Petley before heading back to Clarenville for the night.

Locations: Random Island – Lady Cove, Hickman’s Harbour, Lower Lance Cove and Petley

Overnight stay: Clarenville

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.

Photos: Larry Strung, Ralph Saulnier

Leg 4 of Targa Newfoundland 2026.

Tuesday, Sept. 15
Leg 4 – Central Newfoundland

The first competition of the day is set for the new North Atlantic Aviation Museum (NAAM) Heritage Run on the ring road that circles Gander International Airport. Following that, teams will drive to the Central Newfoundland town of Glenwood, a short drive from Gander, for multiple runs.

Teams will stop for lunch at Appleton Town Hall. The afternoon will see multiple runs through that town.

From there, teams will transit back to Gander in the afternoon for the final stage of the day – the Come From Away Memorial Stage through the streets of the historic airport town. This is always a team and fan favourite.

Gander, Glenwood and Appleton are all known for their tremendous acts of kindness in taking in 7,000 stranded passengers from flights grounded due to the 911 attacks in New York. The Broadway musical Come From Away, which tells the heart-warming story, is performed throughout the summer months at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in Gander.

Following the last run, teams will transit to Clarenville for the night.

Locations: Glenwood, Appleton, Gander

Overnight stay: Clarenville

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.

Photos: Larry Strung, Ralph Saulnier

Targa is everywhere.

Look what our photographer Larry Strung spotted at RM Auto Restoration’s Cars and Coffee event this weekend in Blenheim, Ontario.

The late Wes Thompson had this orange pumpkin Golf R built by Dan Sprongl to compete in Targa 2019 but unfortunately didn’t get to run. However, it will finally compete this fall with daughter Lydia behind the wheel along with Jaylen O’Gorman.

We’re looking forward to seeing the turbo pumpkin in action.

Leg 3 of Targa Newfoundland 2026.

Monday, Sept. 14
Leg 3 – Bonavista Bay and Eastport Peninsula

This day of competition will start with stages in Port Blandford on the edge of Terra Nova National Park. Teams will then head into the park and on to Eastport Peninsula on Bonavista Bay, which once was the summer home to the Beothuk tribe. This area is called the Road to the Beaches. Known for its rugged shoreline and soft sandy beaches, the area will host stages in the historic fishing communities of Happy Adventure, Eastport and Salvage.

Lunch will be hosted in Salvage at the Salvaje Longhouse, a converted fish plant. After lunch, we’ll run stages in Salvage, Eastport, and Burnside.

The day ends with a meet and greet at the Royal Canadian Legion in Eastport. The overnight stay will be in the town of Gander.

Locations: Port Blandford, Eastport, Happy Adventure, Salvage, Burnside

Overnight stay: Gander

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.

Photos: Larry Strung, Ralph Saulnier

Leg 2 of Targa Newfoundland 2026 - Placentia Bay and Cape Shore.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, teams will head to Mount Carmel for the first stage of the day. They’ll then proceed from North Harbour to Branch followed by a stage in Point Lance.

After lunch at the Point Lance Community Centre, teams will run from Point Lance to Sanctuary then tackle the narrow, challenging road to the Cape St. Mary’s bird sanctuary followed by the long St. Bride’s stage to Point Verde on the Cape Shore, high along the cliffs and down into the river valleys.

At the end of the day, teams will transit to Clarenville for an evening car show and the overnight stay.

Locations: Mount Carmel, North Harbour, Branch, Point Lance, Cape St. Mary’s, St. Bride’s, Point Verde

Overnight stay: Clarenville

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.

Photos: Larry Strung, Ralph Saulnier, Sam Heron

Leg 1 of Targa Newfoundland 2026.

Saturday, Sept. 12

Teams will gather at the Mary Brown’s Centre in downtown St. John’s for the official start and then proceed out of the city travelling along the scenic Atlantic Coast via the Southern Shore Highway. These stages will be held in the communities of Tors Cove, Burnt Cove and Bauline East in an area known as the Irish Loop, so named for its Irish history dating back about 400 years.

Teams will run stages in Burnt Cove and Bauline East in the morning and again after lunch at the Alderwood Estates Retirement Centre. The last stages of the day will be held in Tors Cove.

The day will end with a car show in St. John’s so the public can meet the teams and check out their rally cars.

What: Official Start of Targa Newfoundland

When: 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 12

Where: Mary Brown’s Centre, 50 New Gower Street, St. John’s, NL

Stage Locations: Tors Cove, Burnt Cove, Bauline East

https://targanfld.com/competition-stages/

Note: The stage routes may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond Targa Newfoundland’s control.