Targa Newfoundland

08/27/2026

Meet the Targa team - Darryl Kendell, Operations Manager.

Darryl got involved with Targa in 2025 when he responded to a Facebook ad about two weeks before the event. It didn't take long for him to get fully immersed. "This year, I'm back as Operations Manager with my fingers in just about every aspect to pull this event off."

Born in Gander and raised in Springdale, Darryl was a pharmacist for nearly 40 years. He owned a pharmacy that specialized in treating addictions. He is now retired and enjoys going to his cabin, riding ATVs and Seadooing. He's still involved with addiction therapy part-time.

Though he's fairly new to Targa, Darryl is no stranger to fast cars. "I have had some great cars over the years, a 2002 911 C4S, 2006 Viper SRT-10, 2010 Camaro SS, 2010 Challenger SRT-8, 2019 Corvette Z06 and a 2012 Miata. I currently drive a Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid, a 2004 BMW Z4 and a Tesla Model S Performance."

Targa Newfoundland returns Sept. 10-18, 2026.

We need a few more volunteers for Targa including the Gander stage. Reach out if you’d like to be part of this legendary event. https://targanfld.com/apply-to-volunteer/

08/27/2026

Zero Delta Racing are really getting into the spirit of Targa.

08/26/2026

Volunteer for Targa 2026 and get close to the action. We need a few more eager people for the rally next month. Apply online: https://targanfld.com/apply-to-volunteer/

08/25/2026

Meet the Targa team - Dr. Liz Sullivan, Chief Medical Officer.

Targa's medical officer, Dr. Liz Sullivan, DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) grew up in a family of race fans in Indianapolis, Indiana, home to the Indianapolis 500. She attended her first Indy 500 at the age of five where she fell in love with the sights, sounds and action and has been hooked on motorsports ever since.

Her regular job is working as an emergency room doctor, but on weekends you'll find her at the race track as part of the medical team in various series.

“I’ve wanted to be a doctor forever, so melding that with motorsports — something I’ve always found to be one of my happy places — is kind of awesome,” said Sullivan.

“I’m an ER doctor but I decided I’m not done with school yet so I’m doing a motorsports medicine fellowship," she said. She was previously part of the IndyCar medical team and currently works in a number of racing series.

"I serve in many capacities within the world of racing: I am currently working with the BMW-WRT IMSA team, NHRA, and locally at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway Park. Additionally, I am the Chief Medical Officer for a rally in Tennessee."

This fall will mark her third time providing medical services at Targa Newfoundland. Through these years she has developed a medical training program for competitors.

"I presented on this at the International Council of Motorsports Sciences in 2024 and since have fine-tuned the training that I am providing the competitors. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with competitors feeling as if they have the capability to respond with confidence."

"I have loved my time at Targa and truly feel as if I have a very large adrenaline-fueled family on the Rock. I am grateful to be continually asked back, and I am excited for year three."

Which one is most challenging for her?

“Rally by far is the craziest medical safety wise,” she said. “It’s just so much fun to be a part of it and see if we can make it better in some way, shape or form.”

Read more about Liz: https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/spirit-of-medicine/At-the-track-with-Liz-Sullivan-IU-Motorsports-Medicine-fellow

Targa Newfoundland, Sept. 10-18, 2026

www.targanfld.com

08/24/2026

Team profile: Montazeri Motorsports

The team of Afshin Montazeri and Paul Brown make a return appearance to Targa Newfoundland. And they’re bringing some American muscle. The pair from Ontario will run a sinister-looking black 2017 Chevy Corvette in Targa 1.

Afshin and Paul are the best of friends and have known each other since they were both 15 years old. They are no strangers to Targa as they’ve rallied together several times from 2004 through 2010 and again in 2013.

In 2008, they rolled their Nissan Pulsar GTIR. This Japanese market rally car was a little worse for wear but Paul and Afshin were fine and they still managed a podium finish. They're aiming for the top spot this year.

https://targanfld.com/team-montazeri-racing/

Targa Newfoundland returns Sept. 10-18, 2026

www.targanfld.com

08/23/2026

Meet the Targa team - Vince Chaulk, Technical Advisor.

Targa’s technical advisor, Vince Chaulk, brings more than 40 years of mechanical experience and expertise to the role. Vince knows how to wrench, and he knows racing. Born in Gander and raised in Ladle Cove, he earned his Red Seal certificate as a mechanic and advanced to professional technician level with hybrid certification.

In his role as technical advisor, Vince is responsible for inspecting things like brakes, tires, belts, roll cages, and safety equipment to ensure the cars racing in Targa Newfoundland are roadworthy and can operate safely for both the racers and spectators.

Targa Newfoundland, Sept. 10-18, 2026

https://targanfld.com/apply-to-volunteer/

www.targanfld.com

08/22/2026

What does Targa mean?

The word “Targa” means “plate” or “crest” in Italian. The original event, the Targa Florio, was run on the island of Sicily. It was special in that the cars did not compete one against the other but competed time against time, starting at intervals. The winners received a Targa plate with the sponsor family’s crest.

In 1990, the concept was re-developed on the Australian island state of Tasmania and became Targa Tasmania. In 1994, Targa New Zealand followed. Those rallies inspired the founders of Targa Newfoundland.

Newfoundland is one of the only locations in the Northern Hemisphere which can offer the roads, challenges, and natural beauty necessary to host this type of event. Targa Newfoundland is one of a kind in North America. Since the first Targa Newfoundland in 2002, it has attracted entrants world-wide from across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, and the Caribbean, among others.

To this day, competitors in each division vie for a Targa plate, which signifies they achieved the prescribed times for each stage. The overall winner in each division receives a trophy and bragging rights.

08/21/2026

Meet the Targa team - Wayne Lorenzen, Sales Manager.

Wayne Lorenzen has done it all when it comes to Targa. He has been a driver, co-driver, crew member, marshal, volunteer, and spectator since Targa first raced through his hometown of Gander more than 20 years ago. He served previously as registrar and now as sales manager.

“Targa went right by home,” says Wayne, who continues to live in the Newfoundland town. “I’ve always been a rally fan. I watched Targa for six years then volunteered for a couple more before I was asked to be a navigator.”

Wayne did a certified course in Ottawa in order to race in Targa as the co-driver for Sideways Motorsports with Brad Melendy in a 1986 IROC Z race car for several years. After Sideways Motorsports, he established a new team called MaxZen Racing with Gordon Maxwell. They raced for several years in various Targa events and raised funds for autism and epilepsy charities.

Growing up in Gander, famous for its airport and role in taking in thousands of stranded travellers grounded there after the 9/11 attacks, it’s only natural that he worked in the aviation industry for 37 years. That included stints with Transport Canada, NAV Canada, and a local flight school.

What has kept him involved with Targa Newfoundland all these years?

“I love Targa. It’s such a unique, dynamic motorsport event. The location on the island of Newfoundland makes it different. It’s not just about the stages and closed roads, it’s the adventure, the scenery, and the people – the whole package. You’re not going to find this situation anywhere else in the world.”

Targa Newfoundland, Sept. 10-18, 2026

www.targanfld.com

08/20/2026

Targa Newfoundland memories - 2015.

Photos: Ralph Saulnier
https://targanfld.com/galleries/

08/19/2026

The Marshall brothers from Florida have made Targa Newfoundland an annual pilgrimage to their ancestral homeland, where their grandfather came from. They’ll be back again this fall challenging for the Targa 1 title in their modified Subaru STI.

Watch their video: https://youtu.be/kTc6OsdSWGM?si=XaFLFzs0cFVYzror

Read their team profile: https://targanfld.com/team-m2-strategies-3/

Targa Newfoundland returns Sept. 10-18, 2026.

www.targanfld.com

https://youtu.be/kTc6OsdSWGM?si=C7TWjgW5PG3W7TOK

Florida brothers Sam and Rick Marshall never expected a family reun...