Targa Rally 2009 - Flickr - 111 Emergency (10)

The Targa New Zealand is a tarmac

rally Rally or rallye may refer to: Gatherings * Demonstration (political), a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade * Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting event Sport ...

held annually on public roads typically throughout the North Island of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. The main Targa each year begins in the last week of October and is a week-long event which covers around 1500 km of touring and 750 km of closed special stages. Smaller one- or two-day events are usually run during the year and have been variously titled Targa Bambina, Targa Dash, Targa Rotorua, Targa Tauranga and Targa Hawkes Bay. In 2014 Targa New Zealand for the first time was held in the South Island of New Zealand. Starting in Christchurch and finishing in Cromwell (Near Queenstown) the rally included every South Island race track including New Zealand's latest - Highlands Motorsport Park. Noticeable stages included Queenstown's Crown Range which is understood to be one of New Zealand's highest altitude public roads. Originally intended as an event for owners of classic performance cars to display and race their vehicles, it has evolved into a serious competition event with modern purpose built race cars usually taking top honours. The race started in 1995 and continually growing in popularity with over 200 cars entering the 2005 Dunlop sponsored Targa rally. Racing is divided into classes to give everyone a chance of honours of some sort. These classes are based around age and engine size of the vehicles. Younger drivers are encouraged to compete in a controlled manner in a safe environment. Crashes happen but it is a very low percentage. Race cars need to have roll cages and safety gear except the Targa tour for first-time competitors. They drive under the guidance of the tour leader. Local groups providing hospitality areas, fundraising activities such as car washes, barbecues and 4000 lunches. Classes for Early Targa Events *Historic *Pre-classic *Classic *Post classic *Metalman super classics *Metalman all-comers *Early modern *Honda riders contemporary *Super GT Classes for Current Targa Events Classic 2WD *Category 1 0 – 2000cc Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited *Category 2 2001 – 3400cc Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited *Category 3 3401cc and over Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited Production (GT2) 2WD *Category 4 0 – 2000cc Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited *Category 5 2001 – 3400cc Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited *Category 6 3401cc and over Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited Production (GT4) 4WD *Category 8 Pre 2000 1st year of production prior to 1 January 2000. Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited *Category 9 Post 2000 1st year of production after to 1 January 2000. Aftermarket sequential gearboxes are prohibited Allcomers (Extreme) 2WD and 4WD *Category 7 Open 2WD All 2 wheel drive vehicles not eligible for Categories 1–6. *Category 10 Open 4WD All 4 wheel drive vehicles not eligible for Categories 8-9.

Past winners

Multiple Winners

Driver

Co-Driver

Manufacturer

Well known Targa entrants

* Jim Richards * Tony Quinn *

Chris Amon Christopher Arthur Amon (20 July 1943 – 3 August 2016) was a New Zealand motor racing driver. He was active in Formula One racing in the 1960s and 1970s, and is widely regarded as one of the best F1 drivers never to win a championship Grand ...

Murray Walker Graeme Murray Walker (10 October 1923 – 13 March 2021) was an English motorsport commentator and journalist. He provided television commentary of live Formula One coverage for the BBC between 1976 and 1996, and for ITV between 1997 and 20 ...

Peter Brock Peter Geoffrey Brock (26 February 1945 – 8 September 2006), known as "Peter Perfect", "The King of the Mountain", or simply "Brocky", was an Australian motor racing driver. Brock was most often associated with Holden for almost 40 years, a ...

* Grant Dalton *

Steve Millen Steve Millen (born 17 February 1953) is a retired New Zealand IMSA race car driver. In the 1970s and 1980s, Millen raced in hillclimbing and Formula Ford before doing stadium off-road racing in the United States in the Mickey Thompson Enterta ...

References

External links

{{Targa Rallies Rally competitions in New Zealand Recurring events established in 1995