Targa Newfoundland Competition Heating Up

[Ezzie]

Think I'll have a chance in my little Datto against these monsters?? Maybe I need to hurry the GT-R project along.

Chrysler launches two car assault on new Targa division


AUBURN HILLS, Michigan - DaimlerChrysler Corporation will launch an all-out assault on Targa Newfoundland 2005 with a spectacular two-car entry in the new Unlimited Division, the company has announced.

The two cars - a 2006 Chrysler 300 C SRT8 and 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 - will be prepared by the Chrysler Group's in-house performance specialists, and fielded by a pair of Chrysler executives with motorsports backgrounds.

The company is determined to be the first manufacturer to earn a coveted Division win in Targa Newfoundland in its four year history.

The two-car effort is characterized by a number of 'firsts', including the Targa debut of the Chrysler Group's star designer in the role of competition driver. American-born, Montreal-raised Ralph Gilles will pilot the Charger in its first competition in Canada, and likely in one of its first competition outings anywhere (the car will only go on sale for the first time this summer).

The Chrysler 300 C SRT8 will be driven by American Dan Knott, director of the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Group within the company. SRT will prepare the cars. Details on the co-drivers for the new cars have not been released.

"This is the perfect Targa entry and the best way for a company like DaimlerChrysler to take its performance story to the world," says Targa organizer Robert Giannou. "The setting is ideal - real world conditions and real motorsport competition. And the new Unlimited Division is the perfect home for the kind of innovation you would expect from this company. It just doesn't get any better!"

The bold designs of both the 300 and the Charger are Gilles' work. But it won't be design that wins North America's longest and toughest rally. It will take preparation, endurance and driving skill to see both entries through the week-long competition.

Power certainly won't be a problem. Both cars start with 6.1-litre Hemi V-8 engines that produce 425 hp at 6000 rpm and 420 lb/ft of torque at 4800 rpm before the SRT Group goes to work. The standard Charger SRT8 registers 0-60 mph times "in the low 5-second" range and has a top speed of 165 mph (265 km/h). The Charger SRT8 is factory equipped with Brembo brakes, aerodynamic aids and suspension enhancements.

But the Charger also has a reputation to live up to. The original Dodge Charger was a revered two-door muscle car from the '60s and '70s, and the reincarnated version is a four-door sedan. Gilles is not concerned. "The new Charger would run circles around most of the muscle cars from any era," he told a Detroit newspaper. "That's what an automaker is supposed to do - evolve the species, not be paralyzed by it."

While it is not the first two-car entry from an auto-maker, the Chrysler Group assault is one of the highest profile trips to Targa of any manufacturer. Last year, two-car efforts were fielded by BMW(MINI), Kia, Mazda and Subaru, and while manufacturers have won individual class honours, none have won an overall Division in the three previous Targa Newfoundland events.

The fourth annual Targa Newfoundland rally for historic, classic and modern sporting cars covers 2,100 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of the island of Newfoundland over six days, including more than 500 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa Stages. Competitors have come from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Holland, the Bahamas and the U.K. for the first three editions of Targa Newfoundland, the Ultimate North American Motorsport Adventure. The rally starts in the capital city of St. John's with registration and technical inspection on Saturday, September 10 and finishes back in St. John's a week later.

Targa Newfoundland is owned and organized by Newfoundland International Motorsports and is sanctioned by the Canadian Association of Rallysport (CARS) and ASN Canada FIA.

[CanadianGTR]

How much does the Targa cost to run? I was told it was some huge amount, after all of the subsequent costs. Also, I hear you are only allowed 6 tires for the whole thing and they check tire tread after each stage

[our_kid]

How much does the Targa cost to run? I was told it was some huge amount, after all of the subsequent costs. Also, I hear you are only allowed 6 tires for the whole thing and they check tire tread after each stage

I believe it's in the $4000 range to enter

[Ezzie]

How much does the Targa cost to run? I was told it was some huge amount, after all of the subsequent costs. Also, I hear you are only allowed 6 tires for the whole thing and they check tire tread after each stage

Correct on both counts. Need to budget about $10k to run it - includes tow down & back, ferry crossings and accommodations as well as entry fee. Only 6 tires are allowed - but you can use more and just take a time penalty for it.

[spd-dmn]

Why are these factory production cars running in unlimited?

[CanadianGTR]

How much does the Targa cost to run? I was told it was some huge amount, after all of the subsequent costs. Also, I hear you are only allowed 6 tires for the whole thing and they check tire tread after each stage

Correct on both counts. Need to budget about $10k to run it - includes tow down & back, ferry crossings and accommodations as well as entry fee. Only 6 tires are allowed - but you can use more and just take a time penalty for it.

My buddy said it would cost me 30,000 after everything.

[Ezzie]

Why are these factory production cars running in unlimited?

I don't know. The only thing I can think of is because it is such a small class, higher likelihood of securing a win. Maybe there is some additional modifications they are doing that might bump them, but I don't know what that would be. If cars like Jud Buchanans Acadian Canso can still run in a modified category, I would think these things should be in a Modern Modified class. The "Unlimited" class is supposed to be an engineering class - for things like engine swaps, one off designs, kit cars, etc. The reason my little Datto is in it is because of the motor swap to the SR20DET.

[spd-dmn]

Ahh.. so is the reason that you couldn't be in Classic Modified because the SR is not "period correct"?

[Ezzie]

Ahh.. so is the reason that you couldn't be in Classic Modified because the SR is not "period correct"?

Well sort of, I think it has more to do with the motor swap though. The 510's never were produced with a 2.0 ltr. turbo - plus the rest of the car has extensive mods, all 300ZX running gear, etc. There's even one Skyline part on her (so far)!!

[spd-dmn]

Yeah.. so you just confirmed my concern about DC running these factory-backed stock cars in your class.