ST. JOHN’S, NL - An international roster of competitors and fans will converge on St. John’s on September 9, 2012, for the start of the 11th edition of Targa Newfoundland and the beginning of a new decade for Canada’s longest and toughest motorsport event, organizers here have announced.

The annual fall classic will kick off with registration and technical inspection on the Saturday, followed by the traditional ceremonial start and Prologue on the Sunday (September 9). Five grueling days of competition start from St. John’s on Monday (September 10) and conclude back in the capital on Friday, September 14 with the awards gala on Saturday, September 15, 2012.

The event format and route will be similar to past events, says Targa organizer Robert Giannou. Overnight stops along the route will again include Gander, Clarenville and Marystown.

“Each year, we build on the success of the previous year and incorporate the lessons we learn along the way,” says Giannou. “Targa 2011 was the largest and most hotly-contested event in recent years, but also one of the most difficult for our organization. We’ve committed to make Targa 2012 better in every way.”

Work started on the 2012 event the week after the 2011 event ended, Giannou adds, with an innovation from this year expected to be popular next year.

“The new Fast Tour attracted some pretty exciting and exotic cars, and that gained a lot of attention,” he said. “We don’t expect to see another Ferrari in the water any time soon, but we do hope to see more exotic cars from all over the continent on the roads of eastern and central Newfoundland for a week next September.” A rare Ferrari Enzo from Calgary participating in the 2011 Fast Tour ended up in the river in Marystown.

The Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is the official charitable partner of Targa Newfoundland.

Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 2012 competition will cover more than 2,000 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of Newfoundland, including up to 450 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa stages.