News
(september 3, 2008)
Fan favourites in blazing blue, new Subaru faces old rival at Targa
ST. JOHN'S (September 3, 2008) - The undisputed fan favourites of Targa Newfoundland will be back with a new car to face an old rival at Targa 2008.
Subaru Rally Team Canada will field a new 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI in the Modern Division of Canada's longest and toughest motorsport event, Subaru Canada Inc. has confirmed. But the experienced team of driver John Paynter and co-driver Clarke Paynter will face an additional challenge in the seventh annual Targa Newfoundland - upholding the company's reputation against its most persistent corporate rival.
For the first time in six consecutive years of competition, Subaru and arch-rival Mitsubishi will go head-to-head in a week-long battle over the roads of eastern and central Newfoundland.
The Paynter brothers come more than prepared for the challenge. Driver John and co-driver Clarke, both of Nova Scotia, have scored numerous class wins in the event since 2003 and are coming off a huge victory in 2007, when their blazing blue Subaru scored a convincing win in the tough Open Division. But the team's popularity with fans all along the rally route isn't merely anchored in their list of victories. They have earned the loyalty and goodwill of fans everywhere with their accessibility and generosity. Whether it is handing out posters at the evening car shows or signing autographs at afternoon lunch halts, or merely stopping to greet supporters along the route, fans young and old swarm the team's bright blue car everywhere it goes.
Competitors, too, hold the team in high regard. Team manager Stewart Hoo and his flying squad of mechanics not only pitch in to help many of the Subarus in the event, they have often been known to assist competitors in other makes get back in the event.
In 2008, the legion of Subaru fans will have something else to cheer for: The blue (Subaru) vs red (Mitsubishi) battle that has become the stuff of legends.
That the battle of the rally titans should extend to Canada is no surprise: The Subaru-Mitsubishi rally rivalry has played out on virtually every continent since the two vaunted Japanese marques first squared off in World Rally Championship competition nearly 20 years ago. With both corporate entries in the Modern Division, fans can expect a battle royal.
Local fans can see the car and meet the team on Thursday evening (Sept. 11, 2008) at Capital Subaru in St. John's.
Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 7thannual Targa Newfoundland will start and end in St. John's and will cover more than 2,000 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the central and eastern portion of the island of Newfoundland over six days, including up to 400 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 six editions of Targa Newfoundland and international interest continues to build with competitors registering daily from places such as Germany and the Turks & Caicos.
For more information please contact:
Doug Mepham
613-966-4969
d.mepham@bellnet.ca
Brian Hyland
Subaru Canada
905-568-4959
bhyland@subaru.ca
For a PDF version of this release, please click here.
