News
(august 22, 2008)
Mighty MINI returns to stretch stellar Targa record
ST. JOHN'S (August 12, 2008) - With an enviable record of three consecutive podium finishes (including two wins in the brutal Open Division), MINI Canada returns to Targa Newfoundland competition in 2008 with a proven team, a remarkable history of reliability and a trusted friend - "Ol' Red."
That's the affectionate nickname driver Jim Kenzie, co-driver Brian Bourbonniere and the team from the MINI division of BMW Group have given the diminutive 2004 MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works edition that has carried them to one of the most successful records of any manufacturer's entry in the event's six-year history.
The team is reunited for a fifth attempt at Canada's longest and toughest motorsport competition, making the company one of the most consistent supporters of the event and the team among the most experienced in the rally (Kenzie has competed in every edition of Targa Newfoundland since the inaugural event in 2002).
But the level of competition goes up every year, and in 2008 the team must not only face all comers in the fast Open Division, there will be stiff competition among five other manufacturers vying to be the first winner of the Sirius Satellite Radio President's Challenge for Manufacturers.
"Ol' Red" is expected to take it all in stride.
While the little car has evolved from its first appearance, with improved braking and handling, it is the MINI's durability and reliability that are the squad's biggest asset, the team agrees.
"I think we've changed the oil for 2008," quips team manager Rob Dexter, with a nod to the car's ability to withstand more than 2,000 kilometres of Newfoundland's twisty - and sometimes uneven - roads each year, and to finish ahead of cars with all-wheel drive and much more horsepower.
Kenzie, of Milton, Ontario, and Bourbonniere, of Halifax, have been together in the car since Bourbonniere stepped into the co-driver's job in 2004 after Kenzie's then-co-driver was unable to continue during the first day of competition. The pair battled back to claim a third in their sub-class that year, then went on to win the Open Division in 2005 and 2006. They claimed third overall in the Division in 2007.
Consistency and reliability have played a big part in each of the podium finishes, the team admits.
"Our philosophy will be the same as always: The car is not going to break; Brian is not going to make a mistake; I am too chicken to drive fast enough to crash. We're going to show up Friday afternoon and see where everyone else is," Kenzie says.
A co-founder of the event and celebrated automotive journalist, Kenzie will be posting daily reports to www.mini.ca and www.wheels.ca during the event and writing stories for The Toronto Star auto section.
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.
