Targa takes over roads
Waipukurau Racecourse will be the best spot for petrol heads to get up close with the drivers and machines taking part in this year’s expanded threeday Hawke’s Bay Targa rally.
Drivers are scheduled to stop at the racecourse for lunch for one hour from 11am to midday this Sunday, after coming in from a 32km stage along Motere Rd.
After lunch at the racecourse they will head south to Dannevirke A&P Showgrounds and back through Ashley Clinton and Argyll to the ceremonial finish in Havelock North on Sunday afternoon.
Last year the first Targa Hawke’s Bay two-day event started and finished in Havelock North. This year on the extra day competitors gather in Taupo¯ this Thursday for documentation, scrutineering and drivers’ briefing, then a ceremonial start and street parade.
On Friday morning the 80-strong field and Targa Tour cars head south towards Waiouru for the morning stages with a lunch stop in Taihape then afternoon crossing of the Gentle Annie road split into two stages to Hawke’s Bay and on to Havelock North.
Saturday’s route is similar to last year’s with three stages north-west of Hastings in the morning and three south of Havelock North in the afternoon. It again incorporates a standalone Rally of Hawke’s Bay event-within-an-event organised in conjunction with the local car club.
On Sunday competitors head south into the Central Hawkes Bay and Tararua Districts before a ceremonial finish back in Havelock North.
All-up there are 19 closed road special stages covering a total 459.95km linked by 730km of touring stages
For more information go to www.targa.co.nz or check out the Targa NZ page on Facebook.