The Targa Bambina is the launch pad for three Targa events in 2010. With 260 Klms over 16 tarmac rally stages there are also 394 klms of touring stages throughout the Franklin and North Waikato Districts in the Bambina. There are good entries in both categories; Targa Bambina and Targa Tour.

Targa event dates are:

• Targa Bambina (Papakura based) 2 day event 13-14 March
• Targa Rotorua 2 day event 05-06 June
• Dunlop Targa 6 day main event 25-31 October
  

Event Director Peter Martin said: "We have a new sponsor in Rock FM coming on board - Targa is, the demographics of their target market. Talking target markets, what is also interesting is that Parkside Media report increased sales of their Classic Car magazine since Targa returned to the magazine. We have also produced a promotional DVD that will be used to attract international drivers either in their vehicles or leasing one of ours."

Scrutineering and Parc Ferme will be held at Ray Small Park in central Papakura with Documentation next door in the RSA building.

Front runner Jason Gill will be there in his potent Evo as will as Clark Proctor in the turbo V6 Mark 1 Escort. Mark Parsons also makes a welcome return, this time with Mal Clark in the mighty Rover V8. Peter Cullen in the 'exotic' de Tomaso Pantera is also back.

DAY 1:

Saturday 13 March sees them head off from 8.15am across to the Awhitu Peninsular with 5 special stages before lunch in Waiuku. Then they are in Pukekohe East which has some great spectating points on Tuhimata and Runcimen Roads. SS7 was the driver's favourite stage last year and starts near the Southern Motorway at Ramarama and they hill-climb up and over Ararimu Road, all the way to Paparimu. That stage starts at 1.55pm so if you are going to be a spectator you have to be in place well before the start-time. Last stage for the day is SS8 Koheroa Road and this year it runs west, from the Mangatawiri down to Mercer.

All cars then return to the Accent Point car-park in Papakura. That was 99klms of Special Stages and 177 of Touring.

DAY 2:

First stage is at 8.20 am and just south of the Bombays - Pinnacle Hill Road. The stage routes down Paparimu Road and is a fast one. Then it's SS10 from Mangatangi to Miranda and then twice down the eastern side of Lake Waikare near Te Kauwhata where lunch is. The afternoon is spent in the Rotongaro, Hetherington, Glen Murray area where Targa has traversed many times before. The last Special Stage is new one of 16 klms from Te Kohanga back towards Pukekawa with the Finish and Prizegiving at the Onewhero Golf Club.

Looking forward to Targa Rotorua and the main event there is keen interest from overseas. Expat Kiwi Gavin Riches (Florida) will be at Rotorua this time in a new Porsche GT3 RS. Another expat Steve Millen (California) is bringing the Nissan GTR35 that his Stillen Team built and won the Targa Newfoundland in Canada with to New Zealand for the main event.

Photo: Targa Newfoundland