Press release
Source: Subaru
(TORONTO) - It was an inauspicious start to the 2009 Targa Newfoundland for the Subaru team when driver Marc Lachapelle crashed during the Prologue stage. Although Lachapelle was released from the hospital unhurt, co-driver Keith Townsend came away with two broken ribs, a painful injury that would take him out of the competition.
Fortunately for Subaru, the team's head mechanic, Stewart Hoo, strapped himself into the right hand seat-to co-drive for the first time, ever-and with coaching from Townsend helped Lachapelle cross the finish line five days later, battered but unbowed, in 12th place overall.
"Stewart and I were truly elated while carefully driving our gritty Impreza STI into St. John's for the official finish on the Harbour," said Lachapelle. "I thanked him repeatedly for the numerous miracles he and his service team performed to keep us in the rally, and for the outstanding job he did as a co-driver, jumping in cold, on the morning of Leg One."
Lachapelle also credited Townsend's "extensive rally experience and his keen knowledge of Targa itself" with keeping the team competitive, especially when rain made the roads slick and treacherous.
Lachapelle and Hoo also took third place in the 2009 Sirius Satellite President's Manufacturers' Challenge, and combined with the Sprongl/Hendrickson and Buchanan/Adams teams to claim the 2009 Churchill Motorsports International Team Trophy.
The 2009 Targa Newfoundland was ultimately won, for the third consecutive year, by the team of Roy Hopkins and Adrienne Hughes in their 2002 BMW.
Targa Newfoundland is the only event of its kind to be held in North America and one of only three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. From September 12 to 19, entrants covered approximately 2,200 kilometres, racing against the clock during 42 competitive stages on the paved roads of Newfoundland. The competitive stages comprised about 500 kilometres on roads that were closed to public traffic during the event.
There are separate classifications for Historic, Classic and Modern vehicles, which may be further subdivided by specification (modified and unmodified) and engine displacement.
photo:Subaru Canada
Source: Subaru
(TORONTO) - It was an inauspicious start to the 2009 Targa Newfoundland for the Subaru team when driver Marc Lachapelle crashed during the Prologue stage. Although Lachapelle was released from the hospital unhurt, co-driver Keith Townsend came away with two broken ribs, a painful injury that would take him out of the competition.
Fortunately for Subaru, the team's head mechanic, Stewart Hoo, strapped himself into the right hand seat-to co-drive for the first time, ever-and with coaching from Townsend helped Lachapelle cross the finish line five days later, battered but unbowed, in 12th place overall.
"Stewart and I were truly elated while carefully driving our gritty Impreza STI into St. John's for the official finish on the Harbour," said Lachapelle. "I thanked him repeatedly for the numerous miracles he and his service team performed to keep us in the rally, and for the outstanding job he did as a co-driver, jumping in cold, on the morning of Leg One."
Lachapelle also credited Townsend's "extensive rally experience and his keen knowledge of Targa itself" with keeping the team competitive, especially when rain made the roads slick and treacherous.
Lachapelle and Hoo also took third place in the 2009 Sirius Satellite President's Manufacturers' Challenge, and combined with the Sprongl/Hendrickson and Buchanan/Adams teams to claim the 2009 Churchill Motorsports International Team Trophy.
The 2009 Targa Newfoundland was ultimately won, for the third consecutive year, by the team of Roy Hopkins and Adrienne Hughes in their 2002 BMW.
Targa Newfoundland is the only event of its kind to be held in North America and one of only three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. From September 12 to 19, entrants covered approximately 2,200 kilometres, racing against the clock during 42 competitive stages on the paved roads of Newfoundland. The competitive stages comprised about 500 kilometres on roads that were closed to public traffic during the event.
There are separate classifications for Historic, Classic and Modern vehicles, which may be further subdivided by specification (modified and unmodified) and engine displacement.
photo:Subaru Canada