For almost 20 years Targa New Zealand tarmac motor rally events have passed through Waiuku. Next Saturday (March 02), however, the busy little Franklin service town gets to host its very own Targa event, the Targa Rally Sprint.

The event will will be based at the Waiuku Rugby & Districts Club at 34 King St Waiuku and use Kohekohe-Kariotahi Road. There will be a transport stage from event HQ at the rugby club grounds to the start of the closed road stage and competitors will return to a service park at the club grounds after each run meaning there will be activity there all day.

Vehicles will be arriving at the rugby club from 8.30am and Kohekohe-Kariotahi Road will be closed to the general public from 9.15am to 4.45pm.

A single-day Rally Sprint event is quite a departure from the traditional multi-day format of a typical Targa event. But Event Director Peter Martin says there are several ‘very good’ reasons for the change.

“First and foremost it’s about taking the event back to grass roots and showing people how easy it is to do a Targa event.

“It’s also about giving something back to the communities. Our new charity partner, Kids In Cars, is bringing along its ride car, a bouncy castle and face painting and there will be vendors offering hot food and icecreams at the rugby club grounds all day.

“We’re also running a colouring in competition with local schools. All kids have to do is bring their completed entry along with them on the day and they could win a family pass to the V8 Supercar meeting at Pukekohe.”

As well as the opportunity to get up close to the cars and their drivers and co-drivers at the rugby club there are also several excellent spectator points accessible off Awhitu then Kaihau and Boundary Rds.

For more information and a spectator map go to www.targa.co.nz.