Triumph, Tenacity, and Tarmac: The 2025 Targa New Zealand 30th Anniversary Rally

7 Nov

New Zealand’s 30th Anniversary Targa Rally delivered everything fans could hope for; speed, skill, heartbreak, and heroics. Across five unforgettable days and over 900 kilometres of closed-road stages, competitors faced wild weather, mechanical heartbreaks, and the kind of roads that make Targa New Zealand a bucket-list event for drivers from across the globe. When the dust (and rain) finally settled, it was Australia’s Paul Dowie and John Allen who stood atop the podium in their Porsche GT3 RS, claiming overall honours and writing a new chapter in Targa history.

Day 1: Rogers Opens Strong in Tricky Conditions

The rally roared to life on the storm-soaked roads around Rotorua, where Dave Rogers and Shane Reynolds stamped an early claim for victory. Their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS ended the opening day 14 seconds clear of Dowie and Allen’s Porsche. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: Rogers’ co-driver Reynolds admitted they “took a massive slide down to the intersection on shiny tar” on cold tyres in Stage 2.

The changing conditions, a mix of showers, standing water, and gravel runoff made tyre choice a guessing game. Despite the challenges, the stage winners were spread across the field, with Craig Haysman and Jason Page taking the first test in their Ultima RS before later crashing out. Former champion Marcus van Klink recovered from early mechanical woes to rejoin and claim a stage win in his rotary-powered RX-7.

In the Classic 2WD ranks, Mark McCaughan and Lindsay Lyons dominated in their Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16, pulling clear of Bevan Claridge’s Holden Commodore after the latter lost time to an electrical gremlin. The day ended early when flooding forced the cancellation of the final four stages, but the tone was set: this would be a battle of endurance as much as speed.

Day 2: The Porsche Closes In

The route south toward Wharepapa delivered faster, drier roads and a fierce duel at the front. Dowie and Allen struck back, winning two of the day’s four stages and slicing Rogers’ lead to just 1.9 seconds by the end of Leg 2. The lunch stop at Wharepapa South School provided a welcome break before the crews pressed on toward New Plymouth, where they would spend the night preparing for the Taranaki stages.

McCaughan’s Mercedes continued its march in Classic 2WD, now a commanding three minutes ahead of Steven Blackley’s Ford Escort. Claridge’s Commodore slumped down the order with more electrical issues, while the ever-determined Mike Lowe became an overnight legend of the service park. After a wastegate bolt failure over-boosted his Volvo 240’s turbo to 40 psi and cracked pistons, Lowe sourced new internals via a Volvo Facebook group and rebuilt the engine in Cambridge, finishing at 2 a.m. “Never ever give up,” he quipped.

In the Time Trial category, Dallas Yates and Alise Inger led in their Toyota MR2 ahead of an MG Sebring and a Volvo 240GL, setting up a tight contest for the week’s later stages.

Day 3: Porsche Power Takes the Lead

The mighty slopes of Mt Taranaki provided the backdrop for a dramatic turning point. Rogers’ gearbox woes, losing both fourth and fifth gear on the 22 km Ratapiko stage, costing him 20 seconds and the lead. His DNG Automotive team replaced the gearbox in just two hours, allowing the Lancer to rejoin for the afternoon stages, but the damage was done: Paul Dowie and John Allen became the new overall leaders.

Elsewhere, Andrew Oakley and Steve Hutchins topped the Production 4WD class in their Mitsubishi before a differential scare slowed them slightly. In Allcomers 2WD, Charlie Evans and Carol Liston built a three-minute cushion in their Mazda RX-7 over gravel-convert Dave Strong in a Honda Jazz RS.

Overnight, Mike Lowe’s Volvo rejoined the field after its late-night rebuild, while Claridge and Tannock led the over-3400 cc Classic class in their Commodore. The day also brought sobering news: Ultima RS crew Craig Haysman and Jason Page were recovering in hospital after their Day 2 crash. As the event moved east toward Palmerston North, more entries joined for the two-day Regional Rally, including four-time NZ Rally Champion Bruce Herbert, piloting a BMW 325.

Day 4: Dowie Defends as Attrition Bites

The penultimate day took crews through the Pohangina Valley and over the legendary Gentle Annie stages; some of the most scenic yet punishing roads in the country. Dowie and Allen’s Porsche extended its advantage to 58 seconds over Rogers and Reynolds, the Aussies adopting a cautious “preserve our lead and stay focused” mindset.

Mechanical attrition struck hard: Production 4WD leader Oakley went off in Stage 29, handing the class lead to Michael Chora and Rachael Ferrante in their Subaru WRX STi. Targa stalwart Martin Dippie’s event ended abruptly when he clipped a bridge in his Porsche, the day having already started on an off camber note when he couldn’t find his keys... later discovered in his sock.

In the Classics, Claridge finally traced his long-running electrical fault to the fuel-pump motor, but the lost time meant McCaughan’s Mercedes remained comfortably ahead. Among the Regional Rally entrants, Derek Moore and Fleur Pedersen led in their Audi RS4 ahead of Herbert and Cox’s BMW 325.

Day 5: Australians Take the Crown

The final day’s seven stages south of Hastings sealed the result. After assuming the lead on Day 3, Paul Dowie and John Allen kept their Porsche clean and quick to claim outright victory; a fitting win for the event’s 30th Anniversary. Their margin at the finish: 1 minute 16 seconds over the hard-charging Rogers/Reynolds Mitsubishi.

“This event was epic,” said Dowie at the finish. “We’re so glad we got the real award, keeping the car in one piece. It’s great to finish on such a high, especially with John retiring.”

Behind them, Charlie Evans and Carol Liston completed a remarkable comeback to take third overall and victory in Category 7 (2WD Allcomers), their first Targa start in 20 years with the same Mazda RX-7. Rogers and Reynolds collected the Allcomers Competition trophy, while Dowie and Allen added the Modern 2WD title to their overall crown.

McCaughan and Lyons sealed a near-flawless run to win the Classic 2WD Competition in their Mercedes, finishing ahead of Chris Barendregt and Richard Leggett’s BMW E36. In the two-day Regional Rally, Derek Moore and Fleur Pedersen’s Audi RS4 took the honours over Herbert and Cox’s BMW.

The Time Trial produced one of the tightest finishes of the week: Craig Inger and Oliver Going triumphed in their Mazda MX-5, just four penalty points ahead of siblings Dallas Yates and Alise Inger in the Toyota MR2, ending Alise’s seven-event winning streak but keeping the friendly family rivalry alive.

Weathering the Storm

Event organiser Peter Martin praised the resilience of everyone involved. “We had an act of God this week that threw challenges at us from the start,” he said. “Losing stages is never ideal, but the way our team, officials, and marshals adapted was incredible. The competitors saw a seamless event despite everything, and that’s a real testament to the systems and people behind Targa.”

Despite cancellations, crashes, and countless late-night repairs, the 30th Anniversary Targa New Zealand captured everything that defines the event: breathtaking roads, camaraderie in the service parks, and an indomitable spirit that no weather can wash away.

From the damp backroads of Rotorua to the sunny finish in Hawke’s Bay, this was a rally that will be remembered, not just for who won, but for how every competitor, volunteer, and fan helped make it a celebration worthy of thirty years of Targa passion.