The big story of 2006?

While we're all feeling depressed about the state of the WRC it will be interesting to see if the big story of 2006 is the revival of grass roots rallying - in particular through the new 'endurance rally' championships.

With a 6-round MSA championship, a 4-round 'Colway Premiership' AND the Revival could this be the year rallying changes track?

Okay, its a clubman formula but it could become very attractive to manufacturers. After all, manufacturers sell far, far more 1400cc cars than AWD supercars (in 10 years it may become socially unacceptable to drive 4x4s and large engined vehicles anyway!). Its a great way to promote reliability and manufacturers can get into it for the price of a mars bar and a packet of crisps.

As the World Cup rally and Revival have shown, it draws TV audiences - partly because of the amateur element and the 'human interest' stories.

Could we see it becoming an international formula with a revival of the old classics - a real Monte with starters from all over Europe, a Rallye des Alpes taking in four countries, a Tulip rally for northern / central Europe, and a Marathon de la Route?

The big story of 2006 is already the mishandling of proposed changes to the type of vehicles eligible for national stage rallying in the UK.
The two series mentioned in the post above are already causing controversy because of differences in tyres etc allowed. On top of that is the new stage category for 1400 cars that Russel brookes is behind. That too is controversial because of a 2000 cut off year which does nothing for really cheap rallying. Then we have the ludicrous situation that the same "endurance" cars are not eligible for UK road rallies (adj. suspension etc).
The 2005 Revival Rally did nothing for confidence in the organisation with its (predicted) problems with too tight road timing and serious injury to which front cages without helmets may or may not have been a contributory factor. Either way some things must be re-considered.
We cannot ever return to true endurance rallying without sleep: modern society is quick to bring manslaughter charges if any suspicion of tiredness is revealed in any accident.
The lesson is: nice idea for 1000 and 1400 catregory - it must be made to work but worrying splits are already emerging. A series run by one "club" that is effectively a comercial organisation is also far from satisfactory.

The other 'big stories' in rallying at the moment are the two proposals (one from the MSA and one from the DVLA) that could wipe out rallying.

The DVLA proposal effectively bans all modified cars, whilst this is primarily aimed at the max power brigade it'll make all rally cars illegal too. Fortunately this proposal may not be pushed through in it's total draconian form and will most likely result in heavily modified vehicles requiring additional checks by VOSA or whoever before allowing them on the road. Details of this are on the DVLA website.

The MSA proposal (the notorious K37) would also see rallying numbers decimated, if implemented in its curent form the following would be outlawed - bodykits, wide arches, modified tunnels, non production engines, no home built specials. How many cars would that leave? Not a lot, certainly the majority of Escorts (including the one I co-drive) would be cast out into the wilderness and there would be no more of Andy Burtons 306. This proposal is under review by the MSA at the moment and hopefully common sense will prevail.

If the DVLA proposal goes through rallying is dead (also would rally GB be dead in the water - the WR Cars wouldn't be uk road legal). If K37 goes through the competitor base is decimated and events may not be viable. :banghead: Hopefully both proposals will be amended to something more sensible.

K37 is what I was referring to above as "the" story.

Something positive may come of it yet, as the MSC may be forced a step further towards proper democratic elections. (See SSC's paper in the club racing thread too)

K37 is what I was referring to above as "the" story.


Oops :bag: me being dense - didn't realise that's what you meant!

Hopefully K37 will be amended so we don't have to ditch our car, we fall foul of it because our Mk2 Escort has wide arches, a modified tunnel and a Zetec. It looks hopeful though as the MSA has acknowledged the strength of the backlash.

any link to the DVLA thing. I can't find anything on the website.

There's an update on the DVLA proposals here:

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/public/consult/summary_inspection_procedures.htm