New Rallycross Classes

[daz2202]

Originally Posted by flying flynn

Daz trying not to upset you but want to just do it at Croft, Hope you like what we are trying to do.
pat

Pat, you will have to do better than that to upset me what i am trying to say is before we start these threads about what might happen in the future, i think it would be far more professional to announce plans with details officially to drivers etc prior to an open forum, we then have the facts to discuss between ourselves and on forums like this.

[BertMk2]

Having seen the entry list - I think there's a clue as to one of the classes

[Copperbottom]

Off topic I know but I'm wondering if there'll be a Lydden based championship now that PD's taken over??

[Rewsy]

Mentioned that there would be an announcement at Croft regarding these new classes. A few were guessing but confirmation would be great, or if I am being lazy and just not found it announced elsewhere point in right direction would be great!

Off Topic - great pictures from Croft and by all accounts the BMW was very entertaining congrats!

[silver bullet]

Press Release CLICK HERE

IMHO the BMW class will be good to watch, but is introducing even more fairly standard 205's into rallycross really a good thing

[BertMk2]

The BMW's are a good move - they've proved cost effective in both rallying and circuit racing so it's a logical step to add them. The 205 class looks to be redundant - 205's are already well catered for in stock hatch / procar 1600. Can a 205 challenge car be used competitively in stock hatch and/or procar 1600? Or are the mods more/less restricted rendering it uncompetitive or illegal?

[Ian Sowman]

I would have thought that the plan would be to siphon off the 205s out of Procar 1600 with the aim of getting more modern cars into that - such as the Saxos. Stock Hatch on the circuits went through that evolution.

[flying flynn]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

I would have thought that the plan would be to siphon off the 205s out of Procar 1600 with the aim of getting more modern cars into that - such as the Saxos. Stock Hatch on the circuits went through that evolution.

Nice one Ian, 205/RWD will be a strictly controlled series with the emphasis on Driving rather than spending.
With training days for drivers, no expensive mods, cheap base cars, the talent will hopefully shine.
I understand that 205s are getting dated but I will make sure the series eveolve, plus the incentives to move on will be there, [Like the prizes in the current rally series, ] the chance to attend the Ice driving school at Cost rates will be on offer to the drivers too,
My aim is to help find talent rather than squash it due to too much expense , however it will also be a total laugh too, as it is a sport, which means enjoyment.

I have to say, i was giggling my head off driving the BMW on sunday, I was really jammy that I had worn out knobblies as they were perfect [ a few other crews ex-rally boys had them on too!!!]
Even though it was a one off for me as a driver, I really enjoyed it and was pleased to set a 4th fastest lap overall in the finals, [behind Gibson, Bell and Mad Marks supercars]

I also had a number of spectators coming up after the meeting to ask who was driving the BMW as they wanted to thank me for the entertainment, which was seconded by 4 different marshals who said the bMW kept them entertained at the hairpin.

Entertainment and Talent , it sounds like a recipe to me, I hope I can pull it off and make it a successful and valued championship

pat

Cheers Pat

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

I would have thought that the plan would be to siphon off the 205s out of Procar 1600 with the aim of getting more modern cars into that - such as the Saxos.

All well and good - but currently a 205 can run in procar and stockhatch, what I'm trying to understand is whether a 205 challenge car could run competitively in stock hatch (and therefore be more useable/saleable for the driver concerned). This does in part come back (again) to the problem of having two different organisers each running their own classes - cars need to be able to run in both otherwise competitors are limiting themselves in terms of events they can do and who they can sell the car on to when the time comes.

[leonidas]

I'm a bit unclear about the 205 and BMW classes - do they have to remain stage rally or road legal? (ie. retain second seat, lights etc) In other words is this basically a rally car class limited to those models?

[bucko]

if both brda and psm or after a europeean round why not start both using the a same classe surely this would be the most cost effective route so that if we do have a european round at least there would be a britsh class that could go and surport it as example the rear wheel drive cup instead of bmw why not open it up !!

[flying flynn]

The car spec will be primarily to keep it cheap, but competitive in the right hands in other formulae.
I dont have the money to spec a stock hatch to the spec of say Julian reynolds car.
However I could afford a car that was more rigidly controlled then its more about the driver than the car

Thats what the challenges are about in rallying we are developing great talent, young and at a reasonable cost. Thats what this is about, will have regs finalised in september, but the main outline is already in the press release, re suspension, brakes, etc etc

The European thing is great, but any cars built to international regs immediately cut out 90% of the prospective customer base, as the cost is so high.
If you want to know if you are fast, most people start at the bottom, thats why our Conor is in the cheapest of all the Minis that was for sale, the cost of keeping the mini running is daft, compared to the bMW.
Pat

[bobster55]

so whats going to be the main differences between stockhatch and 205 challenge and would the restrictions on the 205 challenge be checked and reinforced

[flying flynn]

Hi Bob, The restrictions will be checked , all cars will go to a rolling road [the same one] checked & sealed, they will have same suspension, brakes, trransmission, tyres, etc. The cars will be made as even as is feasibly possible, then its up to the driver,
Pat

[BertMk2]

Pat - I can see the benfits of tighter controls on the cars (cheaper, more about the driver) but if you run a 205 challenge car you're at a disadvantage in Stock hatch, if you run a procar 205 then you can run in stock hatch with no disadvantage. Why choose the 205 challenge route and handicap yourself in another championship? Surely having a car that can be used in both Open and BRDA events is the best route for a competitor to take?

The BMW's I think will be great fun and they'll be able to run in supermodified I guess? Could be a very good car for the BTRDA supermodifieds

[leonidas]

Yes, I'm struggling to see the advantages of the 205 series to be honest. Stock hatch is already dirt cheap to run and has the advantage that you have a choice of models and a choice of different events.

More BMW E30s would be great! However wouldn't people prefer to run them in the existing classes - procar 2000 and BTRDA mods?

I know people are always worried about rising costs due to poor scrutineering but isn't the answer to tighten up regs and improve scrutineering in the existing classes?

[golfvanman]

why do we need another 205 class .... we already have on its called stockhatch ! you can buy a cheap 2nd hand 205 ready to race for £1500 is this not cheap enough. stockhatch already is a budget class which yes i agree needs to be regulated better why we are working towards with drivers reps and eligibility scrutineers.

The BMW class should be entertaining ,but not too cheap if we all have to visit the same rolling road to have power runs performed ,which is going to be where ?

Unless my memory is wrong the rallycross open series/ super series was set up to bring our domestic rallycross into line with european rallycross, with no cars more than 10yrs old being allowed to race........ no 205's......no mini's......revivals.......etc . now we have another two classes for old cars do we really need them ?

[chunder]

I guess grid numbers forced their hands.

[mel tyres]

Does that mean cant get entries ??

[Rewsy]

Pat - thanks for all of the updated info, I agree to some extent with the 205 concerns appear to be a number of classes that they can run in, but the BMW series has convinced me to sell the rally car and return to RallyX, as seeing the success of the rallying series this should be quite fun and relatively cheap to run, and opens up the opportunity as discussed previously to run in the BTRDA super mods as well as the Open series.

Will you be running some sort of open day or just press releases as I would be interested to attend, and also if you have any details of current BMW rally cars for sale would be interested to get in touch as I would expect that would be the easiest option to convert them rather than starting from scratch!