An Introduction to Rallying

Rallying is the most popular form of motor sport in Britain, perhaps because it involves ordinary-looking cars.

It involves two people working together - a driver and a co-driver or navigator - and the cars normally run at one-minute intervals, competing against the clock rather than directly against each other.

While very specialised cars are required for top-level special stage rallying, unmodified, everyday cars can be used for simple road events, making this one of the cheapest forms for motor sport available. Another major attraction of rallying is that it takes place throughout Great Britain.

Although most special stage events take place in less populated areas, road rallies are held even in the Home Counties.

Road Rallies

All manner of events are run under the umbrella title of `rallies', including economy runs and treasure hunts. However, the most popular are simply known as road rallies.

The essence of this type of event is to maintain a time schedule through a series of control points by following route instructions which often put a great emphasis on navigation. These events take place on normal public roads, almost always at night. All competing cars must properly taxed, tested and insured.

No national championship is (currently) permitted. However, most Regional Associations run one or more championships.

Minimum Requirements

Any standard road car; two crew members with valid club membership cards;

Ordnance Survey maps. The driver must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid RTA Driving Licence; the navigator must be at least 14 years old.

Special Stage Rallies

These are far more expensive than road rallies, with more emphasis upon car preparation, speed and driver ability, rather than navigational skills. Most famous rallies are special stage events, like the Rally Great Britain, Britain's round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

The basis of such events - the special stage - is a stretch of road closed to all other traffic, which must be covered at a high average speed. In most of Great Britain (the exceptions are Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Mull, the Channel Islands and the roads used by the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally), public roads are not available for this purpose, so special stage events use private land, frequently Forestry Commission roads or disused airfields.

Linking the special stages are sections of public road, where the required average speed is low (usually 30mph or slower). Because of these sections, all competing cars must properly taxed, tested and insured.

Major British Events

Annual - Mobil 1/Top Gear British Rally Championship (6 events).

February 27th – Rallye Sunseeker – Premier round of National Rally championship.

November - Network Q Rally of Great Britain (FIA World Rally Championship).

Minimum Requirements

A car with added safety equipment (rollcage, fire extinguishers, fireproofing, etc) and an MSA Log Book; two crew members with valid club cards; crash helmets and flame-resistant overalls. The driver must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid RTA Driving Licence; the co-driver must be at least 16 years old.

Schools

All rally schools teach driving techniques for special stage rallying. A one-day course offers a chance to try rallying in someone else's car, to discover whether you enjoy the sport before spending your own money! Some schools offer courses for front-, rear- and four-wheel drive cars, or for driving on asphalt and loose surfaces. A few schools offer courses for co-drivers.