- Rally America
Rally America, based in Golden Valley,
Minnesota , is anauto racing organization that sanctionsperformance stage rallying events in theUnited States .History
Rally America was founded in 2002 by CPD Rally Team owner Doug Havir, who provided scoring and reporting services to the
Sports Car Club of America 's ProRally Championship. The two companies worked in tandem until the end of the 2004 season, when the SCCA withdrew its involvement in U.S. stage rallying. The SCCA then made the decision to sell all commercial and sanctioning rights to Rally America.In 2005, the inaugural Rally America National Championship was run, incorporating most of the events previously sanctioned by the SCCA.
2008 Rally America Championship Event Schedule
Cars
Classes
Rally America allows for a wide variety of cars to be entered in simultaneous events by classifying them into different classes based on capabilities of the vehicles and the amount of modification allowed. This means that a driver's skill can be recognized by tracking their position within their class (i.e. against vehicles of similar type).
Competing vehicles are classified into Open, Group 5, Group 2, Group N, Production GT, and Production classes:
*Open class vehicles are typically the most powerful vehicles and are used by many of the top competitors. These cars are based on powerful street cars but are allowed a broad range of performance and safety modifications. Rules do restrict modifications to maintain a vehicle still closely aligned with the production car it is built from. The body and major components must be similar to original production. This ensures that all vehicles in Rally America are identifiably similar to production cars, a key component to many fans' interest in the sport. Open class cars are almost universally four wheel drive and engine displacement is limited to 5100 cc for normally aspirated engines, and 3000 cc for turbocharged models.
*Group 5 class is similar to open, but is for two wheel drive vehicles. No displacement limits are in force.
*Group 2 class is a smaller vehicle class for two wheel drive vehicles powered by naturally aspirated engines. No rotary or forced induction is allowed. Engine displacement is limited to 2000 cc for four or more cylinder engines, and 3000 cc for diesel engines. Modifications are permitted similar to those of Group 5 and Open classes.
*Group N class is essentially an adaptation of the FIA's production touring car class, but is seen in only very limited numbers in Rally America.
*Production GT and Production class vehicles are limited, unlike open category vehicles, to very limited modifications with safety as the objective and almost no modifications for performance. These must be street licensed vehicles identified by year and model, of which at least 1000 must have been sold in the United States. The vehicle must be maintained to that year's production standard. There are two classes, Production and Production GT, which are separated only by engine displacement formula. Vehicles with larger adjusted engine displacement are classed in Production GT.*RallyTruck class is maintained for use by trucks and sport utility vehicles. This class is generally considered within the rules for production category vehicles.
Engine displacement numbers listed in the various classes above are known as "adjusted" displacement. Actual engine displacement is subject to multipliers based on vehicle construction such as 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, turbochargers, superchargers, and more. Multipliers are used in attempt to keep vehicles in each class similar, so one type or make of vehicle would not have an abnormally large advantage within the vehicle class.
All classes of vehicles are required to be street legal and registered, and be insured with liability insurance to the same minimums required of normal street vehicles.
Manufacturers
Rally America does not maintain manufacturer scoring or provide recognition for vehicle successes. Most cars are selected by their drivers or teams with the vast majority being entered without any special involvement by their manufacturers. Subaru is the exception to this providing special services to Subaru drivers, as well as being a sponsor of the series.
Subaru
Subaru has been an integral part of Rally America from its inception. At the time Rally America was begun, Subaru's Impreza, and in particular the WRX versions of the vehicle, had already become the most numerous competitive rally car in North America. Subaru became a sponsor of the series and many prizes and other incentives were provided by the company both for rally in general, and Subaru driving teams in particular. A fully stocked parts truck was dispatched to all national events, offering Subaru teams unique access to parts and expertise on scene.
* Impreza
** Overall: 10 Events; 143 Entries; 103 Finishes; 8 Overall wins
** 2005 Open: 8 Events; 31 Entries; 19 Finishes; 4 Class wins
** 2005 Group N: 8 Events; 65 Entries; 48 Finishes; 8 Class wins
** 2005 Production GT: 8 Events; 31 Entries; 24 Finishes; 7 Class wins
** 2006 Open: 2 Events; 12 Entries; 8 Finishes; 1 Class win
** 2006 Group N: 2 Events; 4 Entries; 3 Finishes; 2 Class wins
** 2006 Production GT: 2 Events; 16 Entries; 13 Finishes; 2 Class winsMitsubishi
Mitsubishi has been Subaru's primary competitor in North America, with its Evo series of cars. However, by the beginning of the 2005 season, its competitiveness was waning, as most North American competitors relied on older Evo models. In the hands of competitive drivers, the Evo did prove a challenge to the larger quantity of WRXs, often edging into top three finishes.
* Lancer
** Overall: 10 Events; 34 Entries; 25 Finishes; 1 Overall win
** 2005 Open: 8 Events; 28 Entries; 21 Finishes; 2 Class wins
** 2005 Group N: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 2 Finishes
** 2006 Open: 2 Events; 7 Entries; 5 Finishes; 1 Class win
* Eclipse
** Overall: 3 Events; 3 Entries; 2 Finishes
** 2005 Open: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish
** 2005 Production GT: 1 Event; 1 Entry
** 2006 Group 5: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish
* Galant
** 2005 Open: 1 Event; 1 EntryHyundai
While small in numbers, the Hyundai Tiburon has proven to be a threat to win as an Open class rally car with significant modifications to the stock vehicle.
* 2005 Results (Tiburon):
** Overall: 2 Events; 3 Entries; 1 Finish; 1 Overall win
** Open: 2 Events; 3 Entries; 1 Finish; 1 Class winDodge
Benefiting from a company effort to produce a sport version of the
Dodge Neon , dubbed the SRT-4, a number of Neons remain in rally competition in North America, some still bringing the Mopar name to Rally America events. The SRT-4 is a capable Group 5 competitor, but the base Neon as well has found a niche, fitting within the Production class.* Neon
** Overall: 8 Events; 14 Entries; 11 Finishes
** 2005 Group 5: 5 Events; 7 Entries; 6 Finishes; 4 Class wins
** 2005 Production: 6 Events; 6 Entries; 5 Finishes; 4 Class wins
** 2006 Group 5: 1 Event; 2 Entries; 1 Finish
** 2006 Group 2: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish; 1 Class win
** 2006 Production: 1 Event; 1 EntryVolkswagen
Volkswagen has had a long history in rallying both worldwide and in North America. The cars are robust, popular and competitive in the hands of a variety of drivers. While not often found contending for top overall spots they can be very good cars for those contesting any of the three two-wheel-drive championships or anyone just looking to learn the sport. The Jetta, Golf and Beetle have all had many appearances and much success in Rally America events.
* Jetta
** 2005 Production: 3 Events; 3 Entries; 3 Finishes; 1 Class win
** 2006 Production: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 2 Finishes; 1 Class win
* Golf/Rabbit
** Overall: 5 Events; 6 Entries; 2 Finish
** 2005 Open: 1 Event; 1 Entry
** 2005 Group 5: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finish
** 2005 Group 2: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finish; 1 Class win
** 2006 Group 5: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finish
* Beetle
** 2006 2WD Overall National Champion
** 2006 Production: 6 Events; 6 Finishes; 6 Class wins (counting X Games XII)
** 2006 Group 2: 1 Event; 1 FinishAcura / Honda
Honda is not traditionally a major player in rallying, but the Civic and Prelude have both provided platforms for conversion to rally and made appearances in Rally America. The Acura Integra and RSX, part of the Honda family, has however been the most successful rally conversion and has achieved podiums on more than one occasion.
* Civic
** 2005 Group 2: 5 Events; 5 Entries; 4 Finishes; 2 Class wins
** 2006 Group 2: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finishes; 1 Class win
* RSX
** 2005 Production: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish; 1 Class win
* Integra
** 2005 Production: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 FinishMazda
Mazda's four wheel drive version of the 323, the GTX model, has been a popular rally car since the late 1980s. They can still be found in the entry lists of most Rally America events, though they are rarely able to challenge the Subarus in their Open class. Meanwhile, the rotary powered rear wheel drive RX-7 has also proven popular as a Group 5 car. Other Mazda cars have occasionally modified and entered.
* 323
** 2005 Open: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 2 Finishes
** 2005 Group 5: 1 Event; 1 Entry
* Protege
** 2005 Group 5: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish
** 2006 Group 5: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish; 1 Class win
* RX-7
** 2005 Group 5: 1 Event; 1 EntryToyota
Toyota's strong presence in rally in the 1990s has waned in recent years, but numbers of Toyota rally cars are still found in North America and can be found in Rally America events.
* Celica
** 2005 Production GT: 4 Events; 4 Entries; 4 Finishes; 1 Class winFord
Despite a long tradition of world rally involvement, Ford has had few cars in North American rally, although the Focus has proven a solid platform for rally. Additional models have been used on occasion.
* 2005 Results (Escort):
** Open: 3 Events; 3 Entries; 2 Finishes; 1 Class win
* 2005 Results (Focus):
** Group 2: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finish
* 2005 Results (Mustang):
** Group 5: 1 Event; 1 EntryJeep / Eagle
The Talon was a unique success for Eagle, and its four wheel drive version remains a popular rally car. Jeep also has found its Cherokee used by rallyists.
* 2005 Results (Talon):
** Group 5: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 2 Finishes; 1 Class win
* 2005 Results (Cherokee):
** Production: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 FinishSaturn
Saturn has been a rarely seen rally car on the Rally America rolls.
* 2005 Results:
** Group 2: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 1 Finish; 1 Class winDatsun / Nissan
Older Datsun models remain popular competition rally cars.
* 2005 Results (280Z):
** Group 5: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish; 1 Class winChevrolet / Geo
A major participant in many other American racing series, Chevrolet cars have been rarely converted to rally in recent years, but the exception is the use of the S10 pickup truck as a RallyTruck platform.
* S-10
** 2005 Open: 6 Events; 6 Entries; 5 Finishes
* Metro
** 2005 Production: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 FinishSuzuki
Suzuki has recently seen its Swift adapted to rally in North America.
* Swift
** 2005 Production: 1 Event; 1 Entry; 1 Finish
** 2006 Production: 2 Events; 2 Entries; 2 FinishesExternal links
* [http://www.rally-america.com/ Rally America]
* [http://www.youtube.com/rallyamericaseries/ Rally America Videos]
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