Regulation Changes

Competed in some Single Venue Stage Rallies back in early-2000s but involved in circuit racing and trackdays since. Back then, medicals and Hans harness (which I hate) were not required on stages.

Just looked at the detail behind RS National Stage Rallying Licences. Appears that medicals are still not required.


Would appreciate advice from current club level stage rally competitors:

- Can you confirm that medicals are not required for a RS National Stage Rallying Licence? Or is my interpretation wrong?

- Are Hans harnesses required for Stage Rallying today?


ps There is too much bullst in club level circuit racing now

Thanks

you could argue that all the rule changes are bullste.

The number of drivers KSI per year in club racing has remained constant for 50 years

Servicing your fire ex bi annually is a waste of time, as is changing your seat belts every 5 years. However I believe that electronic scrutineering records are coming soon along with results, inc accidents, car changes etc. So maybe a better record of car maintenance will ease up on the it's old so it must be changed mentality.

not to hand, but I read the data within an MSA magazine a few years ago. When I say constant I mean, some years 0, some years 3, most years 1-2. Not including spectators, and not including rally. 1 is too many, but the safety changes have done nothing to reduce it to zero. Also included in these KSI's are drivers who die of heart attacks, which is about half IIRC.

Races over my near 30 year race career have remained at about 15 mins for sprints. In the old days you got 1x20 min race, but now its 2x 13 min plus a lap. Then of course you have the proliferation of endurance racing which increases track time significantly.

So we're ignoring that seat belt life has been extended to 10 years for those to 8853-2016 standards? Not to mention the extension of seat life in rallying?

Why is servicing the extinguisher bi-annually a waste of time? It was always the recommended interval which many did and if you had seen the state of some presented for scrutineering you might think differently.

What remains bizarre and has not been addressed in these proposed changes is the differences between club circuit racing and club rallying (broadly):
Medical - racing yes, rallying no
Seat life’s - racing no, rallying yes
Log books/ Tech passports - racing no, rallying yes
Refuelling from cans - racing yes, rallying, largely no (even in the circuit rallies!)
Clothing - nomex gloves & boots - racing yes, rallying no.

There’s probably others if I thought a bit longer.

It’s time we had a common (and common sense) approach based on the lowest level required across the disciplines.

Medicals are required. Look at 10.1.3 on page 133 of the current Blue Book. Presumably you will be rallying with a car, therefore applying for a car licence.

For rallying, Medicals are only required for International licences.

A shame they couldn't find someone less biased to write that article, it's not exactly a balanced piece of reporting.