SUV Racing Series?

[DodoRacing]

There seems to be a racing series for all types of road going vehicles from saloons to trucks but not one for the SUVs. Or is there one?

Given that all major manufacturers have beefed up SUV models that are useless on normal roads and SUVs are the cash cows (Porsche is selling more Cayennes than 911s), wouldn't an SUV only racing series would make commercial sense? It could also be a lot of fun.

[zebedee]

You have a point but personally I think it sounds awful (but then I don't really 'get' SUVs.

[100SRV]

What about the Porsche Cayenne entered in the Trans Siberia rally?

From the well-known internet encyclopedia:
The TransSyberia Rally is a rally raid race held in Siberia. The rally is open only to 4WD automobiles and trucks. Technical modifications are allowed, but vehicles must be street legal. Most modifications are to improve safety, reliability and ease of maintenance.[1]

On other continents...SUV's tend to compete in raid type events which emphasise their all-terrain abilities - look at the works Touareg, MINI and X3 entered in the DAKAR, all those are exactly like their showroom namesakes. ;-)

[zebedee]

I'd have more respect for a series where they are driven in the Dakar type events (tongue in cheek comment about spaceframe prototypes acknowledged). I was thinking of them screeching and leaning around circuits and the image is just awful.

[designndrive62]

If you made it more like rallycross with some off-track excursions rather than standard circuit racing it could be good.

[zebedee]

designndrive62 said:

If you made it more like rallycross with some off-track excursions rather than standard circuit racing it could be good.

but not as good as actual rallycross, where the lower centres of gravity, lower weights and crazy horsepower are all very entertaining. My one gripe with rallycross these days is that the cars just don't look as cool (generally) as they used to when you had the Group B refugees competing.

[DodoRacing]

I was thinking of track racing not off-road enduro events.

Anyone remembers the X5 Lemans V12?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5HZ7AEG0TQ

Edited by DodoRacing on Tuesday 21st January 19:15

[coppice]

Well,they tried it with caravans and it served to destroy plenty so I am all for it, if it reduces the number of these bloated horrors on the road. A sort of parallel universe to the one which Colin Chapman lived in - " add gratuitous levels of weight ".

[Reardy Mister]

100SRV said:

What about the Porsche Cayenne entered in the Trans Siberia rally?

From the well-known internet encyclopedia:
The TransSyberia Rally is a rally raid race held in Siberia. The rally is open only to 4WD automobiles and trucks. Technical modifications are allowed, but vehicles must be street legal. Most modifications are to improve safety, reliability and ease of maintenance.[1]

On other continents...SUV's tend to compete in raid type events which emphasise their all-terrain abilities - look at the works Touareg, MINI and X3 entered in the DAKAR, all those are exactly like their showroom namesakes. ;-)

Are you just ignoring the T1 and T2 classes on the Dakar? Chockers full of all sorts of SUVs.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Wednesday 22 January 06:25

[McClure]

I can't think of anything worse than a track series for 4x4s. Oh well, if they want a Monaco-esque street circuit they could host it around Cobham.

[Phil Dicky]

What about a series based on white van man. Granted an Astramax with roof racks would walk away with the race win every week

[shirt]

was at a trackday in dubai last week and there was a cherokee srt8 going round. expectedly out of shape in the corners with interesting lines taken, but absoluted stormed it down the straight. couldn't handle more than a few laps before coming in the pits to cool down tho!

apparently the same chap did the yas GP circuit in it a few weeks ago.

[100SRV]

Reardy Mister said:

Are you just ignoring the T1 and T2 classes on the Dakar? Chockers full of all sorts of SUVs.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Wednesday 22 January 06:25

No, not ignoring it, just that the TV and media coverage is limited to the silhouette specials and the real competitors don't get a look in. That then is what the majority perceive the Dakar as being - a rich man's/corporate playground. O/T
Interested to see that Robby Gordon withdrew - apparently fuel contamination.