Hillclimbing in Rally Car Class

[Charles-2kzij]

Dear Pistonheads,

I've been doing club level Motorsport for a while now mainly hillclimbs, sprints and nav rallies. I've tended to be in the road going class and use my daily for this but have opportunity to get my hands on a fiesta Mk1 rally car with escort running gear which is MSA logbooked for rallies cheap.

I'm going to buy it but wanted to check the licence and scrutineering requirements with you. Its a bit unclear as the blue book isn't very specific when it comes to rally car class in hillclimbing...

I have a clubman licence and it would be in the 2 litre rally car class.

Its seats and harnesses are out of date and I think it needs a new plumbed in fire extinguisher but is that about all I will need to comply - car is caged , has mudflaps and other requirements etc.

Thanks in advance.

[sfaulds]

I'd be surprised if it had a valid rally logbook - there aren't many rwd conversions still legal.

[df76]

I'm pretty certain that the car would need to comply with the Sports Libre category requirements, and you would need to consider the following from Section S para 7.1.5.1.

Any Driver competing in a Racing or Sports Libre car
of more than 1100cc, or equivalent forced induction, with the
exception of a pre’1994 Formula Ford 1600 in compliance with
the period Ford regulations, must hold a RS National (H.17.1) or
Race National Licence, unless the car is currently licensed for
use on the public highway and competes in the event in a road legal condition.

[Charles-2kzij]

Okay thanks for the replies. I don't really care about being competitive just want to be able to use it. If I have to go in sports libre that's no issue really as I will need to have the same safety gear for rally as I would in sports libre anyway.

The licence issue shouldn't matter because I will have it road legal as I don't have a trailer and would drive to events in any case.

The issue of dates on seats and harnesses is so annoying, all a scam to make you spend money isn't it. Particularly annoying at club level when you'd think they would try to keep costs down.

[df76]

Charles-2kzij said:

Okay thanks for the replies. I don't really care about being competitive just want to be able to use it. If I have to go in sports libre that's no issue really as I will need to have the same safety gear for rally as I would in sports libre anyway.

The licence issue shouldn't matter because I will have it road legal as I don't have a trailer and would drive to events in any case.

The issue of dates on seats and harnesses is so annoying, all a scam to make you spend money isn't it. Particularly annoying at club level when you'd think they would try to keep costs down.

For Sports Libre I'm pretty sure that the seat wouldn't need to be in date. Harnesses aren't that expensive..

Not sure where you live, but there are separate Rally Car classes in the South West. Regs below. There's an overlap with the Rally regulations.

https://www.aswmc.org.uk/aswmc-championships/hill-...

[Charles-2kzij]

df76 said:

Charles-2kzij said:

Okay thanks for the replies. I don't really care about being competitive just want to be able to use it. If I have to go in sports libre that's no issue really as I will need to have the same safety gear for rally as I would in sports libre anyway.

The licence issue shouldn't matter because I will have it road legal as I don't have a trailer and would drive to events in any case.

The issue of dates on seats and harnesses is so annoying, all a scam to make you spend money isn't it. Particularly annoying at club level when you'd think they would try to keep costs down.

For Sports Libre I'm pretty sure that the seat wouldn't need to be in date. Harnesses aren't that expensive..

Not sure where you live, but there are separate Rally Car classes in the South West. Regs below. There's an overlap with the Rally regulations.

https://www.aswmc.org.uk/aswmc-championships/hill-...

Thanks Df27 I live in Cornwall and that's what I was hoping, that I could just go in the rally car class. I will have a more detailed read of the ASWMC regs. Thanks

[Charles-2kzij]

Okay so according to the championship regs on ASWMC it has to comply with the rally regs as per blue book so really it should be possible to go in rally car class. Does it even need a MSA logbook for that or does it just have to meet the scrutineering requirements at the event?

The earlier comment about not being able to logbook a rwd car now I don't understand? Can't you logbook any car if it proper to regs?

Thanks again in advance

[df76]

Email Roy Sims (the ASWMC co-ordinator), he'll answer the questions.

[fttm]

sfaulds said:

I'd be surprised if it had a valid rally logbook - there aren't many rwd conversions still legal.

I can't see how it's any different to a rwd Mk3 Escort , and there's still a few of them competing .

[Charles-2kzij]

That was exactly what I thought, you can logbook anything really if it fits with regs can't you!?

[Charles-2kzij]

fttm said:

I can't see how it's any different to a rwd Mk3 Escort , and there's still a few of them competing .

Okay so according to the 2020 blue book Rally Section R46.2.3 it states car must retain original engine and running gear config. So this would imply it wouldnt be elligable for for a new logbook then? I guess escorts are fine because they are originally RWD? Maybe i will need to go into sports libre then?

This is very confusing so help would be much appreciated.

[andy97]

fttm said:

sfaulds said:

I'd be surprised if it had a valid rally logbook - there aren't many rwd conversions still legal.

I can't see how it's any different to a rwd Mk3 Escort , and there's still a few of them competing .

I think that Gartrac and Genesis were considered to be small volume manufacturers.

[stevieturbo]

Charles-2kzij said:

Okay so according to the 2020 blue book Rally Section R46.2.3 it states car must retain original engine and running gear config. So this would imply it wouldnt be elligable for for a new logbook then? I guess escorts are fine because they are originally RWD? Maybe i will need to go into sports libre then?

This is very confusing so help would be much appreciated.

But he isnt logbooking it for a specific rally class now ? And presumably if it is road legal that matters ?

[Charles-2kzij]

I need to clarify exactly what logbook and history it has. But no I dont want to rally it, just hillclimb it and track day. I will keep it road legal

[captainpugwash]

I would think you could apply for a Cat 2 rally car passport, subject to it meeting all safety reg's.

[Charles-2kzij]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I've spoken to a few experts who have said it will need a cat 2 logbook which is likely to be very difficult due to the strict regs.

So I've actually managed to buy a BMW compact rally car which is all good to go with stage rally logbook.

Thanks

[df76]

Seems like a decent conclusion, good luck with the car.

[stevieturbo]

But if it is road legal, with a V5, taxed/MOT'd etc....yes you may be in Libre, but as long as you pass those rules, no other log books or nonsense should be needed.