2022 Rallying Thread (WRC, ERC and national rally)

[mfmman]

Always makes me smile when the subject of ballast in rally cars is mentioned, usually Mk2 Escort Drivers with mods very much outside of period stating 'no way will I add lumps of lead to my car, it's unsafe' ignoring that there are two lumps at 100kg plus bolted down on bars between the sill and the tunnel.

(for the avoidance of any doubt here, I was a 100kg+ lump who sat in both seats and also ran three different cars with non period engine options - C20XE, Atmo Cos & C16XE )

[ArnageWRC]

Ballast seems to be unpopular in rallying circles - but is accepted in many racing series, as a way to balance performance. I'm sure I've read that the MSUK view it as unsafe in rallycars.

[GravelBen]

Great drive from Tanak in Finland, impressive to produce times like that while obviously not comfortable with the cars handling.

Enjoyed watching Lappi hustle a battered car with no windscreen through the final stage to hold onto the podium too, classic stuff.

[andy97]

ArnageWRC said:

Agree - I like the Escorts, but let's be honest, the ones running in the modern classes have a massive weight advantage versus modern cars. Time to end this. A type of BoP is needed, either ballast and/or restrictor for the engine.

Agree, or insist that cars rally with original to type engines and gearboxes!

(For full disclosure I have a Mk2 Escort with a Pinto and h-pattern ‘box! I also set up the “classic rally car register” fb page to try to give a focus to the idea of rallying “club classic” type cars ie those cars that are not historic homologated but use age related OEM drivetrains! The AWMWMC “Heart of England” championship is the first to adopt such a class)

[andy97]

ArnageWRC said:

Ballast seems to be unpopular in rallying circles - but is accepted in many racing series, as a way to balance performance. I'm sure I've read that the MSUK view it as unsafe in rallycars.

Not sure I have ever read that as a formal MSUK view, but have seen people express that view on various forums and fb pages etc. Would love to see a definitive reference. As you have said, we have seats (and therefore drivers) welded in, often separate fuel tanks, spare wheels etc etc bolted in place so why not ballast, or people could just make their cars safer by welding in additional ROPS bars.

[Drumroll]

andy97 said:

Not sure I have ever read that as a formal MSUK view, but have seen people express that view on various forums and fb pages etc. Would love to see a definitive reference. As you have said, we have seats (and therefore drivers) welded in, often separate fuel tanks, spare wheels etc etc bolted in place so why not ballast, or people could just make their cars safer by welding in additional ROPS bars.

Just welding in extra ROPS bars does not necessarily make a car safer. There are many issues with ballast, one of the big problems is enforcing it. Easy at a circuit with a set level area to do it, and cars immediately going into Parc Ferme after the race. Not so easy on a rally, where a car might just happen to come across an extra "spare wheel" on the way back to service (weigh check area).

[ArnageWRC]

Another round of the BRC - the Grampian Forest Rally (formerly the Granite City Rally)...

[boholoblanka]

ArnageWRC said:

Another round of the BRC - the Grampian Forest Rally (formerly the Granite City Rally)...

How is it that Breen can get a WRC seat and Cronin never could. Hes the best Irish driver since Galligan.

[LukeBrown66]

I would say Breen did more than enough to get his seats in the past, plus he has a rich Dad!!

[thepawbroon]

boholoblanka said:

How is it that Breen can get a WRC seat and Cronin never could. Hes the best Irish driver since Galligan.

Cronin doesn't come across as particularly marketable, maybe it's that?

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

thepawbroon said:

boholoblanka said:

How is it that Breen can get a WRC seat and Cronin never could. Hes the best Irish driver since Galligan.

Cronin doesn't come across as particularly marketable, maybe it's that?

Cronin is an oddity in Irish rally terms, Seems to come and go as he pleases and is generally the man to beat in UK rallying. Maybe he lacks ambition but is a better bet on the world stage than GG, or even CB.

[ArnageWRC]

Loads of talent, but not much in terms of backing - hence very few top level opportunities. And he seems to be happy rallying at a domestic level - comes across as an introvert.

If he was from another country, then maybe he'd have got the backing......

[boholoblanka]

ArnageWRC said:

Loads of talent, but not much in terms of backing - hence very few top level opportunities. And he seems to be happy rallying at a domestic level - comes across as an introvert.

If he was from another country, then maybe he'd have got the backing......

Having actual knowledge of (a/my family) trying funding a rally driver from Ireland, I can confirm this as true. I recall the route taken in the end was via one make championships resulting in supported drives if successful. Illness curtailed it in the end.

I think its rather sad that a personality (as you say Introvert) can hinder opportunities. Not everyone is a Rossi/McRae/Senna etc.

Edited by boholoblanka on Wednesday 17th August 08:04

[LukeBrown66]

There are plenty of drivers over many years from Ireland who should have gone further, John Lyons was amazing at extracting speed from anything, James Cullen, Brendan Crealey, Niall McShea, these were all guys that had an amazing talent.

[boholoblanka]

LukeBrown66 said:

There are plenty of drivers over many years from Ireland who should have gone further, John Lyons was amazing at extracting speed from anything, James Cullen, Brendan Crealey, Niall McShea, these were all guys that had an amazing talent.

100% true. I always liked watching Stephen Finlay (NI but from the island) in the cosworth. He was exceptional.

[thepawbroon]

LukeBrown66 said:

There are plenty of drivers over many years from Ireland who should have gone further, John Lyons was amazing at extracting speed from anything, James Cullen, Brendan Crealey, Niall McShea, these were all guys that had an amazing talent.

Watching Niall McShea in the Micra Kit Car, on the 1998 Bournemouth Winter Rally is one of my all-time favourite memories!

[ArnageWRC]

It seems that if you're not from Finland, or France you have a problem getting anywhere in the WRC. Unless you've got family money......

[Jake899]

I was at the Rally Finland, did two days there at various stages each day. It was absolutely packed, and great weather.

[anonymous-user]

thepawbroon said:

Watching Niall McShea in the Micra Kit Car, on the 1998 Bournemouth Winter Rally is one of my all-time favourite memories!

Niall was a fantastic driver, but out of the car he was a loose cannon for the modern corporate world.

I had a fantastic night with Niall and his main Irish backers on the Catalunya rally. Absolutely hilarious and did my head hurt afterwards. He should have got a full works drive based on talent.

[boholoblanka]

jsf said:

thepawbroon said:

Watching Niall McShea in the Micra Kit Car, on the 1998 Bournemouth Winter Rally is one of my all-time favourite memories!

Niall was a fantastic driver, but out of the car he was a loose cannon for the modern corporate world.

I had a fantastic night with Niall and his main Irish backers on the Catalunya rally. Absolutely hilarious and did my head hurt afterwards. He should have got a full works drive based on talent.

if he was in it a few years prior when there was all the cigarette money swirling about he'd have had a better shot at it.