Post by FordTeamRS on Aug 8, 2006 12:16:52 GMT
In a move to increase participation in more contemporary cars and further reduce the costs associated with competing in rallying, the Australian Rally Commission (ARCom) announced a raft of major changes after their meeting last weekend. Speaking after the meeting Chairman Garry Connelly flagged the initiatives as a significant step forward in protecting the affordability of rallying.
“I think everyone involved with the meeting over the weekend walked away with very positive feelings about the initiatives we’re undertaking for competitors. And more importantly these are changes that will have an effect on every rally competitor, from those in the ARC right down to those drivers competing at club level,” said Connelly.
Connelly highlighted three major items amongst many from the two-day meeting. The first involves the relaxing of technical regulations primarily concerning PRC (Production Rally Cars) built after 1986. The second will provide a back-to-back performance comparison between a Group N car running a 32mm restrictor and a similar car running no restrictor on pump fuel. The third and final item provided direct feedback and discussion between ARCom and the Chairs of each State Rally Panel.
Item 1 – Post-1986 PRC / Other PRC amendments
The current CAMS regulations allow additional freedoms for 2WD, normally aspirated cars manufactured prior to 1986. ARCom has proposed that some of the freedoms available to the early cars be passed across to post-1986 2 wheel drive naturally aspirated vehicles.
For such cars, this will see freedom of inlet and exhaust and in addition cylinder head modifications which involve only the removal of metal (e.g. porting) will be permitted, as will freedom of valve size.
“We will be putting out a discussion paper in the very near future on this topic to gauge feedback from teams and competitors. It is important that we get all sides to comment on this proposal to make sure that we haven’t overlooked anything,” commented Connelly.
Of significance to many will be the concept of a substitute ‘family’ engine for both pre and post 1986 cars under a set of conditions which are to be determined.
ARCom Competitor Advisor and incoming 2007 Chairman Ed Ordynski noted that “An issue has been identified that some owners of earlier cars are developing engines at significant cost, particularly with regard to achieving higher capacities, but there are family engines which may allow a similar result at much lower cost. The most obvious example is the Datsun L18, many of which have been taken to 2.2 litres and more at great cost, where there is an L20B 2.0 litre available.”
“Obviously this relaxing of the rules will allow competitors at all levels to build and maintain their cars at a lower cost than is currently the case,” agreed Connelly.
However, where the substitute engine is used, it will only be permitted a 1mm oversize bore and the standard stroke. Substitute ‘family’ engines will first need to be approved by ARCom upon application.
It was agreed that the PRC eligibility requirements should be amended. ‘2+2’ style cars (i.e. originally registered to carry at least four occupants) but not complying with touring car dimensions will be permitted to compete in rallies under PRC.
The matter of import cars was discussed. Philosophically ARCom does not object to the inclusion of these cars, though it is necessary to first document their specification. This will require an application to ARCom and completion of a recognition document for the car.
It is recognised that in some cases cars subjected to the available modifications will require rally ‘registration’.
The discussion paper is expected to be released in the coming weeks with a response time limit of 30-days.
Item 2 – Group N Plus
A technical aspect of current production turbo-charged cars that has been discussed at length over recent years will be put to the test before the end of the month. ARCom announced at the meeting that a current Group N, FIA specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 will be run back-to-back against a similar car running without a turbo restrictor and on pump fuel.
Connelly confirmed that the performance of the two cars will be compared to gauge the viability of establishing a derivative class from Group N. “What we’re looking at here is a category of car that essentially are full FIA spec Group N cars but will have their turbo restrictor removed and will run on commonly available pump fuel. We’re tentatively referring to this category as Group N Plus and it will run in conjunction with the existing FIA Group N and Super 2000 regulations,” explained Garry.
“Again we’re looking at loosening the regulations in this area to lower the cost to competitors. We believe that the performance between both cars will be very similar, but we’ll be analyzing the data from the test very closely to determine the feasibility.”
“It is important to note though that while we want to afford more flexibility to competitors we still want these Group N Plus cars to be very close to the existing Group N specification so that competitors can quite quickly and easily compete at events like Rally Australia, Rally of Canberra and Rally New Zealand.”
Item 3 – Strategic/Business Plan
ARCom invited the Chairs of each State Rally Panel to last weekend’s meeting to offer their input and that of their Panels to the update of the plan.
This was the first step of the process and the Panels have been assigned specific areas to work on and ARCom looks forward to moving forward on the plan when this work has been completed.
“I think the day proved extremely productive,” said Connelly. “We received a lot of positive feedback and commentary on the important issues in each State. We spent a lot of time discussing these areas and formulating goals for the future and as a collective we have some opportunities to really improve the sport Australia-wide.”
Source: rally.com.au
_________
The ARC definately is looking healthy for the future, hopefully they'll say something about the style of events in the future
“I think everyone involved with the meeting over the weekend walked away with very positive feelings about the initiatives we’re undertaking for competitors. And more importantly these are changes that will have an effect on every rally competitor, from those in the ARC right down to those drivers competing at club level,” said Connelly.
Connelly highlighted three major items amongst many from the two-day meeting. The first involves the relaxing of technical regulations primarily concerning PRC (Production Rally Cars) built after 1986. The second will provide a back-to-back performance comparison between a Group N car running a 32mm restrictor and a similar car running no restrictor on pump fuel. The third and final item provided direct feedback and discussion between ARCom and the Chairs of each State Rally Panel.
Item 1 – Post-1986 PRC / Other PRC amendments
The current CAMS regulations allow additional freedoms for 2WD, normally aspirated cars manufactured prior to 1986. ARCom has proposed that some of the freedoms available to the early cars be passed across to post-1986 2 wheel drive naturally aspirated vehicles.
For such cars, this will see freedom of inlet and exhaust and in addition cylinder head modifications which involve only the removal of metal (e.g. porting) will be permitted, as will freedom of valve size.
“We will be putting out a discussion paper in the very near future on this topic to gauge feedback from teams and competitors. It is important that we get all sides to comment on this proposal to make sure that we haven’t overlooked anything,” commented Connelly.
Of significance to many will be the concept of a substitute ‘family’ engine for both pre and post 1986 cars under a set of conditions which are to be determined.
ARCom Competitor Advisor and incoming 2007 Chairman Ed Ordynski noted that “An issue has been identified that some owners of earlier cars are developing engines at significant cost, particularly with regard to achieving higher capacities, but there are family engines which may allow a similar result at much lower cost. The most obvious example is the Datsun L18, many of which have been taken to 2.2 litres and more at great cost, where there is an L20B 2.0 litre available.”
“Obviously this relaxing of the rules will allow competitors at all levels to build and maintain their cars at a lower cost than is currently the case,” agreed Connelly.
However, where the substitute engine is used, it will only be permitted a 1mm oversize bore and the standard stroke. Substitute ‘family’ engines will first need to be approved by ARCom upon application.
It was agreed that the PRC eligibility requirements should be amended. ‘2+2’ style cars (i.e. originally registered to carry at least four occupants) but not complying with touring car dimensions will be permitted to compete in rallies under PRC.
The matter of import cars was discussed. Philosophically ARCom does not object to the inclusion of these cars, though it is necessary to first document their specification. This will require an application to ARCom and completion of a recognition document for the car.
It is recognised that in some cases cars subjected to the available modifications will require rally ‘registration’.
The discussion paper is expected to be released in the coming weeks with a response time limit of 30-days.
Item 2 – Group N Plus
A technical aspect of current production turbo-charged cars that has been discussed at length over recent years will be put to the test before the end of the month. ARCom announced at the meeting that a current Group N, FIA specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 will be run back-to-back against a similar car running without a turbo restrictor and on pump fuel.
Connelly confirmed that the performance of the two cars will be compared to gauge the viability of establishing a derivative class from Group N. “What we’re looking at here is a category of car that essentially are full FIA spec Group N cars but will have their turbo restrictor removed and will run on commonly available pump fuel. We’re tentatively referring to this category as Group N Plus and it will run in conjunction with the existing FIA Group N and Super 2000 regulations,” explained Garry.
“Again we’re looking at loosening the regulations in this area to lower the cost to competitors. We believe that the performance between both cars will be very similar, but we’ll be analyzing the data from the test very closely to determine the feasibility.”
“It is important to note though that while we want to afford more flexibility to competitors we still want these Group N Plus cars to be very close to the existing Group N specification so that competitors can quite quickly and easily compete at events like Rally Australia, Rally of Canberra and Rally New Zealand.”
Item 3 – Strategic/Business Plan
ARCom invited the Chairs of each State Rally Panel to last weekend’s meeting to offer their input and that of their Panels to the update of the plan.
This was the first step of the process and the Panels have been assigned specific areas to work on and ARCom looks forward to moving forward on the plan when this work has been completed.
“I think the day proved extremely productive,” said Connelly. “We received a lot of positive feedback and commentary on the important issues in each State. We spent a lot of time discussing these areas and formulating goals for the future and as a collective we have some opportunities to really improve the sport Australia-wide.”
Source: rally.com.au
_________
The ARC definately is looking healthy for the future, hopefully they'll say something about the style of events in the future