SUV category for 2012 Oz Rally
The 2012 Australian Rally Championship will feature a new SUV category designed to appeal across a wider audienceThe Bosch Australian Rally Championship (ARC) will trailblaze a new category specifically for SUVs next year, in what its backers say will deliver one of the most market relevant motor sport series in the world.
It's no secret that sales of SUVs are continuing to rise and the ARC has launched the new category to draw in fans of the offroad wagons. Rules have been tailored to suit the SUV category, which is expected to feature Subaru Foresters, Toyota RAV4s and possibly even a handful of Mitsubishi Pajeros.
In a press conference held this morning, the CEO of the Australian Rally Championship, Scott Pedder, confirmed that a new 'showroom' SUV category will be launched in 2012. "It's all about market relevance," stated Pedder, who added that SUVs will be "competing for a dedicated rally championship," in 2012.
"Rally Australia has never received the time in the sun it deserves. That time stops now."
The idea is to attract the widest number of marques to the championship, explained Pedder, who said the SUV category will "... adopt showroom style regulations with changes only to wheels and suspension," in order to keep costs down.
Only rudimentary changes to engines will be allowed, and no turbocharged petrol powerplants will be permitted, ruling out vehicles such as the STI-inspired Subaru Forester S-Edition and various Volkswagen Tiguan models.
Pedder explained that only "turbodiesel or naturally aspirated petrol" engines will be allowed under the new rules.
It is understood that size and weight constraints will not be made in the first year or two of competition, so the smaller and lighter the vehicle, the more competitive it will be - in theory at least.
Furthermore, gearboxes must remain factory standard, whether auto or manual.
The first round of the Australian Rally Championship will take place at the newly announced Calder Rally, a new stadium-style tarmac/gravel event in Melbourne for 2012 that is designed to bring spectators closer to the action.
Round one of the 2012 ARC begins at Calder Park in Melbourne, running from March 1 to 4. Check out Rally.com.au for more details.
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