Get your rally '02s ready for the WRC Classic series

[f1reverb]

In 2011 the WRC is going to have a Classic series . . .

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80502

"From 2011 we'll be introducing a WRC classics series where you can see the iconic cars of yesterday.

When you look at Formula 1, MotoGP and other sports, all of them have academies that responsibly nurture the talent of tomorrow. We want to have a minimum of 100 competitors at every rally. That can include 30 WRC cars at the front of the field, then a number of juniors, a number of celebrity one-off drivers, right the way down to the amateurs."

[Slackey]

sounds marvelous. can't wait.

[peteinjp]

That's it! I'm moving back to the states..... I hope my wife comes too.

[Rev.Bubba]

This is a good time to bring the discussion back up for the right suspension setup for rally. Everything is mostly street/track. I keep leaning towards the coil overs all around but I want to do it for fun and not competition so we should break it down to amateur and pro configurations. What do you guys think?

[tomorrowcalling]

That's it! I'm moving back to the states..... I hope my wife comes too.

Why? - Japan will be holding a round of the WRC in 2010 (and I assume 2011). The only round in North America is Mexico

[peteinjp]

My wife will be glad to hear this......

[tomorrowcalling]

I wonder what the rules will be for a "Classic", my car may be a bit too much of a hot rod to comply (E30 rear suspension & EFI). The nice thing is here in New Zealand we do get to run behind the WRC guys for day 2 in Possum Bourne Memorial Rally.

It would be a big ask to beat the BDA Escorts and Nissan 240RSs unless you had the money to build a car up to Group 4 specs (including that 16V Schnitzer head).

I did hear recently that the 2002 which won the Rally of New Zealand back in 1970 is currently being restored - it will be nice to see it back in action

[williamggruff]

Well, if we're going to go rallying, might as well have a few videos to fuel our passions:

A few BMW 2002 rally videos:

BMW 2002 Ducháty rally team

Craig Tickle / Stuart Cannan BMW 2002

BMW 2002 TI Gruppe - Schrey & Drüge

(wrong way on Nürburgring)

A few hour +/- length Group B videos:

Best of Group B (1:21:30)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1370390418907086777#

Super coches de rally - Grupo B (59:43)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6376785787584327967#

Still Too Fast to Race (1:16:51)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2782882305909578911#

[tomorrowcalling]

Craig Tickle / Stuart Cannan BMW 2002

That would be me

[williamggruff]

Thought it might be you, and couldn't resist the opportunity to confirm my suspicion ;-)

Nice rallying! Looks and sounds like great fun.

[tomorrowcalling]

It is lot's lots of fun, the spectators also seem to get a kick out of seeing the older cars.

When we did the 2007 PBMR we were on our way to one of the afternoon stages. There was a little convoy of rally cars, Stu & I in the 2002, a Mk1 Escort and a Series 1 RX7. As we came around a corner there was a group of international photographers, as we went past they totally ignored the WRC cars going the other way to take pictures of us!

This year we were a bit off the pace, the length of the stages fizzed me a bit. The youtube video is about the first 1/3 of the stage and there were also longer stages, I tended to drop into a more conservative style at about 10km into the stage. But on the other hand we finished in one piece which is more than many others could say.

[C13LucianF]

Is the WRC still televised in the US? My TiVo can't seem to find it...

[M3M3]

yup. i get it on the HD theatre channel. sunday nights.

[C13LucianF]

yup. i get it on the HD theatre channel. sunday nights.

Who's your provider? Anyone know what channel for Direct TV?

[tomorrowcalling]

Here's a bit of information about the 2002 rally cars from the 1970's. It's from a book called "Rally Cars" by Reinhard Klein. Check out the somewhat failed experient that was the 3002.