EUROPEAN-STYLE RALLY CROSS

[schanche]

Just been sent this!

EUROPEAN-STYLE RALLY CROSS COMES TO THE USA!

This is an open invitation to join us at New Jersey Motorsports Park as Rally America brings European-style rally cross to the USA. This invitation is not only extended to the rally community, but anyone who would like to participate in this exciting sport.

This information is intended to assist potential competitors in preparation for the rally cross events this fall. This information letter is not a rulebook but is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of March 4, 2010 and is subject to change at any time.

LOCATION

New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
http://www.njmotorsportspark.com/

DATES

August 27-29, 2010
October 1-3, 2010
November 5-7, 2010

TICKET SALES

General admission tickets are $15 for Saturday, $25 for Sunday, $35 for both days.

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Eligibility:

Any driver in good standing holding an unrestricted Rally America National or Regional License may enter 2WD national or 4WD national event. Novice drivers are subject to approval by Rally America on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be purchased from the Rally America office. The cost of a regional license $100, national $200.

Weekend Schedule of Events:

The number of entries will determine the schedule of events. Friday afternoon / evening will be load-in, registration, and scrutineering. Saturday will be practice and qualifying, and, possibly, the first round of heat races. Heat races and D, C, B, and A main events will take place Sunday.

Competition Format:

Practice: 3 laps per session, at least one session.
Qualifying: 3 laps, the fastest lap will determine heat race grouping.

Heat races: 3 heat races of 4 laps for each competitor, each grouped by qualifying time; 5 slowest in the first heat, followed by the next five slowest, until there are less than ten cars left, which are split evenly for the last 2 heat races. Drivers are assigned points based on their time for the completed race in a heat (not finishing position). The fastest driver receives 1 point, next fastest 2 points, etc. A DNF receives 80 points, DNS 85 points, and DSQ (black flagged) receives 95 points.

The sum of the driver's two best (numerically lowest) scores will determine their placing in the main events.

Main events: The 20 drivers with the lowest scores advance to the 5-lap main events, with 1-5 in the A main, 6-10 in the B main, 11-14 in the C main, and 15-20 in the D main. The top 2 finishers from the D main advance to the C main, the winner of the C main advances to the B main, and the B main winner advances to the A main.

Course:
Approximately 1.3 miles per lap from standing start to flying finish, 70% tarmac 30% sand. 1 jump.

Start Line:
Tarmac
Heat races will start 5 abreast.
Main races will have a staggered 2-2-2 start.

Joker:
There will be an alternate element adding approximately 2 seconds to a given lap time (“joker”), which may be taken on any competition lap, but must be taken only once per heat race or main event. The joker will not be used during qualifying, but may be used during practice.

Timing / Scoring:
Transponders will be used for timing and scoring and will be required. Transponders will be available for rent or purchase. Any compatible transponders may be used from any source. Teams are encouraged to provide their own transponder. All transponders will be tested at scrutineering.

Rough Driving:
Some contact is inevitable in wheel-to-wheel racing, but rough or bad driving will not be tolerated, and result in a black flag (DSQ) for that heat or race, or disqualification from the event. The judge's decisions are final; there is no provision for protests or appeals. Drivers who are consistently rough or deemed to be unqualified may not be permitted to enter future events solely at Rally America's discretion.

Car Classes:
There will be 2WD national and 4WD national classes. There may be additional classes, events, or races added as part of the rally cross weekend. Except where noted, normal Rally America technical rules apply.

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Changes from Rally America technical rules:

Catalytic converters are not required.

Water spray is prohibited.

Sound check / noise limits may be required by local ordinance.
Although there will be no co-drivers in the event, 4WD must be equipped with approved co-driver seating and restraints at all times during the event for media use. (Recommended for 2WD)

Vehicles are not required to be licensed or insured.

All lamps may be removed.

Contoured covers resembling lamps must be used when lamps are removed.

If tail lamps are removed, 2 working brake lamps must be installed in the rear window area.

No other lamps are required to function.

Polycarbonate windshields may be used in place of OE safety glass.

Not required:
First Aid Kits
Triangles
Tow Ropes
Spill Kits
In-vehicle spare tire(s)

Hand held fire extinguishers are not required if the vehicle is equipped with an FIA or SFI approved on board fire extinguisher system.

The complete wheel and tire assembly must fit in a 10" wide "U" shaped gauge. (measuring the inflated but unloaded width of the tire and wheel assembly)

There may be a spec tire, or a limited list of eligible tires in the 4WD National class.

Maximum wheel diameter is 18"

Roll cages complying to SCCA GCR appendix G for SS, IT, T, and AS cars are allowed.

4WD National:
For models sold in the USA as 4WD vehicles and using their original driveline configuration:
Max. displacement 2,700 cc w/forced induction
Max. displacement 5,100 cc normally aspirated
45 mm restrictor w/forced induction
Forced induction minimum weight 3,000lbs with driver and all safety gear
Normally aspirated minimum weight 2,600lbs with driver and all safety gear
Active center diff is allowed.
Water (only) injection is allowed.

For models not sold in the USA as a 4WD vehicle:
Max. displacement 2,058 cc w/forced induction
Max. displacement 4,000 cc normally aspirated
45 mm restrictor w/forced induction
Forced induction minimum weight 3,000lbs with driver and all safety gear
Normally aspirated minimum weight 2,600lbs with driver and all safety gear
At least 50% of the engine block must be ahead of the front wheels' center-line.
Active diffs are prohibited.

Variable valve timing is prohibited.

Water (or methanol) injection is prohibited.

Note: For 4WD, 45 mm restrictor is not required when the compressor inlet is smaller than 45 mm in diameter.

2WD National:
Any Rally America-eligible 2WD vehicle.

Per New Jersey state law 13:62-3.6, Snell SA 2000 or newer full-face helmets with face shields must be used. Open face and typical British Standard (e.g., Peltor) rally helmets may not be used!

Entry Fees for August event:
Early entry fee (before July 9, 4:00 PM CDT):
2WD National = $100
4WD National = $200
Regular entry fee (July 10 - August 13, 4:00 PM CDT):
2WD National = $200
4WD National = $400
Late entry fee (August 14 to event):
2WD National = $400
4WD National = $600
CASH ONLY AT EVENT

Note: Rally America may limit (stop accepting) entries prior to the event. The entry limit will be announced soon; at this time we anticipate the entry limit to be 80 cars.

Pit Passes:
All participants / team members, including drivers = $30 per person

A Main Prize Fund:
2WD National = $1,000 minimum
4WD National = $2,500 minimum
May, and likely will increase / expand based on entry levels and ticket sales.

[AndyS]

I was wondering what kind of vehicles they were going to use, looks like they are aiming it at rally cars to start off with, which makes sense to get the numbers up. Will Div 1 cars be eligible? Providing anybody is willing to pay the cost of shipping one out.

[USRallycross]

Division 1 cars are eligible and some are coming from Europe. We don't expect too many US guys to build ERC spec cars day one so have blended the rules so that Open Class rally cars with bigger engines but less technical can run with the lower capacity very smart diffs of the ERC. I know which my money is on but we will get a strong entry of both.

Mark

[AndyS]

Makes sense, as you say it would be rather an expensive excercise to build a full ERC car for what are in practice experimental rounds. I think this was asked in a previous thread but will it be on TV over here? If not I assume there will be something on rallycross tube. Are you setting up a dedicated website?

[tbtstt]

Originally Posted by AndyS

Are you setting up a dedicated website?

Thus far all the news I've seen on it has been on the Rally America website, so I assume it will continue to be covered there?

http://www.rally-america.com/

[F.O.F.]

Lets hope America embraces the best motorsport on earth! Something tells me it could work, so well done to everyone involved in getting it off the ground. I can't wait to see what it will be like.