| Category | Rallying |
|---|---|
| Country or region | United States |
| Inaugural season | 2005 |
| Drivers' champion | David Higgins |
| Teams' champion | Subaru Rally Team |
| Official website | rally-america.com/ |
| Current season | |
The Rally America National Championship is the national championship of rallying events in the United States. The inaugural season was in 2005. Rally America was also the name given to the organization that sanctioned the championship, was briefly rebranded to RallyCar in July 2010[1], then reverted to Rally America the following year.
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Rally America was founded in 2002 by CPD Rally Team owner Doug Havir, who provided scoring and reporting services to the Sports Car Club of America's ProRally Championship. The two companies worked in tandem until the end of the 2004 season, when the SCCA withdrew its involvement in U.S. stage rallying. The SCCA then made the decision to sell all commercial and sanctioning rights to Rally America.
In 2005, the inaugural Rally America National Championship was run, incorporating most of the events previously sanctioned by the SCCA.[2] In 2011, Vermont businessman Bill Fogg took over ownership of Rally America from Havir.[3]
| Race | Years involved with Rally America |
|---|---|
| Colorado Cog | 2005–2009 |
| Lake Superior Rally | 2005–2009 |
| Maine Forest Rally | 2005–2006 |
| New England Forest Rally | 2007–Present |
| Ojibwe Forests Rally | 2005–2009 |
| Olympus Rally | 2007–Present |
| Oregon Trail Rally | 2005–Present |
| Pikes Peak Int'l Hill Climb | 2005 |
| Rally in the 100 Acre Wood | 2006–Present |
| Sno*Drift | 2005–Present |
| Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally | 2005–Present |
| Wild West Rally | 2006 |
| Season | Champion | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Patrick Richard | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2006 | Travis Pastrana | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2007 | Travis Pastrana | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2008 | Travis Pastrana | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2009 | Travis Pastrana | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
| 2010 | Antoine L'Estage | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X |
| 2011 | David Higgins | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |
The points are awarded based on final position. As well as achieving a point for starting the race and one point for finishing the race. Thus, finishing a race will automatically earn you three points. One for starting, one for finishing, and one for coming in 10th+ place.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Rally America does not maintain manufacturer scoring or provide recognition for vehicle successes. Most cars are selected by their drivers or teams with the vast majority being entered without any special involvement by their manufacturers.
Subaru has been an integral part of Rally America from its inception. At the time Rally America was begun, Subaru's Impreza, and in particular the WRX STi versions of the vehicle, had already become the most numerous competitive rally car in North America. Subaru became a sponsor of the series and many prizes and other incentives were provided by the company both for rally in general, and Subaru driving teams in particular. A fully stocked parts truck was dispatched to all national events, offering Subaru teams unique access to parts and expertise on scene. There are also discounts on parts for teams using Subaru Rally Team USA parts.[4]
Mitsubishi has been Subaru's primary competitor in North America, with its Evo series of cars. In the hands of competitive drivers, the Evo did prove a challenge to the larger quantity of WRXs, often edging into top three finishes.
Ford has had a long history in rallying item rallycross both worldwide and in North America. Ford made a unique appearance in American rallying at the 2009 X Games. Driven by Tanner Foust, Kenny Brack and Brian Deegan, three open-class Fiestas were dominant (two of the three claimed podium positions) throughout the weekend. Brack, the eventual winner, praised the car, while Foust has said he would like to see a factory-backed Ford team competing regularly in Rally America.[5] For 2010, Ford announced that they would be sponsoring a Fiesta in Rally America and the X-Games.[6]
While not often found contending for top overall spots they can be very good cars for those contesting the two-wheel-drive championships and for beginners. The Jetta, Golf and Beetle have all had many appearances and much success in Rally America events.
The Scion Rally xD debuted in the two-wheel-drive category at the 2010 Oregon Trail Rally with Christopher Duplessis at the wheel. In 2011, Duplessis switched to a Ford, and the Scion xD was piloted by Andrew Comrie-Picard.[7]
In 2009, Rally America narrowed down the number of championships. The regional rallies have many categories split into two events, such as 2 Wheel Drive being split into a separate championship for Group 2 and Group 5, as well as the addition of an Open Light. A list of the full rules can be seen at the Rally America website [8]
The engine must be based on a production engine. Displacement is limited to 5.1L with multipliers used for rotary, turbo charging, etc. The body must be recognizable as the original car. There is a minimum weight also enforced dependent on the engine.
The chassis generation must match the appearance and modifications of the car. Thus, one can take a chassis from a 2006 Subaru WRX and put a 2003 WRX Shell around it, but all parts must be allowable for a 2003 WRX. Engine displacement cannot be more than 2.6L with multipliers, and a limiter is placed on any forced induction system. A minimum weight is also enforced. Many other parts can be replaced, as long as they are an option from the manufacture.
These are based on the old FIA Group 5 and Group 2 standards. Both are limited on weight, displacement, and must be based on cars with a production of 1000 per year. Power may be sent to either the rear wheels or the front wheels.[9]
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