Rally America

The Rally America National Championship was 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. 2018 was the final year that Rally America sanctioned a rally event. In 2019 Rally America briefly became a media organization with the stated goal of promoting rally in the United States before ceasing all social media posts and shutting down its web site.

Rally America
CategoryRallying
Country United States
Inaugural season2005
Folded2018
Last Drivers' champion Dave Brown (2018)
Last Teams' championRacer Dave Rally Racing
Official websiterally-america.com/

History

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]

Rallies previously associated with Rally America
Race Years involved with Rally America
Colorado2005–2009, 2017-2018
Lake Superior Rally2005–2009, 2013-2018
Rally Wyoming2017
Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race2014
New England Forest Rally2007–2016
Ojibwe Forests Rally2005–2009, 2013–2016
Olympus Rally2007–2012, 2015–2016
Oregon Trail Rally2005–2016
Pikes Peak Int'l Hill Climb2005
Rally in the 100 Acre Wood2006–2018
Sno*Drift2005–2018
Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally2005–2016
Wild West Rally2006

Champions
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
2012 David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2013 David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2014 David Higgins Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2015 David Higgins Subaru WRX STI
2016 David Higgins Subaru WRX STI
2017 Arkadiusz Gruszka Mitsubishi Mirage RS
2018 Dave Brown Subaru 2.5 RS

Event winners

Points

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 the driver three points: one for starting, one for finishing, and one for coming in 10th+ place.

Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th+
Points20151210864321

Manufacturers

Rally America did 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

Subaru was an integral part of Rally America from its inception. The Subaru WRX STi version of the Impreza 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 were discounts on parts for teams using Subaru Rally Team USA parts.[4]

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi was Subaru's primary competitor in North America, with its Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution series of cars. In the hands of competitive drivers, the Evo proved a challenge to the larger quantity of WRXs, often edging into top three finishes.

Ford

Ford Motor Company has had a long history in rallying item rallycross both World Rally Championship and in North America. Ford made a unique appearance in American rallying at the 2009 X Games. Driven by Tanner Foust, Ken Block and Brian Deegan, three open-class Ford Fiestas were dominant (two of the three claimed podium positions) throughout the weekend. Block, the eventual winner, praised the car, while Foust has said he would like to see a factory-backed Ford Racing 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]

Volkswagen

While not often contending for top overall spots they were good cars for those contesting the two-wheel-drive championships and for beginners. The Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Beetle all had many appearances and much success in Rally America events.

Scion

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]

Groups

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]

Open

The engine is turbo charged and must be based on a production engine with the power being limited by the use of an inlet restrictor. The body must be recognizable as the original car. There is a minimum weight also enforced dependent on the engine.

Open Lite

2.5L or less naturally aspirated 4wd production vehicles with no minimum weight. Like the open class the body must be recognizable as the original car.

Super Production

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 2.6 liter 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 manufacturer.

2 Wheel Drive

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.[8]

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References
  1. "News". Rally America. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  2. "About". Rally America. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  3. "News". Rally America. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  4. "Rally Team USA | Subaru Enthusiasts". Rally.subaru.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  5. Archived February 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Scion Racing Rally xD | Turbo Scion xD Rally Car | Scion Racing Rally xD". Rallyxd.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  8. "Rules - Stage Rally". Rally America. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
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