New rules applying to navigational rallies next year.

Licence holders will have seen this in Motorsports Now (the MSA magazine), but those who don’t have Licences will not know about lots of changes taking place next year, many of which will affect navigational rallies. Hence my decision to précis them here.

The need to stop at Give Way signs is being relaxed, so that before 22.00 or after 07.00 it is not essential. The reason is described thus; “This will allow competitors to treat Give Way junctions during daylight sections in the same manner as other traffic.” I find this a little hard to believe, so treat it with some scepticism until you see it in next year’s Blue Book. I think there is some reality missing here (see comment below).

The Regional Association MUST appoint a DSO for every event (even a 12-car), and his or her expenses must be met by the organisers.                                 *

Any road less than 4m wide will be subject to a reduced average speed of 20 m.p.h. in “daylight hours (07.00 to 22.00)”, “unless exceptionally agreed by the RLO”. The equating of daylight to the times stated is, in my view, not very accurate. In February it is pitch black at 18.00, but the rationale is that this “reflects the increased likelihood of encountering other traffic”. If this is the case, why the reference to “daylight hours?”                     *

The rule limiting the maximum of four headlights is extended to cover Navigational events. Previously it was intended only for “Road Rallies” but it was increasingly misapplied by organisers of navigational events and championships, justifiably in some cases, maybe.

There are a few minor changes to wording, or to details, such as several parts of K18, the Penalties clause. They are not significant enough to list here, except that K18(c) is being reduced from 30 to 15 minutes.

There is a new type of event being introduced, called an “Endurance Road Rally”. There was some mention of it a few months ago, but it seems to have been moulded into some kind of experimental concrete. Basically, it is like the current type of Historic Rally that involves Special Tests and Regularities, but it applies to modern cars, which must comply with K22 and be no more than 1400cc (or 1900 diesel). For those that don’t have the Book, K22 is the technical regulation on Road Rally cars that has been in place for a long time. There are also a few other restrictions on modifications, and roll cages are mandatory. The effect of this new event type may be to extend the entries of existing historic events by allowing modern cars to compete, albeit under a different Permit.

Special Tests are also being allowed in Navigational Rallies, with average speeds of no more than 30 m.p.h. On the above Endurance events this average speed will be allowed to go up to 40 on private ground. These Tests are subject to specific approval by the MSA, as with the existing historic rules.

* These could seriously affect the viability of Navigational rallying Scotland, which is already fighting for survival. More cost in the first case, potentially less fun and competitiveness in the second, even in complete darkness.  

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