Canadian Association of Rallysport

[Nicki]

I know the decision has already been made, but what do YOU think about the collapse of Grp N(happened Jan 1 2008), and the joining of P1, P2, and P3(Jan 1 2009)?

Is this going to increase competition, or just make it unfair?

I really liked the group N class, it was a small step up from P4, but not quite open class, I thought it was a good stepping stone. As for the joining of P1, P2, and P3, it really does not affect us out West as much as it does out East.

So what do you think? Good, bad, ugly? Do you think we should make a new class since we are removing all these? What about the possibility of a super class(no restrictions)?

Food for thought.

[chris]

Well personally I'm a fan of consolidating classes. I like running in open class even if we cannot top the pros consistently hitting podium. I'd like to continue to see open class grow. Of course saying that is naive due to the cost of running properly in open class. Restrictions on classes are important for competative purposes. I believe the main differentiating factor in a rally should be the driving skill, but what we have seen even in the world level it is who has the best wrc car.

In Canada the sport is still very much in growth and development from a competitive perspective. So I can appreciate the offering of several classes to find which class best suites our competitive base. All in all I'm all about good, intense competition. So whatever brings the teams out and creates the most level playing field for as many drivers as possible, I am all for it. I'm sure the decision makers are thinking along the same lines, so I support their decisions.

[Morison]

The biggest problem with Group N was that it required the use of very specific and very expensive parts. You can build a faster open class car for less than a proper Grn N car, and that is what most of North America was doing. Today, people are spending more on open class cars to get even more speed out of them, and RA has introduced the SP class,which makes a brilliant stepping stone into awd competition.
Group N participation went from reasonable to non-existent on its own. It would have died anyway. I personally think we'd be furtehr ahead had we adopted GrN as the championship class, but that limits competition cars to basically two makes.

P1,2,3 ... when you boil it all down, the cars are actually reasonably competitive in terms of HP or Tq/weight - with a few exceptions.

[chris]

SP class,which makes a brilliant stepping stone into awd competition.

Couldn't agree more, SP class is definitely an inclusive approach to maximizing the accessibility for competitors to not only compete but play at a high level without the limitless costs and burden of being competitive in the full-blown open class.

I also agree that National series would be more competitive with a Group N standardization of one form or another. Its a page from the majority of National series overseas. Competition drives the sport. Its the battle between money and/or driver skill and while rally is rightfully a combination of mechanical superiority and driver skill its important to strike a balance to not only increase competition but bring more manufacturers, sponsors, fans etc. to the sport.

a debate that will surely evolve perpetually over the years to come. :p