Motorsports News

• Home
• Latest

• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• July 2018
• June 2018
• May 2018
• April 2018
• March 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• July 2017
• June 2017
• May 2017
• April 2017
• March 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• July 2016
• June 2016
• May 2016
• April 2016
• March 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• July 2015
• June 2015
• May 2015
• April 2015
• March 2015
• February 2015
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• July 2014
• June 2014
• May 2014
• April 2014
• March 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• July 2013
• June 2013
• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• July 2012
• June 2012
• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011

An all new motor sport category has been given the go ahead as part of the 2012 Bosch Australian Rally Championship with a four event Side x Side Rally Challenge to be run as a part of the National Rally series.

The Australian Side x Side Rally Challenge is a new motor sport competition that will be fought out by crews competing in specified Can Am Commander or Polaris’ RZR side by side vehicles.

The Australian Side by Side Challenge has been devised as a relatively low cost way of becoming involved in rallying but is still a full specification national series for Side x Side vehicles to be run in parallel with the traditional Bosch ARC competition.

Key protagonists Can Am and Polaris are billing the Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge as like “a Holden versus Ford, Carlton versus Collingwood, Wallabies versus All Blacks” battle.

The Side x Side Challenge will be run on closed road stages as part of four of the six rounds in the 2012 Bosch ARC with rounds at Rally Calder in Melbourne in early March, the Quit Forest Rally in WA at the end of March, The International Rally of Queensland in May and the Coffs Coast Forest Rally in October.

Polaris is likely to enter its long time ambassador and three times Australian rally champ Cody Crocker in the Challenge while Can Am will be entering its ambassador and former World Championship rally driver Michael Guest in the four event Challenge.

The sport of Side x Side racing has exploded in North America in recent times with tens of thousands of side x side vehicles now sold each year.

According to Polaris national marketing manager, Neil Anderson, one of the key factors that has led to the introduction of the Australian Side x Side Rally Challenge ARC is the development of a set of national guidelines by CAMS including a nationally recognised safety cage specification.

“From 2012 owners will now be able to enter a host of different CAMS sanctioned events not just the Australian Side x Side Rally Challenge with the one specification of vehicle” said Neil Anderson.

“This will effectively be a stock class, basically everything is standard apart from the necessary safety changes such as the approved safety cages and harnesses,” he added.

“We are very keen that this not become cheque book racing and as a result, there will be no engine or transmission modifications allowed and even the alloy wheels have to be stock,” he added.

Kym Pardey, marketing manager for BRP/Can Am says that with Side x Side vehicles offering outstanding consumer value, the company has every confidence that there will continue to be rapid growth in this market.

“Working with the Bosch ARC and CAMS is a great chance to build the recreational and sporting side of the SSV category, offering power sport enthusiasts a new entry point into the exciting world of off-road racing, ” said Kym Pardey.

According to CEO of the Bosch Australian Rally Championship Scott Pedder, the Australian Side x Side Rally Challenge is an exciting development and addition to the Bosch Australian Rally Championship that will expand the reach and participation of the sport.

“I can see the Side x Side Rally Challenge becoming the breeding ground for future rally champions allowing young drivers and co-drivers to learn car control and the intricacies of the sport in a controlled competition at a fraction of the cost of top level rallying,” said Scott Pedder.

“As well as young drivers it will also be a great way for crews of all ages to become involved in rallying without the large commitment required to campaign a traditional rally car,” he said.

“The Side x Side Challenge will not only be an exciting rally category in its own right but will also be a platform for particularly younger crews to showcase their skills and raise awareness amongst sponsors and manufacturers,” Scott added.

See the original post...

Copyright © All Vic Pty. Ltd. 2007-2024

Home | Features | Records | Online Store | Media | Careers | Contact Us