CHEAPER RALLIES WANTED

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31082, 10 June 1966, Page 9

CHEAPER RALLIES WANTED

attempt to reverse the ever-rising costs of international car rallying has come from what, at first sight, might seem an unlikely source—the financially-power-ful factory “works” teams, writes John Langley in the “Daily Telegraph.”

If the attempt succeeds, it could also .make the results of these international car marathons much more realistic and meaningful for the person the whole business is meant to impress, the ordinary motorist. Some disgruntled private entrants maintain that the works teams have a vested interest in maintaining the cost of rallies, to ensure that the privateers have no real chance of success. But the truth is that the factories are becoming concerned about the rising expense. Their annual rally budgets are approaching £250,000. One team estimates that this year’s Monte Carlo rally cost it £30,000, including a £lO,OOO bill for tyre studding alone. Proposals for cutting the cost of competing have been put before the international authorities, the Federation Internationale d’Automobile, by British members of the motor industry’s newly formed rally sub-committee. They have suggested that strict limits should be placed on the amount of servicing allowed on competing cars during the event, that prerally practising should be abolished and that restrictions should be placed on the number of different tyres allowed in the Monte Carlo rally. Major mechanical components could be sealed before the rally. Replacements of minor items such as fan belts, or items affecting

safety, such as brake parts, and tyres, would be permitted.

The “no servicing” idea has been given a trial in the recent Austrian Alpine rally, but was not very successful. A similar system was used in the cross-Canada rally recently. Miss Rosemary Smith, who won the coupe des dames in a Hillman Imp, took a special course in mechanical repairs before the event.