Help a young girl start rallying

[Billopoulos]

Hi there,

for some time now I am trying to think of ways to help my girlfriend find a place into rallying. She loves the Citroen DS3 and after a conversation we had about rallies, I found out that she would love to start rallies only in a DS3. Citroen have announced their new entry-level, DS3 R1, which is a perfect choice for her.
The main problem is funding of course, as we live in Greece and you may be aware of the financial crisis. I can't support her, so I am searching for alternative funding.
I rely on private funding and maybe some help from Citroen (marketing reasons).
I am going to give it a try for sure and see if I can achieve something.

As this is my first post (although I read the forums for some time), I can't post direct links...
gofundme.com/startrally

This is the way to help us, you can donate any ammount if only you wish!

Thanks a lot for your attention. Wish you the best!

Bill

[Sulland]

Quick answer would then be DS3 R1.
R1 is a cheap starting class into the sport.
Daniel Elena impressed by Citroën DS3 R1 - Citroën WRC (http://www.citroen-wrc.com/en/2012/news/competition-clients-news/3818/daniel-elena-impressed-by-citroen-ds3-r1/)

Good luck!

[Billopoulos]

Of course I am targeting the DS3 R1, I had already mentioned that in my first post! :)

Thanks a lot! :)

[Sulland]

This should work;
Help a young girl start rallying! by Bill Savidis - GoFundMe (http://www.gofundme.com/startrally)

[Allar]

I think you should target some used and cheaper car. Buying car is one thing, but driving it is expensive as well. If she is serious then she cant judge cars only by its looks.

[Billopoulos]

Some weeks ago, I found her some used rally cars: Peugeot 106s, Citroen Saxo's, a couple of Toyota Yaris's, but none of them really excited her. When I mentioned the DS3 R1 and we looked at the specs, she said: "yeah, with this car I'd take part in rallies"!
What I haven't mentioned is that she owns a Citroen DS3 THP :bounce: for personal use and having lived with it, is the reason she would only love to start with a DS3...

Anyway, I know that there is close to no chance that someone will fund this "project" :laugh: :( , but as I always say; it's good to give it a try at least! She doesn't know I begun searching for funds, but either it will achieve or not I will tell her that at least I've tried! :)

[tommeke_B]

The one who does not honor it small is not worth it at all, tell her that... If you really want to drive a rally you are willing to do it with any car, this topic here is one big joke.

[Sami]

Some weeks ago, I found her some used rally cars: Peugeot 106s, Citroen Saxo's, a couple of Toyota Yaris's, but none of them really excited her. When I mentioned the DS3 R1 and we looked at the specs, she said: "yeah, with this car I'd take part in rallies"!
What I haven't mentioned is that she owns a Citroen DS3 THP :bounce: for personal use and having lived with it, is the reason she would only love to start with a DS3...

Anyway, I know that there is close to no chance that someone will fund this "project" :laugh: :( , but as I always say; it's good to give it a try at least! She doesn't know I begun searching for funds, but either it will achieve or not I will tell her that at least I've tried! :)

It seems that she is at very earle stages in his rallying enthusiasm. Choosing a car by its looks sounds a bit unprofessional :)

Has she ever tried a rally car, ever tested whether or not it suites her to drive a rally road flat out on rally routes. Or even ever tried a local countryside road in her DS3 by driving for example half minute on it keeping the gas pedal nailed, achieving some rally speeds. There's many wanna be rally stars who just after getting a hint of the speeds and the feeling of driving really fast have realised that actually it isn't his/her sport. Rallying is very dangerous sport, one of the most dangerous ones, so she really has to be able to bear the risks and understand them (remember, it's close to 20 drivers that have been killed only this year in rallying).

The first step is to make sure she really enjoys the risks and is able to bear the speeds. Then if she still thinks that she likes it, it could be time to plan entering a real competition. But still you don't have to invest in a car, there's plenty of cars for hire. By renting a car she can really drive rallies without investing huge amounts in the car itself.

And renting cars is not only cost effective, it is also easy, someone with knowledge maintains the car, invests in facilities and propably helps her learning the sport too.

Actually, I have never owned a rally car, but driven all the time with rented cars. First several years with rented rwd Corolla's until a big accident and then after a break in rallying to heal my injuries (medical and economical) I started again first with BMW 325 and after that M3. And always rented them turnkey. I have never even considered buying a rally car (and tyres and carage and service vehicles and rally car trailer and spare parts and fuel and...)

Se should take it step by step, and not rush into it burning money and being left without positive experience. First make sure she really wants it. I mean really.