Rally3 use in the UK

[hutchie]

Looking through EWRC results page on the Fiesta Rally3 and the events the cars have competed on, it seems Will Creighton's appearances on Northern Irish events are the only competition Rally3 saw in the UK in 2022.

There were no competitive rallies entered in mainland UK in a Rally3 car. Probably not a surprise to anyone but further evidence that a car aimed as a step up for drivers into 4WD on the rally ladder is not generating any interest in the UK. Meanwhile the upcoming Arctic Finland Rally has 9 competing.

Will we see them competing in the future? Should the cars be featured in the BRC or lower championships?

[Paul Hudson]

The BRC maybe should have a class for them, but at the moment they are struggling to get more than a handful of Rally 4 cars, and similar with Rally2/R5 Cars, so i am not sure where they would find the entrants.

Lower Championships we don't have the class structures to suit them, they would just get stuck in with all the other 4wd cars.

They are not exactly cheap either to buy, so most young drivers probably could not afford them, and if they could in the UK you might as well buy a 2nd hand R5 car for similar money.

Anyone with the aim of climbing the so called ladder would not be rallying one in the UK, they need to be in the ERC, WRC, as soon as they can, skip the BRC, its a road to no where.

[Gordini]

Buying an old R5 for the same price as a new rally3, you will have double service cost to keep the car in tiptop shape. So in the long run a rally3 will have a much lower budget.

[Sal yet again]

Bit of an odd one and did wonder if MSport might have put one of their hotshots in one on a couple of UK events last year to try and drum up support for the Festa. The car in some respects as highlighted, has limited appeal in that regardless of running costs, in most hands it wont be able to get decent results against R5/B13 machinery and unless the driver wants to compete outside the UK the class structure here just doesnt support it. Renault UK dont appear to be interested in rallying anymore so the new Clio isnt coming to these shores anytime soon I guess.

[Sulland]

Agreed with the PR runs with a top notch driver.
Reason not to could be that the Rally3 is M-Sport Polands baby.

But one of the top Rally2 drivers should have a go or two in the gravel rallies, to show of potential. That or a test session in the UK as was done last year other places in the world.

[hutchie]

I would imagine putting Matt Edwards or similar in a Fiesta Rally3 car on a BTRDA round would create some intrigue and show the pace and how close to the top the car could be at a much cheaper price than Rally2.

[J4MIE]

Will Hill did the Jim Clark Rally last May, was the Rally3’s asphalt debut in the UK.

May be doing the full asphalt championship this year.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I would imagine putting Matt Edwards or similar in a Fiesta Rally3 car on a BTRDA round would create some intrigue and show the pace and how close to the top the car could be at a much cheaper price than Rally2.

What a great idea, would love this to happen. Matt needs to be active again and the British rally scene needs him.

[hutchie]

Just so happens a Fiesta Rally3 appears on the entry list for East Riding Stages so not a long wait to see one competing in 2023.
https://rallies.info/webentry/2023/ersr/entries.php?type=u

[Steve Boyd]

Just so happens a Fiesta Rally3 appears on the entry list for East Riding Stages so not a long wait to see one competing in 2023.
https://rallies.info/webentry/2023/ersr/entries.php?type=u

Matt Edwards on the list co-driving in a Citroen C3 Rally2.

[J4MIE]

Just so happens a Fiesta Rally3 appears on the entry list for East Riding Stages so not a long wait to see one competing in 2023.
https://rallies.info/webentry/2023/ersr/entries.php?type=u

As above, they’re thinking of doing the full asphalt championship - East Riding is the first round.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

And Edwards is helping Eamonn Kelly in his prep for Rally Sweden (in a Rally3).

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I would imagine putting Matt Edwards or similar in a Fiesta Rally3 car on a BTRDA round would create some intrigue and show the pace and how close to the top the car could be at a much cheaper price than Rally2.

I suggested this to Matt on Instagram and the replied 'That would be good' and 'Anything would be a bonus at the moment!'.

[HKSjbg]

From https://www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk/news/british-rally-championship-opens-registrations/

“… the British Rally Championship topflight for Rally2 and Rally3 machinery…”

However, from https://www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk/content/uploads/2023/01/FINAL-CLEAN-2023-BRC-Sporting-Regulations.pdf

4.1 CLASSES OF CARS
…
BRC3 | Rally 3…

So in the marketing spiel we’re led to believe there is no specific class for the Rally3s and if anyone were to enter the BRC with one they’d be lumped in to the overall standings only. But the official document makes reference to a BRC3 class for Rally3s, so perhaps they do hope/expect that some competitors will enter in a Rally3 for class honours…

[Sal yet again]

Johnnie Mulholland on the entry list for MW Stages in a Festa Rally 3 so hopefully a few more to keep him company

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Johnnie Mulholland on the entry list for MW Stages in a Festa Rally 3 so hopefully a few more to keep him company

He's from N.Ireland. Are there any owned by drivers over here yet ?

The BRC are delighted to have one Rally 3 registered:
https://www.britishrallychampionship.co.uk/news/mulholland-brings-rally3-to-the-brc-with-fiesta-debut/

[J4MIE]

Will Hill has entered his Rally3 at Snetterton next weekend as prep for East Riding. Think Special Stage will be doing some live coverage from there.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Will Hill has entered his Rally3 at Snetterton next weekend as prep for East Riding. Think Special Stage will be doing some live coverage from there.

The first stage is live and the Rally3 car has just gone through...
https://fb.watch/iWVJocd15-/

[HKSjbg]

Christ, why do rally clubs think putting everything on facebook is the way forward? I can barely ever see any videos linked via this forum or found with a google search. Surely Youtube access is more ubiquitous?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I've basically been forced to join FB purely to watch live rallying.

I agree that YT is so much easier but there must be some reason why coverage is mostly on FB now.

[HKSjbg]

I honestly think it’s partly down to the userbase of FB being mostly, let’s say, ‘older generation’. So the people at the motor clubs seem to think “everybody’s on facebook right?” and post all their videos and updates on there. Even to the point that some rally websites are 3 to 4 years out of date.

Off topic rant off :D

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Back on the Rally3 car here at East Riding...

I think its weakness on tarmac compared to the Rally2/R5 cars is showing. The lower power really hurts if its dry and the roads are fast.

[AndyRAC]

I honestly think it’s partly down to the userbase of FB being mostly, let’s say, ‘older generation’. So the people at the motor clubs seem to think “everybody’s on facebook right?” and post all their videos and updates on there. Even to the point that some rally websites are 3 to 4 years out of date.

Off topic rant off :D

It's rallying isn't it? Always seems to be behind. Most of the other motorsport series I watch, are on You Tube....it's a far better viewing experience.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Will Hill finished 22nd in the Rally3... not a great advert for the car.

Hopefully the car entered on the MW Rally will show its pace better.

[Sulland]

If someone are to spend that amount on rally, they need to be shown max potential!

[J4MIE]

22nd when 15 of those are Rally2/R5/WRC isn’t that bad, come on.

Are you saying they should be beating them?

The Escorts that finished ahead are several hundred kg lighter as well so very difficult to beat. One of the reasons there are lots of them in the UK.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

22nd when 15 of those are Rally2/R5/WRC isn’t that bad, come on.

Are you saying they should be beating them?

The Escorts that finished ahead are several hundred kg lighter as well so very difficult to beat. One of the reasons there are lots of them in the UK.

No, that's all true. I was just saying how it shows the Rally3 isn't a great choice for tarmac.

[J4MIE]

No, that's all true. I was just saying how it shows the Rally3 isn't a great choice for tarmac.

Not sure what you’re expecting - it’s a lot cheaper than a Rally2 and still competitive?

[Sal yet again]

Was out on the East Riding Stages yesterday and they were fast and flowing and not nadgery at all so think its a positive he finished so high up TBH. It just looked very efficient and being narrower than the Rally 2 cars was swifter through the chicanes. Having said that I think the Rally 3 cars will come into their element on the loose.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Not sure what you’re expecting - it’s a lot cheaper than a Rally2 and still competitive?

I wasnt expecting anything better, I was just pointing out that the Rally3 isn't at it's best on tarmac.

The big entry on this first round of the Asphalt Championship shows a lot of people like this surface more than gravel. This may mean Rally3 sales wont be helped by this result.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Jon Armstrong hopes for more Rally3 giant-killing in Fafe...

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2023/giant-killing-armstrong-to-drive-fiesta-rally3-in-fafe/

Shame it's not the MW Rally.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Sadly it could be game over for Johnnie Mulholland and Eoin Treacy

The Irish pair were giving UK fans the first look at the Rally3 Fiesta.

Stopped at the end of SS5/SS6 loop.

[Steve Boyd]

Sadly it could be game over for Johnnie Mulholland and Eoin Treacy

The Irish pair were giving UK fans the first look at the Rally3 Fiesta.

Stopped at the end of SS5/SS6 loop.
He finished 1st in class (out of one starter) & 13th overall (out of 17 starters/15 finishers). Two of the Junior BRC runners in Rally4/R2 cars finished ahead of him, as did one of the BTRDA R2 runners.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

His first event in the car and a 4WD, plus tricky conditions. Maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he does with it in future.

[J4MIE]

Will Hill finished 6th overall on the Manx National. Impressive, despite issues with brake discs and nobody having any that would fit.