• ERRC Home
• News
• Getting Started
• Competitors
  • Regulations
  • ERRC Rounds
  • Points Tables
    • 2010 Drivers
    • 2010 Navigators
    • 2009 Drivers
    • 2009 Navigators
  • Tyre Selection
  • Classified Ads
• Contacts

Getting Started

What is Endurance Road Rallying?

Endurance Road Rallying is an exciting and low cost form of rallying. Cars must be unmodified 1400cc petrol (or 2000cc diesel) with certain safety features added (roll cage; sump guard; full harness seat belts) and stiffened suspension. Tyres are restricted to road pattern chosen from a restricted list.

Competition involves two different disciplines of rallying, designed to test both the driver's car control and the navigator's ability to follow a prescribed route and keep to a time schedule as accurately as possible. The first discipline consists of Special Tests (also known as Selectifs) which are always held on private land. The surface could be forest tracks, airfield runways, farm tracks or even military training areas. The crew must complete a prescribed route and carry out certain manoeuvres in the shortest possible time. Some of the tests can be as long as 20 miles! The second discipline takes the form of a conventional Road Rally with straightforward navigation. This takes place at night on the public highway. Here, the emphasis is on maintaining the correct time schedule rather than outright speed.

Each event presents different challenges to the car and crew but they all demand extreme concentration and determination.

Newcomers are made especially welcome and many of the leading crews go out of their way to pass on tips and encouragement. Endurance Road Rallying is proud of its reputation for being the friendliest form of rallying in the UK - the competition in the post event bar can often be as intense as in the forests!

So, you'd like to have a go at Endurance Rallying and you've never done a rally before?

Here are the answers to some of your initial questions.

1. Do I have to join a club?
Registration for the Endurance Road Rally Championship (ERRC) includes membership of the Salisbury & Shaftesbury Car Club. Both driver and navigator must be members. It is also a good idea to join your local car club who will often offer opportunities to get together with like minded people in your area. You can register by completing the form on the Regulations page of this website and sending it to Dick Appleton.

2. Does the ERRC provide instruction for Beginners?
Experienced competitors are always willing to give advice to newcomers. If you have a query, contact Dick Appleton (see the Contacts page ) who will try to put you in touch with an expert. If there is a demand the ERRC will run single day schools for rallying beginners. Highly experienced rally competitors and organisers give talks on all aspects of starting Endurance Rallying.

3. Do I need a special car?
You need a car which complies with the technical regulations for the championship.

4. Do I need special documents for my car?
You'll be required to show your Registration Document (V5). The car will obviously need to have a current MoT certificate, and you'll have to show this each time as well.

5. Are car modifications acceptable?
If you're starting rallying you will be well advised to use a standard and reliable car. However, if your car has any non-standard features or tuning modifications, you should ensure that they are acceptable for the Endurance Road Rally Championship. This information is set out in the technical regulations appendix of the Championship Regulations. Rob Dominy the championship scrutineer is always happy to answer questions on the technical regulations and associated car preparation matters. His contact details are on the Contacts page

6. What safety modifications are required?
Safety modifications are a core part of our sport. You have to fit minimum four point full harness belts, roll cages and fire extinguishers. Open face helmets or head protection may be worn, if you wish, but ONLY on the Selectifs. Crash helmets, intercoms and fire-proof racing overalls are for special stage rallying and definitely not for the public highway, as they would give the general public the impression that we are racing on the public road.

7. Do we need MSA Competition Licences?
For all rallies in the Endurance Rally Championship, all occupants of the car must have an MSA Competition Licence. These licences have to be of at least a National B status and will be inspected at each rally. The one to apply for is the Non-Race National B , for which there is no previous qualification requirement. Just fill in the form and send off your money to the Motor Sports Association (MSA). You can find the full requirements including the licence fees, and you can download a form from the MSA web site www.msauk.org

8. What about my Car Insurance?
Most car insurance policies exclude use in any form of competition. You should check your insurance policy, and if you contact your broker he may be able to arrange a policy for you which extends cover to participating in car rallies of this type. However, every rally in the championship has insurance arranged through the organisers and for a moderate cost drivers can get the minimum Road Traffic Act cover (third party only) for the duration of the rally. Requirements for taking out this insurance cover will be detailed in the event regulations.

9. How do we enter our First Rally?
Each rally is organised independently, not by the ERRC but by a motor club local to the area, so each rally has to be entered individually. Initial contact can be made through the links on this site. The rally organisers will send you an acknowledgement and any additional information you will need prior to the rally.