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View Full Version : My first rally - 1st Škoda Sprint Rally Cerknica



robi1000
21-03-2012, 22:50
I was always inspired by videos of Ragnotti driving a Clio 16V and Williams, so naturally I wanted to race with Clio too!

Now that I'm finally getting seriously into rallying on national level, Clio Williams is sadly no longer a competitive car in it's class, unless you spend silly amount of money on it, but then again if you spent that money on something else, you can get a far more capable car. That made me really sad, because I thought I will never have a chance to drive a Clio 16V/Williams on a proper rally! Fortunately, I got this chance last weekend!

Me and my co-driver were thinking about entering the rally with a proper race car, but since this first rally doesn't count in national championship, we abandoned the idea, because cost would be too high.

But a few days before the event, my co-driver calls me and tells me that we were offered to drive a "zero car" on the even and if I'm interested. We'd be driving his private car, Clio 1.8 16V. So here I was offered a chance to drive my "dream car" at race pace on a proper rally... Am I'm interested? Dooooh! :D

Car was completely stock with road tires on 6J x 15'' Sparco rims (Hankook Ventus S1 evo).

We were allowed to drive without helmets and rollcage and that was probably the scariest thing. Driving on the edge without proper safety equipment is just dumb, so that's probably my last time driving a zero car that's not equipped with a rollcage.

Anyway, we weren't officially timed, but in the end we would finish 24th overall (of 46), which isn't bad if you consider we were up against Citroen DS3 R3T, C2 R2, Pug 206 RC Gr.A, Panda Kit car, Evos and STIs... All of them on racing suspension and tarmac rally tires. We could probably manage a few positions higher, but that would mean that we would not spare the car and the risk of crashing would be much higher (but zero car is not allowed to crash under any circumstances). Anyway, at the end of the day, spectators were happy and we were happy. Sadly we only had one GoPro, so there's only one angle and you can only see really wide slides (none of them handbrake induced, just speed), but we'll try harder next time!

A few pics from the event:
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537782/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537782.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19523827/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19523827.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19522289/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19522289.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19522285/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19522285.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19522284/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19522284.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19522295/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19522295.jpg

DS3 R3T
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537776/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537776.jpg

Really fast Pug 206 RC Gr.A
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537777/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537777.jpg

Panda Kit car
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537779/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537779.jpg

STI
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537780/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537780.jpg

C2 R2
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537775/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537775.jpg

Renault 5 Alpine Gr.2
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537774/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537774.jpg

A few videos:

Me driving the SS3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLZmNVMONmM&feature=player_embedded

Me driving the SS2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnk_2_wdXDk&feature=related

Nice HD video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fFjylm-GA&hd=1

Clio driveby with engine sound:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1HasSMrSivfMzE4SjNDZVdRdnlSbFBaQnY5c2JqZw/edit?pli=1

And the winner's drive in Pug 206 Gr.A:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXFLfMppNho&feature=related

robi1000
21-03-2012, 23:08
Forgot to add that one of the reasons we were without helmets was because otherwise I would not hear pacenotes (no Peltor in this road car :lol:).

Watch the vids in HD if you have a chance!

Few more pics:
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537829/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537829.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537831/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537831.jpg

There was a lot of sand on the road
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537832/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537832.jpg

Final checks before driving out to Time Control
http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537830/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537830.jpg

http://s7.mojalbum.com/10833367_17540215_19537847/1-sprint-rally-cerknica/19537847.jpg

cliokongen
22-03-2012, 01:08
Yay...
Looking super dobro!

Actually surpriced you are allowed to enter a national race without cage, helmets and other safety equipment.

M

jock
22-03-2012, 02:22
Looks great fun! if a bit scary without the cage etc. :-D

cliorod
22-03-2012, 02:35
Actually surpriced you are allowed to enter a national race without cage, helmets and other safety equipment.
Yes,
On events in the UK ALL vehicles used as course cars and drivers MUST meet the MSA vehcle and safety criteria ....Roll cages,extinguishers,helmets,overalls etc etc. :roll: :roll:

jock
22-03-2012, 02:59
Yep, if you hit a tree at 40mph in an ordinary car thats usually the end! :shock:

16v_paddy
22-03-2012, 05:58
I lost all interest in the cars as soon as I saw the aviators - cool as fcuk mate :affro:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/goose_top%20gun.jpg :lol: