So thats why they make light beer, for the "rally" drivers!!!! With that sort of endurance heavy beer would mess them up.

As hard as it is to believe, this is a big change for the current ARC.  (In the past there were many stages longer than 50 kms).

Recently the ARC has been characterised by short stages - so much so, it is often referred to by rallyists as the Australian Rallysprint Championship.  The Rally of Canberra in 2009 had a 30 km stage that (technically) needed to be approved, as it was more the "maximum" stage length - which I think the Regs state as 25 kms.

In local rallies, stages of 30 - 50 kms happen regularly.

As an organiser, I am limited - stage wise - due to (a) available forest and (b) the fuel tanks of the 4WD turbo cars.  The top State competitors are getting 1.6km per litre (Competitive) and about 8 kms per litre during liaisons.  When we can't service next to the stages, we either have to add supplementary refuels - or limit the stage length (or both).  Most rally cars have a 40 - 50 litre fuel tank.

I have to admit - I'd love to run an 80+ km stage.  But I would lose all of the 4WD competitors and some of the 2 Litre guys who run tiny fuel cells.

You guys have it good!

Marty
(Fast losing the "Rally Love" and is returning to off-roading)


-- Edited by Marty on Friday 1st of January 2010 06:40:55 PM

rally team I used to pit for had an evo7 and on some stages they carried 1 or 2  2lt coke bottles with fuel in them stuffed at the navis feet.  They would illegally refuel in a liason section so that they could go all out in the stage, otherwise they had to conserve fuel to make it home!!