[swiftnfurious]

Have always had this itch for a rally car (which can be used for INRC). The current favorites include Esteem, Baleno, Gypsy & Cedia. But I also see that Polos have been gaining popularity.

I was thinking of getting a used Esteem and modify as this was the most cost effective solution. But in another thread (My "Crawl" into Indian Motor-Sports! WITH PICS), I read that the Esteems' homologation expires in 2014; so that's no more a choice.

Of the rest, the general perception is as below

• Baleno - Expensive and difficult to source parts
• Gypsy - Expensive
• Cedia - Expensive (of all options?)
• Polo - Expensive I presume.

A look at the the FMSCI website says it's the Polo 1.6 that has been homologated.

I was thinking what else can be a cost effective car which can compete with any of these and then it clicked me that "Etios / Liva 1.5" could be a great car. Since Etios Motor Racing uses the sedan version, that's quite possible to use it for other events as well, I believe.

Power to weight ratio - Etios :: 99 BHP / tonne
Power to weight ratio - Liva :: 96 BHP / tonne

Because of low popularity, these might be cheap in the used car market, but may be difficult to procure. Spares should be available very easily. Toyota's low cost ownership could be another advantage. Of the sedan or hatch, which could be better for the rally? How difficult would it be to get this homologated?

Also, once the car is completely stripped off (for rallies), then the hatch would end up being lighter? Right now, it's heavier than the base Etios variant, as per the official report.

Do you think these siblings will make any sense in the rallies? Or are there better options?


I would also like to seek the solution / answers for the below questions:

1. How to get the car homologated? Do we submit any application before we start modifying the car pr afterwards?
2. And a major one - How do you find a navigator for yourself?!

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

Some related threads (though more towards the RAID + Gypsy):

1

2

3

4

5

[girimajiananth]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Have always had this itch for a rally car (which can be used for INRC). The current favorites include Esteem, Baleno, Gypsy & Cedia. But I also see that Polos have been gaining popularity.

2. And a major one - How do you find a navigator for yourself?!

Interesting thread , how expensive is a used lancer ? Lancers have a rally heritage right ? But I am not sure about the availability of spares .

If you were in Banglaore , I would have volunteered to be your navigator , but then again I do not have experience .

[killjoy]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Nop, the thread was in Assembly line all the time. Was a bit tied up & never published it all the way.

Aah ok. Now that explains a bit.

Look, I will make an attempt to answer your question.

If you are on a budget and just want to rally for fun/to get experience, you would be better off getting an Esteem prepared. It is cheap (relatively) and can get you used to the pace and the battering that a rally car handle. Most people who rally for the first time just do not know how much they can push the car and hence are slower. The homologation is still valid and cars are running in the INRC this year. Drawback is that you would be running along with the 1600s as there is no separate category for this car.

Baleno - Good option but look at the podium of Nashik rally, all three Honda VTECs. But if someone were to enter the Polo and all these Hondas, you may find it difficult to place.

Gypsy - Dont bother unless you are planning endurance rallies like the RDH or the DS.

Cedia - Good option but expensive. You will also be driving only against other Cedias for now.

Polo - Expensive if you want to be competitive.

A good option would be to rent a car for a rally and see how you do, how much you enjoy it and then decide what you want to. Let me know if you need anything further, glad to help. We were in the same dilemma about 10 years ago

[kisharchit]

Originally Posted by killjoy

Aah ok. Now that explains a bit.

Look, I will make an attempt to answer your question.

If you are on a budget and just want to rally for fun/to get experience, you would be better off getting an Esteem prepared. It is cheap (relatively) and can get you used to the pace and the battering that a rally car handle. Most people who rally for the first time just do not know how much they can push the car and hence are slower. The homologation is still valid and cars are running in the INRC this year. Drawback is that you would be running along with the 1600s as there is no separate category for this car.

Baleno - Good option but look at the podium of Nashik rally, all three Honda VTECs. But if someone were to enter the Polo and all these Hondas, you may find it difficult to place.

Gypsy - Dont bother unless you are planning endurance rallies like the RDH or the DS.

Cedia - Good option but expensive. You will also be driving only against other Cedias for now.

Polo - Expensive if you want to be competitive.

A good option would be to rent a car for a rally and see how you do, how much you enjoy it and then decide what you want to. Let me know if you need anything further, glad to help. We were in the same dilemma about 10 years ago

But the Nashik rally had only one entrance from a Baleno. Rest were all cedias and Vtecs and Polos. So maybe more entrances from Baleno could make it more popular!

[killjoy]

Originally Posted by kisharchit

But the Nashik rally had only one entrance from a Baleno. Rest were all cedias and Vtecs and Polos. So maybe more entrances from Baleno could make it more popular!

TO each his own but I dont think that the Baleno can hold a candle to the power of the Hondas. Why do you think there were more entries by Hondas than Balenos? These are all people who have been there and done that.

[kisharchit]

Originally Posted by killjoy

TO each his own but I dont think that the Baleno can hold a candle to the power of the Hondas. Why do you think there were more entries by Hondas than Balenos? These are all people who have been there and done that.

That I fully agree with you. I think long before balenos were the weapon of choice weren't they?

[swiftnfurious]

Was thinking of a good car for the rally and just thought, a 1.3 petrol Swift will be a good contender? Doesn't it come with the same engine as the Esteem? Has anyone modified the Swift for INRC ?

[sudev]

The reason you do not see Maruti cars in rally championship is that they are not homologated. Maruti could not care less for getting this done and without this you cannot enter a car in championship. Esteem was homologated by individuals as was Zen (actually I got that done in 1994).

[blahman]

Originally Posted by sudev

The reason you do not see Maruti cars in rally championship is that they are not homologated. Maruti could not care less for getting this done and without this you cannot enter a car in championship. Esteem was homologated by individuals as was Zen (actually I got that done in 1994).

Can you please let us know the procedure to get a car homologated by FMSCI by an individual? Will the car be in a condition to be used in a rally or will it be a write off? Thanks in advance

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by killjoy

TO each his own but I dont think that the Baleno can hold a candle to the power of the Hondas...

Doesn't the INRC insist the cars to be stock spec with just the air intake & exhaust(?) allowed to be modified (for larger noise levels)?

Shouldn't this make both the cars(Baleno & V-tec) in the same level in terms of the power output?