amateur car racing different classes are gaining momentum. Today, on a variety of tracks, you can see both professional prepared cars and just cars in desired class With standard equipment. It is the drivers in latest cars dedicated to the information in this article. The fact is that it is dangerous to operate a car in this mode. The rally may not be the most enjoyable and simple action for transport. You can crash your car and injure yourself. Often the car rolls over. At the same time, nothing happens to prepared rally vehicles; after a coup, they can continue to move on. But a civilian car, which arrived from the asphalt road to the rally, is simply doomed to complete destruction. Yes, and repairing a prepared machine is easier and cheaper.

Most popular cars for rallying in our time - the old VAZ 2109 and 2108. These are excellent front-wheel drive cars that become just an excellent base for the formation of a very high-quality and reliable car for racing. Of course, almost everything will have to be redone, but the design is already ready for the installation of normal sports parts. However, hatchbacks and sedans of other classes, brands and years of production are often used. You can turn into rally car almost any car, and the original transport will only answer the question in which class you will drive a car. There are amateur races, and there are professional ones, and the admission of cars to each stage is individual. So the preparation of the machine often takes place according to certain requirements. Today we will talk about general processes.

Strengthening the body - a measure of safety and caution

To use the car long enough and successfully, you have to turn it exclusively into a racing machine. To do this, first remove all glass, including the windshield. To avoid any problems with flying stones, a fairly fine mesh is installed instead of glass. This helps to avoid injury during the operation of the car. Also, such work is carried out with the body that allows you to strengthen it and prepare it for trips on the track:

• the first step is to throw out everything unnecessary from the cabin, as well as everything that has weight, these are door cards, rear seat, plastic panels and shelves, carpets and other details;
• the steering wheel, pedals and two front seats remain - for the navigator and driver, normal instrument control is also provided, more accurate sensors are installed;
• the next step will be welding the body stiffening arcs in the cabin, they pass through the entire cabin, can be arranged in a chaotic manner and are an important detail;
• all new installed parts necessarily processed anti-corrosion coatings or primer, painted and brought to a normal aesthetic appearance;
• the body is brought back to normal, any functional problems with the parts are eliminated, rust is removed and potentially dangerous places are boiled.

All these jobs require professionalism. You can only disassemble the interior and throw away unnecessary elements. Otherwise, you can only rely on the work of specialists. Otherwise, the processes performed will be of poor quality and will not be able to provide the necessary reliability of the car in a variety of difficult conditions. That is why unprepared cars have problems.

Engine and transmission are important parts of a racing car

Before changing a powertrain or transmission, find out exactly what the different associations and tournaments are asking for. It is quite possible to install a large one on the VAZ 2108 turbocharged engine for a couple of liters and more than two hundred Horse power, but such cars will not be able to exhibit at all competitions. So you have to be careful with technology. Among important aspects work with power unit the following features can be distinguished:

• the engine can be left as a native one, but it must be in the best possible condition, ready for the most heavy loads must be present;
• the gearbox is often enhanced and refined, installed from other cars that have a shorter stroke and more flexible gearbox operation;
• all modifications must comply with the requirements of the association in which you want to compete, even if at first it is just an amateur level and the car is not controlled;
• immediately equal to the most high levels racing competitions and their demands that if you're lucky, don't rebuild your car back to factory settings;
• any work on installing the engine and gearbox must be carried out in a professional workshop, otherwise the quality work of these components cannot be guaranteed by anyone.

As you can see, rebuilding an engine is also quite a complex and specific activity, which can be enjoyable for your hobby, but very unpleasant for your wallet. So there are certain subtleties in each process. For someone to buy a used old "Eight" will already be an achievement, and someone can install new engine from Mazda, for example. Everything in this world is conditional and depends on circumstances.

Suspension and important modules of a rally car

Of course, factory suspension from no other brand in the world will be able to withstand the loads of a rally for a long time. If you are converting to racing car domestic car, then the suspension needs to be changed immediately. Otherwise, in the middle of the race they may fly out ball joints, CV joints, bend the suspension arms or rattle the beam. Then you have to stop the competition and go for repairs. It is better to immediately take care of such features, which are the minimum for racing:

• complete replacement of silent blocks in the suspension with high-quality products not made of rubber, but of more durable and reliable materials, installation of new high-quality fasteners on these nodes;
• replacement of racks with sports ones, they should not be oily, here it is better to use rigid, rebound and indestructible racks from special manufacturers for sports;
• racks change with top supports sports type, as well as new springs and ball bearings with a reinforced body and a movable mechanism;
• the suspension arms and the beam are inspected, if necessary, they are strengthened or changed to more durable ones, the rest of the car's suspension is also inspected;
• it is better to install brakes that are more effective, and it is better to change them along with calipers and drums in order to get better results in all respects.

The wheel bearing system on many cars lives up to 200,000 kilometers in normal mode. It is not necessary to change hub parts in preparation for a rally. But in case of failure, it is worth replacing at least a set of two bearings, and it is better to choose not factory-made, but reinforced and prepared for high loads bearings. All this will help you get the most quality solutions with the required settings.

How to Rally as a Beginner - Highlights

If you have already made a car, but do not know how to start your performances, it is worth taking some steps. First of all, you will need a partner for many races. This is the navigator, who on many cars also plays the role of balancing the car. Next, you should look for several championships and competitions for fans of car racing. The principle of the search is as follows:

anyone can enter the competition, your car is fully suitable for all restrictions, the name of the competition has the word Open, which allows everyone to compete;

• you are satisfied with all the time frames of the championship, its venues, stages and conditions for choosing the winner, there are certain conditions in each competition that you need to take into account;
• you should apply for the championship with a demonstration of the car, so for a start it is better to choose only competitions in your city or area, this will help you get on the path of the racer;
• further, as you gain experience, you can say exactly what conditions must be met to participate in a particular competition, so that you can declare yourself in other cities;
• pay attention to the prize fund, as well as the principles of its formation, often amateur races are arranged by investors, who are the creators of all prizes;
• sometimes the prize fund is collected from the participants, and then distributed to the first, second and third places in each class of cars, in which case you will have to deposit your own money.

Of course, it's better to start with sponsored races where you don't have to deposit your own money. Win the race against the people who for a long time train and fight at different stages of the rally will not be easy. Therefore, you will simply lose money. And in free competitions, you can always show yourself, practice and show all the qualities of a car without spending any money at all. We offer you to look at the requirements for a car for autocross:

Summing up

Becoming a racer in Russia is quite difficult. To do this, you need to take into account many important features of each competition and championship, it is worth maintaining certain conditions for the car. There are a lot of restrictions that should always be taken into account when building a car and following all the rules and regulations of the rally. If you violate the rules of participation, you will be disqualified and you will lose funds. Remember also that it is often impossible to drive a rally car on the road, as it does not have certain elements necessary for traffic. In this case, you will also need a trailer, as well as a tractor vehicle to transport racing vehicles to the right places.

All this is quite a costly process, so you immediately need to decide on the amount of money that you are willing to spend on the race. Do not expect to immediately find a sponsor who will offer you incredible opportunities to participate in the highest championships. It is common for riders to establish their name in amateur racing for several years and ride at their own expense before being taken under their wing by any large corporation. So everyone should be careful with the start of such difficult and expensive competitions as rallies and any other car races. Would you like to take part in the rally in a specially prepared car?

An inquisitive mind will find direct and indirect use for every thing. So the car became not only a means of transportation. The thirst for thrills, the taste of victory and the demonstration of skill pushes some amateurs into competitions where they can test their skills. tough temper and character of the vehicle.

Rally is a kind of car racing. Its history begins in 1894, although the term "rally" was introduced only in 1907. This is a cross-country race, often without asphalt, in which the key to success is not so much the technical performance of the car as the skill of the driver.

Any participant can take part in the rally with his own civil car. But the desire to be a leader pushes motorists to improve the technical part.

The organizers of the "rally sprint" competition were forced to establish certain restrictions on design changes car. Some of them will be described below, but for now it should be noted that the power power plant is mandatory, but not the only parameter leading to success.

Role of rally car suspension

There are often posts on social networks in which adrenaline lovers post photos of their cars with cut springs, indicating that they have installed rally suspension. It's no wonder that daring comments immediately begin to pour in. After all, such a car cannot have anything in common with a rally.

A rally suspension must fulfill its intended purpose. What is the role of suspension? Does it provide a connection between the body and the wheels, dampen vibrations, increase comfort? It is time to part with this trivial definition.

The main task of the suspension is to ensure the adhesion of the wheel to the surface. When a wheel gets into a pit, a timely release must occur, otherwise the wheel will remain suspended and the car will be uncontrollable. When hitting an obstacle too rigid suspension will transfer the force to the body, and the latter will react with excessive overhang.

Experienced pilots emphasize that a properly tuned suspension significantly increases the dynamic performance of a car.

Rally suspension device

In any article devoted to the work, you can find the statement that it is not applicable to sports cars. The use of MacPherson in rally cars baffles any reader. What is the paradox?

A lot of things are allowed for accredited journalists: you can study cars, follow the work of mechanics ... But it quickly became clear that the teams' openness is largely ostentatious - you can't see the true secrets behind the wide backs of mechanics. In addition, the "top" know-how is hidden inside the engines, transmission units and in electronic blocks management - where the path is ordered to an outsider's eye. But during the three days spent in the Cyprus Rally paddock, we managed to sort out something.

The main difference between the WRC cars and the race cars of the ring series is the all-metal body and the close relationship of the design with serial cars. After all, the “body” cars of the DTM or NASCAR championships are, in fact, prototypes - with composite bodies that only superficially resemble their serial ancestors. But the WRC regulations restrict the modifications of the base car more strictly. For example, the position of the engine can be changed by no more than 20 mm ...

Here, Chris Atkinson's Subaru Impreza WRC 2005 hobbled under the branded blue tents, for which the first racing day ended with a transmission failure. The mechanics covered the car with industrious ants and in twenty minutes they dismantled it almost completely - they removed the gearbox, suspension struts, stabilizers, cardan shaft And rear gear. All these nodes look exactly the same as on ordinary "civilian" cars. Sometimes even easier! But the highlight is that the layout and each individual item brought to perfection.

Perfection is first of all materials. Lightweight and durable composites are used wherever regulations allow - even for oil pans. Wheel bearings are made using ceramics, suspension and transmission parts are made of titanium, and wheel disks- made of magnesium alloy. One can only guess what alloys are used for the manufacture of particularly loaded parts - for example, turbo engine pistons, the boost pressure in which reaches 2-3 bar!

The maximum power of WRC engines is officially limited - no more than 300 hp. But since the technical commission is not able to control it, the real figures are 10-20% higher. And this despite the fact that the block and cylinder head are made on the basis of serial ones! The 34 mm air restrictor located at the turbine inlet and dooming the engine to oxygen starvation does not allow to squeeze even more out of the engine. high revs. But the torque of the engines is huge. Two-liter turbo engines develop up to 600 Nm - more than a five-liter BMW M6 engine. By the way, unique to sports cars The “momentary” nature of the motor determines the specific driving tactics - with a minimum number of gear changes. The optimal switching moment is determined by the control electronics, and a light on the instrument panel serves as a hint for the driver: it lights up - switch “up”!

We managed to look into the salon only at the moment when the mechanics added water to the tank for driver's seat. It feeds the water supply system to the intake pipeline, now actively used in the world rally. Water is sprayed through a special nozzle at a pressure of up to 10 bar, reducing the temperature of the fuel mixture to almost atmospheric. This seemingly simple solution has a striking effect. The heat load of the engine drops, it becomes less prone to detonation, which allows you to raise the boost pressure even higher. True, a five-liter tank is enough for only one section - about 60 km.

Each stage requires special customization engine. For example, before a mountain race, the boost pressure is increased in order to compensate for the decrease in atmospheric pressure. Gasoline with octane rating 102 all teams are supplied with the same - manufactured by Shell. Combustion products are removed by an exhaust system equipped with one or two catalysts and reliable multi-layer ceramic-aluminum thermal insulation. During the operation of the “anti-lag”, the fuel that spins the turbine burns out right in exhaust system- tongues of flame burst out of the pipe, and the entire tract is red-hot. The exhaust pipes are located so as not to remove them when servicing the main units.

Gearbox - a separate song. On modern WRC race cars apply six or five-speed boxes, and recently there has been a tendency to reduce the number of gears - such tactics are dictated by "torque" motors. Gears are switched using rings or buttons located on the steering wheel hub, and the movement “away from you” downshifts. Just in case, the driver also has a traditional floor lever at his disposal - in case of electronics failure, it allows you to control sequential box in "emergency" mode. But if everything is in order, and the process is monitored by electronics, then the hydraulic actuators in just 35-50 milliseconds open the carbon three-plate clutch with a diameter of about 150 mm and change gear. On the same BMW M6 robotic box works slower - it takes at least 60 milliseconds to switch.

On each car, the gearbox is changed on average twice per race. In the same block with it, central and front differentials with electro-hydraulic control are installed. Hydraulics regulates the compression force of the discs connected to the opposite shafts - in the image and likeness of the Haldex coupling. On all cars, except for the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 with its ingenuous mechanics, electronic “brains” control the differentials, although the driver can force the differentials to work according to specific conditions. For example, before starting, hard block them - for the most efficient overclocking, and later switch to automatic mode.

A modern car of the WRC class accelerates to 100 km / h in four and a half seconds. And here maximum speed not impressive - 210-220 km / h. But more is not needed: on rally special stages, it is not so much the maximum speed that is important, but the perfection and reliability of the chassis. The regulation allows for considerable freedom in the choice of scheme and suspension attachment points. But all teams prefer the simplicity and maintainability of the McPherson scheme to sophisticated multi-link designs. To simplify maintenance, sometimes not only parts of the left and right side, but also the front and rear suspension! On dirt rallies - like here in Cyprus - the suspension travel is adjusted to 220 mm. Any electronic systems are now banned, although last year the teams used controlled anti-roll bars. Recently, on asphalt rallies, some teams, in particular Peugeot, are trying suspensions without stabilizers at all - coupled with special shock absorber settings.

I managed to observe how the pilots adjusted the shock absorbers right on the track, before the start of the special stage. On some machines - for example, on Subaru - the number of external adjustments reaches four: you can change the resistance to compression and rebound at low and high speeds stock.

And yet the basis of all foundations is the body. The bodies of the WRC cars are made entirely of metal. Composites are made only aerodynamic kit. Body is based on production model, more precisely, its main elements - the floor, sidewalls, roof racks ... But these parts are also undergoing serious refinement - for example, in order to accommodate non-standard suspension units and all-wheel drive transmission. A safety cage is welded into the body, which becomes a key element of the power structure. The total length of frame pipes made of alloy steel reaches 50 meters. The frame not only entangles the living space of the crew, but also connects the suspension attachment points.

The reverse side of strengthening everything and everything is excess weight. Therefore, in parallel, the designers are constantly searching for extra "fat" and trying to get rid of it. For safety reasons, the FIA ​​even introduced a restriction minimum weight bodies "in metal" - 320 kg, so that its excessive relief does not come at the expense of safety. But it is almost impossible to control the weight of the “bare” body, but the technical commission checks the curb weight of the car before each stage. According to FIA requirements, a WRC car must weigh at least 1230 kg, and all manufacturers have reached this lower threshold a long time ago. But at the same time, the dropping of excess “fat” continues. For example, many cars are equipped with lightweight polycarbonate windows. The kilograms won thanks to this solution can be used as ballast in certain places of the car, achieving optimal weight distribution, which affects not only handling, but also tire wear. By the way, not cast-iron ingots are used as ballast, but spare parts, wrenches and powerful jacks - everything that can be useful at the stage.

Engineers think about weight distribution even when placing the crew, shifting the seats back and down to the limit. A side effect is disgusting visibility from the driver's seat. And the pilot himself is almost invisible: I could not photograph any of the top pilots behind the wheel. But engineers tirelessly take care of the working conditions of the driver and navigator. For example, in “hot” stages like Cyprus and Greece, seat cooling systems (Ford) or even full-fledged air conditioners (Peugeot) appear in cars. In addition, they install additional air intakes on the roof and in the exterior mirror housings, thermal insulation of the engine shield and paste over the glass with a mirror film.

In general, WRC cars are much "closer to the people" than FIA GT, DTM, NASCAR or cross-country championship cars, not to mention Formula 1. Main engineering solutions in the rally are simple and understandable, and space technology lie mainly in the materials used. And even then not in all - after all, the basis of the "world rally car", its body, is made of the same stamped metal as our cars.

10 best rally cars in history

Rally racing is one of the most interesting types of motorsport, requiring filigree aerobatics from pilots in overcoming treacherous turns. But even great athletes don't succeed without a good car. the site names and shows the 10 best rally cars - from the angular "Lanci Stratos" to Sebastian Loeb, merciless to the rivals of the "Citroen" C4.

Renault Alpin A110 (since 1963)

Assembled from parts various models Renault, Alpin A110 burst into the world of rally like a meteor. The first victories came already at the very beginning of the car's "career" - in 1963, but more resounding successes followed later: A110 cars took three first places at Rally Monte Carlo'71, and also won the very first World Rally Championship held in 1973 year. elegant design, rear drive with the engine located behind, as well as relatively low weight, the car was very docile. However, after a sharp jump in the development of rally cars, this project has exhausted its full potential and could no longer compete with the giants. Nevertheless, it was this car that became the impetus for Renault's further participation in rally racing.

Ford Escort RS1600/RS1800 (late 60s - 1998)

Born as a small family car, "Escort" a little later became the first rally car of the Ford brand. Having made its debut on the racetracks in the late 60s, already in 1970 the Escort won the London-Mexico City marathon with an overwhelming advantage: out of more than a hundred declared crews, only 23 completed 26,000 kilometers to the finish line, a quarter of which were on this car. In 1979, the 1.8-liter Escort brought Ford its first World Rally Championship titles, and two years later, Ari Vatanen won his first championship with victories at the Acropolis Rally and Rally Finland. In subsequent years, Escort gained fame as one of the most successful cars in the history of the rally, and also served as the basis for other rally cars of the American brand.

Lancia Stratos (1972-1974)

Built from scratch specifically for racing, the Stratos looked a bit crooked compared to other rally cars - the angular design, implemented in fiberglass, with huge spoilers looked very extravagant. However appearance faded into the background after a resounding four consecutive victories in the world championship and three triumphs in the European championship. This car has significantly raised the prestige Italian company on the racetracks, but was forced to retreat due to the advent of Group B cars - Lancia focused on the development of other models.

Audi Quattro (since 1981)

"Audi Quattro" for its colorful history has become one of those cars that indicated the direction of development for all rally technology. Four-wheel drive and a 600-horsepower turbocharged engine turned this car into a rocket with wheels - an advantage German cars over competitors cannot be described in the usual terms. On the Quattro, Michèle Mouton became the first woman to win a World Rally Championship round and the fastest woman in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb event. Weak point german car there was reliability, but if the Audi Quattro reached the finish line, then it was the fastest. However, this car has won two individual world championship titles and two manufacturers' titles.

Mitsubishi Pajero (since 1983)

"Pajero" never took part in the World Rally Championship races, but became a true legend of the "Dakar". Built on the basis of the Mitsubishi Jeep, a copy of the famous Jeep CJ3A, the Pajero started the planet's main rally raid 26 times and finished first 12 times, including seven times in a row from 2001 to 2007. Behind the wheel Japanese car such riders and racers as Stefan Peterhansel and Jutta Kleinschmidt became the victors of the Dakar. Up to the recent successes of the Tuareg, it was the Pajero that was the dominant force in the off-road category.

, while seemingly similar at first glance to their usual road counterparts, at the same time they are seriously different from them. The appearance of cars in some disciplines can indeed be very similar, for example, some rally car and its serial road counterpart are almost identical in appearance. The same goes for the WTCC models - the International Car Championship. In appearance - ordinary models, but it is worth taking a closer look at what is hidden behind the lining ... it turns out that not everything is so simple.

As an example, let's give two interesting ones, which explain the principle of operation of several technologies used in the creation and testing of rally cars.

The first video tells us how manufacturers test a prepared rally car using a treadmill during testing in wind tunnel. It is the use of a combination of two technical means, according to experts, allowed to revolutionize the process of running in the aero body kit and its further tuning in various racing conditions.

Probably for ordinary car such an approach is clearly redundant, but for a rally car it makes sense, because on the rally track a sports car moves not only in the plane of the road, but also flies up on springboards, that is, the aerodynamics of flights also need to be taken into account during calculations.

The combination of the "treadmill" and the wind tunnel allows you to create the effect of full presence:

1. can be blown from almost all sides by the oncoming air flow air.

2. At the same time, the running canvas under the wheels allows you to turn the wheels, creating point zones of blowing moving parts. For example, the same rims. Why is this needed? To optimize wheel design and ultimately stabilize the car in flight.

3. The same applies to attachments. How will the air flow change if you attach a block to the front of the hood additional lighting for night racing? Experts can easily recognize this in a wind tunnel.

4. But that's not all. With the help of special shock absorbers, by changing the angle of attack of the body, you can literally blow out under the bottom of the car, learning how the aerodynamics of the car will change in flight. Which additional elements the lower aero body kit is worth adding, what needs to be changed to stabilize the car in flight on the springboard.

The whole set of measures allows you to find out how the car will behave in a real race.

Ford Performance made a video with brief description how the WRC team used the treadmill to further improve their rally Fiesta cars in the beginning of the season.

This is an example of the advanced technology taken into service. But there is also a more standard way to improve the car, without which it is impossible to imagine a real rally car. This method uses more than one generation of rally drivers, and it is associated with a special technique for additional welding of the body, which makes the body safer and more durable.

Do you know how a monster rally is created? Often an ordinary production car is taken. It is disassembled to a screw, and painstaking work begins on replacing components and assemblies, adding additional parts and finalizing existing ones. The scope of work depends entirely on the level of racing, but in general, the main stages can be divided into seven parts:

1. Suspension upgrade.

2. Replacing the brakes with more durable ones. And for the rally even brake mechanisms designed for complex road conditions in which these machines work.

3. Powertrain changes.

4. Car underbody protection.

5. Full bulkhead interior for the needs of the rider.

6. Installation of special wheels: tires and disks.

7. And even overcooking the body.

If we analyzed the first six points in detail in one of our earlier articles, then we will study the seventh point right now. The rally specialists from Team O’Neil Rally School will help us with this.

When the car is built from the ground, the specialists have a great opportunity to make adjustments and the required reinforcements to the standard body. And speech in this case it is not only about installing the so-called safety cage, but also about welding critical parts of the body with additional welding, which makes body stiffer, stronger and even safer in a crash.

See for yourself, here is a photo of Thierry Neuville:




WRC Argentina 2018

In a moment, the car will land on the left side at a very disadvantageous angle. The suspension on the left side will work to failure. The load will be transferred to the body, and at that moment the body will begin to twist with incredible force. If it was a regular factory Hyundai or any other car mass production, after such a hard prize, he would have received serious damage body.

What do the masters do in this case? Take up the welding machine, put it on welding mask and begin to cook ... Moreover, the welding technique is not anyhow, but precisely calculated and technically justified, otherwise at the end of the work you can get not a “candy”, but a fatally ruined body: it can lead, the geometry will change, unnecessary stresses will appear, and instead of prizes it will go to the landfill.

It is impossible to just take and weld all the joints of the body with a solid line. Such a seam will make the body extremely rigid, which will quickly disable it after a couple of racing sessions. On the contrary, as they say and show in Team O'Neil Rally School, you need to act according to factory technology, using spot welding, with which it strengthens the joints of sheet metal joints.

Pay attention, although an example is visible on the body spot welding but she doesn't look like factory work. "Points" after the intervention of the guys who prepared the car for participation in the rally, turned into, rather, a "dash". This technology also adds rigidity to the body.

And, of course, do not forget about the safety cage. All together makes a rally car a rally projectile that can be flown and landed very hard.

These two seemingly “simple” technologies allow modern architects to create real rally cars. Did you know about it?