iSporter Dr. Balakrishna Jayasimha gives us an insight into 'rallying' as a sport and the 'Indian National Rallying Championship'.
Rallying, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars. This motorsport is distinguished by running not on a circuit, but instead in a point-to-point format in which participants and their co-drivers drive between set control points (special stages), leaving at regular intervals from one or more start points.
In India, Rallies run under similar competition format to the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) World Rally Championship (WRC) and is subject to regulations as laid down by the FIA. These include the FIA International Sporting Code, the FIA General Prescriptions (Rally) and the FMSCI Rally Championship Regulations which are specific to the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC).
A particular event starts with the publishing of the Supplementary Regulations (SR) a couple of months before the actual date of the rally. The SR is the bible for any Rally and needs to specifically mention among other things, the overall Special Stage (SS) distance and total distance of the Rally. It includes the Organisation details including FMSCI titles for which the rally counts, Permit numbers, Organiser's name, address and contact details of the Organisation committee, Stewards of the Meet, FMSCI Delegates & Observer, Senior officials, HQ location and contact details. It also has to have the Programme, in chronological order, like the issuing of the road books, map and Rally Guide, - Rally HQ opening/closing, schedule for administrative checks, Start of reconnaissance (RECCE), Scrutineering, Drivers' briefing (if applicable), Pre-event Press Conference, Ceremonial start, among a host of other requirements. There needs to be a mention Open/Closing date for entries also.
Safety is paramount while running any Rally and Safety can be categorized into Event Safety and Competing Crew safety.
Event safety is through the publication of a safety plan that is drawn up and has an Insurance cover which includes third Party Public Liability valid during the running of the event, cover for a maximum of 100 officials officiating & 150 competitors with valid FMSCI Competition License and a Personal Accident Insurance. The SR must give details concerning insurance cover taken out by the Organizers, the location of the Rally Headquarters (Rally HQ), the names of the various people in charge, like the Clerk of the course (COC), Deputy Clerks of the course (DCOC), Chief medical officer (CMO), Chief safety officer (CSO) among others. The addresses and telephone numbers of the various Safety services in the areas where each special stage will be run like the Police, Hospitals, Emergency medical services, Fire fighting services, Breakdown services, full itinerary, each special stage which must detail the exact Location of all marshal posts, emergency vehicles and radio points by means of an accurate GPS map, zones which are considered by the organisers as open to the public, measures to be taken for the safety of the officials of the event, The procedure for tracking competitor vehicles and actions to be taken in the event of a missing crew.
A Chief safety officer (CSO) is designated in the regulations of the rally. He will belong to the organising committee and will take part in the devising of the safety plan. He will be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the safety plan.
Each special stage will have a Safety Officer who will assist the CSO; however, the clerk of course (COC) shall be ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with the safety plan.
In FMSCI Championship rallies the observer(s) will pay special attention to all safety procedures. A major priority of the safety plan is to ensure the safety of the general public including spectators.
Safety of the Competing Crews is another area of critical importance of the Safety Plan. It requires all cars to be fitted with SAFETY CAGES which is compulsory. This consists of a structural framework designed to prevent serious body shell deformation in the case of a collision or of a car turning over. Safety cage must be designed and made so that, when correctly installed, they substantially reduce body shell deformation and so reduce the risk of injury to occupants.
The essential features of safety cages are sound construction, designed to suit the particular vehicle, adequate mountings and a close fit to the body shell. The safety cage must not unduly impede the entry or exit of the driver and co-driver. The basic safety cage must have frames or hoops that must be made in one piece without joints. Their construction must be smooth and even, without ripples or cracks.
All cars go through scrutineering checks before the start which requires cars to be presented at scrutineering conducted by the Technical Delegate, by a representative of the team, at scrutineering competitors must produce all items of clothing, Seat belts, helmets and HANS (highly recommended) intended to be used. Scrutineers may require identifying the car and the chassis and cylinder blocks are marked. After scrutineering, if a car is found not to comply with technical and/or safety regulations, the stewards may set a deadline before which the car must be made to comply, or may refuse the start.
During the event safety services include at the start of each Special Stage (SS), a medical first intervention vehicle (FIV), a doctor qualified in resuscitation, a paramedic, a trauma care ambulance, two 4 kg fire extinguishers with a trained operator and suitable communications equipment to maintain contact with HQ.
There are also medical intervention vehicles (Ambulances), their purpose is to transport a doctor qualified in resuscitation to the site of an accident within as short a time as possible. The vehicle must be adapted to the terrain and to the type of competition. All Medical intervention vehicles must be fitted with an efficient communications system, able to transmit and receive messages, and should be equipped to treat any emergencies related to the Airway, Cervical spine, Circulatory support and open wounds.
Officials and delegates in various capacities ensure that all aspects of Safety are adhered to. They are the Stewards who comprise three members, of which two are appointed by FMSCI (including chairman), the Technical Delegate who is the chief scrutineer responsible for all technical matters. the Observe/s who review all aspects of the rally and completes the appropriate FMSCI report form at the end of each event, the Competitor's Relation Officer (CRO) whose principal duty is to provide information or clarifications in connection with the regulations and the running of the rally to the competitors.
Organizing officials also perform Administrative Checks where the following documents need to be presented:
- Entrants license / FMSCI registration no. (If any)
- Driver and Co-driver competition licenses
- Driver & Co-drivers driving license
- Personal Accident Policies of driver & co-driver
- Completion of all details on the entry form
- Car Rally insurance cover certificate
- Car insurance & registration papers
The event begins with the CEREMONIAL START, from a prominent landmark of the hosting city. A ceremonial start helps improve the promotional and media interest in the rally.
The technical running of the event consists of the FIA format of a central service area over 2 or 3 days. Parc Ferme's are established at end of each leg or day. Each event follows the same basic format: one day of reconnaissance (RECCE) on Thursday, to enable the driver and co-driver to check the route and make pace notes. It is emphasised that recce is not practice. All the road traffic laws of the country in which the rally runs must be strictly adhered to and the safety and rights of other road users must be respected not only during the recce but also throughout the rally, where crews must observe the National traffic laws. Infringements will be referred to the stewards.
This is followed by the competition itself on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event on Friday and Saturday has 'Special Stage', in designated areas, usually away from the city and these areas are free from all other traffic. Sunday includes the 'Super Special' stage which is usually held in the city which hosts the INRC event. These 'Super Special' stage is a spectator stage with hundreds of people witnessing the cars in action. This is followed by the Podium Celebrations.
Eligible Cars consists of Production Cars - Group N and Group N+. The eligible cars will include assembled or sold in India and homologated as per the FMSCI homologation norms. These cars are from 1101 cc all the way up to 2000 cc and run in different classes* which are:
(i) 1101 cc -1400 cc: Group N
(ii) 1101 cc - 1400 cc: Group N+
(iii) 1401-1600 cc: Group N
(iv) 1401-1600 cc: Group N+
(v) 1601-2000 cc: Group N
(vi) 1601-2000 cc: Group N+
(vii) Rally Star Cup Cars.
(viii) Gypsy Cup Cars
*Classes as per INRC 2010
Indian National Rally Championship 2010: A Look Back
Dr. Balakrishna Jayasimha (BK) is the secretary of the Karnataka Motor Sport Club and will try and bring iSporters closer to the sport of Rallying.
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