South Africa’s National Rally Championship is set to undergo radical changes for 2017, as organisers attempt to make the sport more accessible.
The NRC admits that the cost to partake and run teams has become “prohibitive” and, as a result, the number of participants has declined over the past few years.
“If we want the sport to survive, we need to think about making radical changes,” said Chris Andrew, chairman of the NRC steering committee.
So, what will be different in 2017? Well, the biggest change will be a shift to a single national championship class.
From 2017, Super 1600 will be the only national championship class and all other cars (subject to conditions) will compete in an “open class”. Yes, that means the end of the currently top S2000 class.
“Whichever way we look at it, the benefits are huge. Barriers to entry will be reduced, running costs will be cut significantly and, hopefully, as a result, competitor numbers will increase and people will be drawn back to the sport,” said Andrew.
The NRC says some of the positive effects from the move to a single class include a “highly competitive, more exciting competition” and better returns for the NRC’s partners and sponsors.
“This is the first part of the transition of the National Rally Championship. More aspects of the sport are under close scrutiny, including route safety base notes, recces, testing and other facets of events,” said Andrew.
“In addition, once we have the shape of the series finalised, more effort will be put into growing the sport at a grassroots level and ensuring that we have future drivers lined up to keep the championship growing.”
The NRC says all teams and its partners have been consulted in the process, with all “in agreement that change is needed”.
“It is also hoped that the changes being made will be sufficiently attractive to lure back drivers and teams who have left the sport over the years,” the NRC added in a statement.
