Custom Cars

The sport of Rally knows no bounds. Experienced drivers rage through city streets, over wooded mountain passes, and down dusty trails. Not even ice can stop these adventure-hungry drivers from strapping themselves into the cockpit of high-powered beasts. For every location and weather combination imaginable, engineers and mechanics have found a method of adapting their vehicles to perform their best. Specialized tires, gear ratio adjustments, suspension tweaks, and chassis modifications are all part of the game when you need to squeeze every last ounce of horsepower out of the engine, without neglecting the safety of the car crew. Here’s a brief glimpse into the different locations and car tweaks found in RalliSport Challenge 2.

Racing, Rally Style
Among the 93 race locations featured in RalliSport Challenge 2, drivers will find themselves ripping through the streets of picturesque European villages and lone dirt trails. Don’t let the gorgeous ocean-side views and outback sunsets distract you from the task at hand, though.

Rally races are held on existing road surfaces, meaning these tracks weren’t specifically built for racing. Instead, the streets are cleared of people and pets, allowing the drivers to temporarily take over the town (or countryside) for some fast-paced action. There are no laps in these races, but rather timed checkpoints. Drivers with the best times get bragging rights.

Rally cars are not drag racers by nature; instead, they’re nimble stock models tweaked for high performance. A shorter wheel base and lighter weight make them ideal for hugging corners, though a beefy suspension, tire package, and roll cage are usually added to increase safety and handling over variable road surfaces.

It may be scenic, but it’s also dangerous.

Unlike Rally races that take place “in the wild,” so to speak, Rallycross events are held on closed tracks and consist of timed laps. Neither rain, sleet, nor dark of night will prevent these races from going down. Things can get muddy in a flash. Handling is the name of the game for these cars, as straight-aways are sparse on most tracks. The same goes for crossover events. Dusty conditions on twisty tracks are the norm—unless, of course, it’s snowing or raining that day.

I’d Climb Any Mountain
The vehicles set up for hill climb events are usually light trucks or heavily modified cars that can handle rough terrain. Gearing is tweaked to optimize torque for steep inclines. Brute force can launch a racer up the side of a mountain in record time, but with power comes great responsibility. Due to the dangerous nature of hill events, beefed-up cockpits and suspensions are the rule, along with super-grip knobbies. Huge fins are also commonplace, though not for looks—without them, some cars would be uncontrollable. Engines must also be adjusted to perform well at a particular altitude, thus increasing the importance of a skilled engineering team.

Hill climb vehicles are insanely powerful.

More Hits than a Hockey Match
As if racing in rain, snow, dirt, mud, and city streets wasn’t enough, intrepid rally racers with a hunger for white-knuckle action (a.k.a. the truly insane) can try their hand at ice racing. Yes, ice racing. While most people would rather telecommute when the roads are inhospitable, rally teams gear up for the challenge.

These are not high speed races, but rather tests of skill and handling. Closed tracks with timed segments are the venue of choice for these events—and with good cause. Conditions like these are a volatile recipe for disaster, as vehicles can easily launch off the track or into each other. Increased handling through tire and suspension tweaks are standard practice for ice racing.

In RalliSport Challenge 2, any location, suitable or not, is fair game for those brave enough to step up to the challenge, with cars that are as varied as nature itself. No matter what race or car class you choose, a wild ride is guaranteed.

By Jim W. Gettys