Introduction

Most famous rallies are special stage events, like the Wales Rally GB, Britain's round of the FIA World Rally Championship .

At a national level the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship is the most significant challenge and incorporates rounds across the country.

The basis of such events - the special stage - is a stretch of road closed to all other traffic, which must be covered at a high average speed.

In most of Great Britain (the exceptions are Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Mull, the Channel Islands and the roads used by the Jim Clark Rally), public roads are not available for this purpose, so special stage events use private land, frequently Forestry Commission roads or disused airfields.

Linking the special stages are sections of public road, where the required average speed is low (usually 30mph or slower).

Because of these sections, all competing cars must have current insurance, tax and MOT test.

Major UK Events

Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship (Events in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland Wales and the Isle of Man).

Wales Rally GB (FIA World Rally Championship & MSA British Rally Championship) in November.

Minimum Requirements

  • The Driver must be at least 17 years old and must hold a valid Road Traffic Driving Licence. Before you can apply for your first Stage Rally Driver Licence, you must do the following:

    1. Purchase a "Go Rallying" starter pack from the MSA which includes a VHS video, a copy of the Motor Sports Yearbook, the necessary application form, plus various other useful items. 

    2. Complete a one-day MSA course for novice drivers, run only by members of the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS). Contact your local school for costs.

    When you have obtained a Competition Licence, you will require the following:
  • A car with added safety equipment (rollcage, fire extinguishers fireproofing, etc).
  • An MSA Log Book.
  • A navigator or co-driver who is at least 16 years old and holds a valid club membership card.
  • crash helmets and flame-resistant overalls.

Rally Driver Schools

All rally schools teach driving techniques for special stage rallying.

A one-day course offers a chance to try rallying in someone else's car, to discover whether you enjoy the sport before spending your own money!

Some schools offer courses for front-, rear- and four-wheel drive cars, or for driving on asphalt and loose surfaces. A few schools offer courses for co-drivers, teaching advance skills such as pacenotes and services planning.

Click here for schools for members of the British Association of Rally Schools (BARS) and are registered with the MSA

Rally Driving School Assessment

The driving assessment part of the test is quite straight forward. The Assessor will be looking for a safe and competent attitude behind the wheel rather than any advanced rallying techniques (hand brake turns etc.).

For example, the following points will be assessed:

  • Driving position
  • Hold on steering wheel
  • Use of brakes
  • Car positioning
  • Throttle control
  • Anticipation of hazards
  • Driving attitude & confidence on the relevant stage surface
  • Drives a "clean" Special Stage at a "reasonable" speed without hitting any marker cones.
  • Car sympathy

It is assumed that applications may not have had any formal rally driving training before this assessment.