A beginner’s guide to ice rally

In winter, weather conditions often prevent drivers from participating in different races. This is why some special disciplines were created. One of them is ice rally, which is considered to be one of the most fascinating winter races. Let us take a closer look at this sport and find out what peculiarities it has.

General information

Ice rally is a race that can be organized in two ways. Sometimes the tracks are round in shape, while in some cases, they are basically straight tracks. It is hard to predict how the cars will ride through ice-covered parts of the track, which is why ice rally is a sport that makes the spectators leave all their nerves on track. Many different vehicles can take part in these races, including vans, trucks or even tractors. The organizers of the tournament determine the types of transport that can participate in competitions. To do it, they take into account the following factors: weather conditions, ice thickness and equipment that is located on the track.

In general, there are seven categories of cars that can be used in terms of ice rally. They are:

1. Rear-wheel drive cars;
2. Front-wheel drive cars;
3. All-wheel drive vehicles;
4. All-wheel drive vehicles with compressor;
5. All-wheel drive vehicles with road clearance (its size is more than 170 mm);
6. All-wheel drive vehicles that weight more than 2 tons;
7. Studded vehicles.

Competitions

The event usually consists of three phases: the qualifying race, the main race and the finals. Sometimes it may be possible to have a test-ride. After the qualifying race, organizers create a list of participants in different categories. The amount of participants who can compete simultaneously depends on the track and varies from 4 to 15 pilots. If the track is not wide enough for several vehicles to compete, participants start the race one by one, and there will be a particular distance between them. After the main races, all participants gain some points. Top-32 pilots compete in the finals.

The finals are organized in the form of the Olympics, i.e. for elimination. Top-5 leaders from the 1^st-5^th categories take part in the finals, as well as top-3 competitors from the 6^th and the 7^th categories. Additionally, the best participant out of those who didn’t make it to the finals also takes part in the final race. The rivals are determined by the toss-up. After the first round, they exchange their vehicles because of the differences between the categories. If two pilots gain equal amount of points in two rounds, they take part in the additional race.

Deductions and disqualification

Sometimes the judges can punish the participant who break the rules or make mistakes. If a pilot breaks the speed limit when he is not on track, he can be disqualified. If they do not follow the rules on the technical characteristics of the vehicle, there will be a five seconds’ penalty. In case of a head start, the penalty will be up to 30 seconds. If a participant does not finish the race or withdraws from participation, he or she will be awarded the worst time plus five seconds’ penalty.

If there is any force majeure connected with the quality of the track, the participant will have a chance to cover this distance once again. The second chance can be given if there was an accident. According to the rules, if a vehicle breaks down, the pilot must shut down the engine and leave the track in the safest way possible. If the windshield is broken, the organizers will probably let the participant continue the race.

Thus, ice rally is an outstanding discipline that has many followers from all over the world. It is unpredictable and captivating for both fans and participants.