Me and my best mate are thinking of doing the lombard rally this year. Just working out costs and plans at the moment.

We are thinking of doing it in a pug 106 xsi, but what other fast sub 1.4 cars are there to consider? (forced induction is not allowed so no Charade GTti's)

Also if anyone with some rallying experience could recommend some 'essential' add ons it would be appreciated, we have covered the regulation modifications; roll cage, spots, mud flaps etc etc.

See the rules and regs here

I would start by welding all the seams on the car and strengthening rhe suspension

Its better to finish down the pack then be the fastest on day one and the car break up on day two

Drop spinndrift a PM as he'll have some idea about this as he's done a few enduro rallies.

Just found a favorit rally car on ebay, not far from you in york. tax,test, papers and ready to go

A Rover Metro or a Rover 214 is a good choice of car - the Turner brothers have had huge success in enduro rallies with these (metro first then onto the 214) but the 106 will be good enough but the 214 is the current car to have.

On the safety front go for a full cage - you only need a single hoop to pass scrutineering but if you stuff it into a tree you'll wish you had more protection. I'd also recommend going down the route of a full plumbed in fire extinguisher - if you have a fire in th eengine you can trigger it from in the car saving saving time in jumping out with a hand held. I'd also run the fuel and brake lines inside the car as the bottom of the car will get battered. Along the same lines fit the best sump guard you can. Other than that there isn't a great deal you can do apart from fitting a free flowing air filter. A decent trip meter (brantz) is a good bet too.

What experience have you and your mate got scatter rally, road rally navigational wise?

If you haven't got much experience I'd suggest joining a motorclub and doing some navigational events as the co driver needs to be switched on with his plotting and map reading.

British Rally Forum | The UK's premier rally forum is a good place to ask questions as all the top guys are on there. Everyone is dead friendly in rallying so don't be shy of asking loads of questions.

We are both fairly handy with a map, but our experience of rallying is zero. My mate has done 4 years competing the the 750 motor club locost championship at the front of the grid and has many many more years karting experience so i think we should be quite hot on the driving front.

Full cage is a must for me before i even get into the car, i had not thought about the brake and fuel lines but everything else you mentioned we have on our check list.

Having driven both the xsi and the 214 before i have to say i would prefer the xsi over the rover, i always found the 214 really sluggish!

Me and my best mate are thinking of doing the lombard rally this year. Just working out costs and plans at the moment.

We are thinking of doing it in a pug 106 xsi, but what other fast sub 1.4 cars are there to consider? (forced induction is not allowed so no Charade GTti's)

Also if anyone with some rallying experience could recommend some 'essential' add ons it would be appreciated, we have covered the regulation modifications; roll cage, spots, mud flaps etc etc.

See the rules and regs here

Metro 6R4.............That's all you need.........Oh, and a well equipped barge and back up crew.......I'm up for it so give me a call when your sorted...

Something like this would do the job..depending on your budget !

Race Cars : Peugeot 205 Rallye

I would buy a pre-prepped car as it will save you loads of cash and hassle.

Really you need these essentials: (regs allowing - i haven't read them)

Full roll cage

Decent competition seats

4 point full harness belts (aircraft release)

Sump & tank guards

All the lines that are under the car, relocated inside

Fire extinguisher

Battery cut off (isolator)

Then ideally you would want:

Door bars on the roll cage

Uprated suspension (to give MORE ground clearance) as forrest roads can be pretty rough in places.

Spotlights / uprated headlight bulbs if anything is run in the dark (don't forget to put relays in the spotlight power feed)

Navigators map light / power source for potti (hand held magnified map light)

Navigators foot rest

Bonnet pins

as you can see there is a fair bit of work to prep the car, a pre-prepped car will be not much more than buying a std car.

The safety items alone listed above will cost a minimum of £1k (new) so its easy to see where you can 'waste' money building over buying.

HTH

Something like this would do the job..depending on your budget !

Race Cars : Peugeot 205 Rallye

Agreed that looks ideal as most of the hard work is done, it just needs finishing off.

You will struggle to get an entry now...

Best off doing the Torq-Bar championship....

You will struggle to get an entry now...

Best off doing the Torq-Bar championship....

Why would we struggle? I spoke to them on the phone 2 days ago, they dont seem to think there are any problems..

Oh i was under the impression that its fully booked, as per every year?

One of the guys on the rally forum is using this set up on his 106.

OMP 10pt roll cage

Sparco ulta fibre glass buckets seats

LUKE 4 point aircraft buckle harnesses

hydraulic handbrake

copper brake lines

full Ashley exhaust system inc decat

Green Cotton air filters and breather filter

mintex discs and pad for now.

peugeot sport sumpguard and fitting kit

Jam motorsport tank guard and fitting kit

My point about the map reading and the general navigation was really based around how good you are at doing it under pressure in a moving car. Not sure if the Lombard has any plot and bash sections but if it does you need to be able to plot the route whilst giving out directions and keeping an eye on the time whilst being driven and not being sick. Sickness shouldn't be too bad in a 106 - if you want to feel really sick try a mondeo tdi estate on a road rally - a true vomit rocket.

I really would recommend trying a scatter rally or something with your local motor club or seeing if you can attend an enduro nav training session as it is a lot more involved than just reading a map.

Most of all have fun, keep smiling and keep us up to date.

I didn't think hydraulic handbrakes were allowed on the lombard?

A.13 BRAKING SYSTEM

All brake components must be as standard except for the friction material of brake pads and linings and the brake fluid. Hydraulically operated parking brakes are not permitted. Anti-lock braking systems may be removed or disabled. Hydraulic brake lines may be changed, re-routed and stone protection added. No additions can be made to the braking system.

Already contacted my local motor club and asked about some scatters thanks for the advice

Spotted the deliberate nmistake then.