Car Evolution

In the beginning rally cars were extremely diverse. Some cars exhibited a great deal of customization as well. The biggest change to rally car events has to be the commercialization of the sport. From the beginning manufacturers were entering production line models in the sport. One such example is the 1894 Paris-Rouen which took place primarily between these standard models. Even the Thousand Mile Trial which took place in 1900 saw more entries by manufacturers than it did from private individuals.

One of the biggest steps for rally cars came in 1973 when the FIA created a championship specifically aimed toward manufacturers. This World Rally Championship for Manufacturers proved to be a huge hit. The rally car itself took a true turn in development in the 60′s when many companies began to introduce special models of production vehicles made specifically for rallying. One such example that has since become known worldwide is the British made Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S which were created in 1962 and 1963 respectively. Read the rest of this entry »