Howell

hicles may
H
look like cars
yo u
a ra
se
lly

e
ca
ave you seen e on the street, but rally
n d
r

u
ra

ra
ce

n ce
before? The ve have been

, streng an n ice!
th ,
cars
d speed.
incredible nd, and eve
modif ied for u rs e s m a de of dir t, sa nufacturers, drivers,
co
They race on together the best car ma
s st.
Rallying bring to put their cars to the te
ic s
and mechan Zone to learn drivers
about the
ct io n Sp o rt s
and Destru e celebrity
Enter the Dir t co m p e tit io n rules, and th
s, :
history, course lly car racing. You’ll learn
ct e d to ra ry is.
conne r racer in histo

rally car racing Tearing it up

ss fu l ra lly ca
ost succe
• Who the m ugh a tough
1,000-mile
ilt to la st th ro
car is bu
• How a rally eter) race.
(1,609-k ilo m racers
e n su re th e safety of the
s
ment and rule
• What equip
and fans. skill
u lti m a te te st of a driver’s
e
r races are th
• Why rally caa.
and stamin
zone!
to sp o rt s? Th en get in the
Are you in

y
io n
demolition derb
Di rt an d De st ru ct
sports
zone monster trucks
ng
mud truck raci
g
rally car racin
rock crawling
tractor pulling

Brian Howell
L ERNER
 THIS PAGE
INTENTIONALLY
LEFT BLANK
 Dirt and Destruction
sports zone

Rally Ca r R a ci n g
T e a r i n g I t U p BY BRIAN HOWELL

Lerner Publications Company • Minneapolis

Copyright © 2014 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except
for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Lerner Publications Company

A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
241 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.

For updated reading levels and more information, look up this title at www.lernerbooks.com.

Content Consultant: Charlene Bower, Bower Motorsports Media

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Howell, Brian, 1974–

Rally car racing : tearing it up / by Brian Howell.
pages cm. — (Dirt and destruction sports zone)
Includes index.
ISBN 978–1–4677–2121–9 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)
ISBN 978–1–4677–2453–1 (eBook)
1. Rally cars—Juvenile literature. 2. Automobile rallies—Juvenile literature. I. Title.
TL236.4.H68 2014
796.7'3—dc23
2013025293

Manufactured in the United States of America

1—VI—12/31/13

Main body text set in Folio Std Light 11/17. Typeface provided by Adobe Systems.

The images in this book are used with the permission of: © Art Konovalov/Shutterstock Images, pp. 4–5 ;
© PRNewsFoto/Subaru of America, Inc./AP Images, pp. 6–7, 12–13, 23, 27; © Maxim Petrichuk/Shutterstock
Images, p. 7 (top); © Philip Lange/Shutterstock Images, p. 8; © Hulton Archive/Getty Images, p. 9; © Branger/
Roger Viollet/Getty Images, p. 10; © AP Images, p. 11; © Rodrigo Garrido/Shutterstock Images, p. 12 (top);
© PRFrancois Flamond/DPPI/Icon SMI, p. 14; © Francois Baudin/DPPI/Icon SMI, pp. 15, 21 (top); © Karim Sahib/
AFP/Getty Images, pp. 16–17; © Harry How/Getty Images, p. 17 (top); © Marques/Shutterstock Images, p. 18;
© Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images, p. 19; © Mattia Terrando/Shutterstock Images, pp. 20–21; © Greg Kieca/
Shutterstock Images, p. 21 (bottom); © Robert F. Bukaty/AP Images, p. 22; © Roni Rekomaa/AFP/Getty Images,
p. 24; © Mikael Hjerpe/Shutterstock Images, p. 25; © Beelde Photography/Shutterstock Images, p. 26; © Andre
Lavadhino/Panoramic/Icon SMI, p. 28; © Frederic Le Floc’h/DPPI/Icon SMI, p. 29

Front cover: © Todea Andi/Dreamstime.com (main); © Janis Smits/Shutterstock.com (background).

 Table of
Contents
CHAPTER O
NE
HISTORY AND B
ASICS 4
CHAPTER T
WO
THE RACES 14
CHAPTER T
HREE
THE VEHICLES
18
CHAPTER F
OUR
THE DRIVERS
24
Glossary 30
For More Info
rmation 31
Index 32
About the Auth
or 32
 HAPTER
C
ONE
History
And Basics

D
avid Higgins gripped the steering wheel of his Subaru WRX STI.
He looked ahead at a dirt road in the forest outside Portland,
Oregon. He was about to start Stage 9. This was one of the 17
small races that made up the 2013 Oregon Trail Rally. The Oregon Trail
Rally takes place each year. It is one of the biggest rally car
races in the United States. Higgins and his codriver had
won the event the past two years. And they had won
three of the first eight stages in 2013.

An official counted down

from 10. Then he signaled
the start of the race.
Higgins slammed on
the gas pedal. The
race began.

4
 CO DR IVE RS
In many forms of auto racing, a single pers
on drives each vehicle. In rally
car racing there is a codriver. The codriver
has the very important role of
helping the driver navigate. The codriver mak
es notes about the course
ahead of time. These notes help the driver
prepare for road hazards or
difficult turns. During the race, the codriver
sits in the passenger seat.
This person gives the driver instructions. This
helps the driver keep the
car out of danger and complete the course
as fast as possible.

ng
a r ra c i
Rally c
of t he
is one
opular
most p
c iting
and ex n
por ts i
motors
rld .
t he wo

5
 Higgins’s codriver was Craig Drew. Drew sat in the
passenger seat. He barked out instructions as
Higgins drove. Higgins and
Drew worked as a team to
keep the car on the road as
it sped through the forest.

Higgins and Drew

finished the 3.5-mile
(5.6-kilometer) course in less
than four minutes. Their average
speed was just faster than 55 miles
(89 km) per hour. This put them in first
place for Stage 9. Higgins and Drew
went on to win the 2013 Oregon Trail
Rally. For the third year in a row, they
were champions.

WHAT IS RALLY CAR RACING?

Rally car racing is a motorsport in which
vehicles drive as fast as they can. Vehicles
compete on public roads that are closed
for the race. Often drivers race from one
city to another. Other times the race
includes several stages. The Oregon
Trail Rally is an example of this kind
of race. Drivers must navigate
through difficult terrain.

6
 Ra lly ca r dr iv er s
na vi ga te m an y di
ffe re nt
ty pe s of ro ad su rf
ac es
at to p sp ee ds.

Sometimes the roads are unpredictable. They may be

gravel, dirt, or asphalt. They may be wet, covered in
snow, or have potholes.

Unlike many other kinds of car racing, rally

car racers don’t race against one another at the
same time. One by one, each car speeds through a
course. The driver with the fastest overall time wins
the race. Rally car races can be very long. Some
races can last for days.

Rally car racing drivers compete because they

love the sport. Most rally car races don’t offer
much prize money.
Drivers compete
for trophies and
ra i g
l e ft : C i d
F ro m av bragging rights.
and D ate
D re w lebr
g g i ns ce
H i ing
t e r winn
a f egon
e 2 0 13 Or
th R a l l y.
T ra i l
7
 ca rs, su ch
R a ll y ra ci n g
F ie st a , a re
a s th is Fo rd
rs io n s o f
m o d ifie d v e
.
re g u la r ca rs

Most rally cars are stock cars. Stock cars are like the regular cars
people buy at car dealerships. Rally cars often have minor
changes from normal cars. They may have better tires or a
special roof to make them safer for racing. Drivers can use
rally cars on regular streets as well.

EARLY AUTO RACES

Rally car racing first started in the early 1900s. But the
sport’s roots go back even further. Auto racing can be traced
to France in the late 1800s. In 1894 drivers raced
78 miles (126 km) from Paris to Rouen, France.
Racers were judged on their driving skills and
safety behind the wheel. They were also ranked
by speed. In 1895 drivers raced 732 miles

8
(1,178 km) from Paris to Bordeaux, France. This race was judged on
speed alone. Auto racing became more common in Europe in the late
1890s and the early 1900s. At the same time, the sport was becoming
popular in the United States.

The first official US auto race took place in 1895. Drivers raced
54 miles (87 km) from Chicago to Evanston, Illinois, and back. One of
the first cross-country races in the United States took place in 1905.
Drivers covered approximately 4,000 miles (6,437 km) from New York
City to Portland, Oregon. The race lasted 44 days.

An event in 1907 was one of the longest rally races in history.

Racers drove from Beijing (then known as Peking), China, to Paris.
This was a distance of more than 9,000 miles (14,500 km).

Auto racing was a very dangerous

sport in its early days. Roads were
often unpaved. Vehicles didn’t
have modern safety features,
such as seat belts and air
bags. Accidents were
common. But drivers and
fans still loved the sport.

T h e B e ij
ing to
P a r is r a c
e was a
m a jo r e v
ent in t h
e a r ly h is e
tor y of
r a ll y r a c
i n g.

9
 Loeb and
S é b a s ti e n
n a ra c e
D a n ie l E le
la n d R a ll y
a t th e F in
in 2 0 1 2 .

SÉBASTIEN LOEB
Sébastien Loeb is one of the most successful drivers in the history of rally
car racing. The French driver won nine WRC titles in a row from 2004 to
2012. Before Loeb, the most successful drivers had only won four titles in
their careers.

Daniel Elena was Loeb’s codriver for all nine championship

seasons. Elena is thought to be one of the best codrivers in
WRC history. He has always driven a car built by the French auto
company Citroën.

At the end of the 2012 season, Loeb said he would no longer drive
full-time in the WRC. That put an end to the greatest run of success
the sport has ever seen.

DAKAR RA L LY
The Dakar Rally is on
e of the most famou
in the world. The fir s rally car racing ev
st race was held in ents
course went from Pa December 1978. Th
ris to Dakar, Senega e
than 7,000 miles (1 l. The distance was
1,000 km). Fear of te m ore
Africa moved the ev rrorist attacks in No
ent to South America rth
event covers more th in 2009. There the
an 5,000 miles (8,000
racers from 53 coun km). As many as 74
tries participated in 5
the event in 2013.
JUTTA KLEINSCHMIDT
German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt is known for driving long distances.
Many people think she is the best female rally racer in the world.
Kleinschmidt has been racing for more than 20 years.

Kleinschmidt got her start racing BMW motorcycles in 1985. She

began competing in rallies in 1987. In 2001 Kleinschmidt became
the first woman to win the Dakar Rally. This event ended in Dakar,
Senegal, in North Africa. She drove a Mitsubishi and competed in
the T2 class. This is one of Dakar Rally’s Production vehicle classes.
Kleinschmidt also helped Volkswagen develop a race car called the
Race Touareg.

Rally car racing has seen many

changes since its beginnings in
the 1890s. Each year new
courses are developed.
These courses challenge
some of the best drivers
and codrivers on Earth.
Rally car racing has
become one of
the most exciting forms
of racing in the world.

ver
a n dri
Ge r m midt
K l e insch
Jut t a t aken on
has ost
o f t he m ies
some ra l l
l l e n ging
cha r t h.
on Ea

29
 g l o s s a r y
ASPHALT NAVIGATE
a tar-like substance often used to to direct or help move a vehicle
pave roads through its course

ENDURANCE POTHOLE
the ability to last a long time a hole in a road’s surface

FRICTION STAGE
the rubbing of one object against one of many parts in a rally car
another race

GRUELING
exhausting, tiring, or difficult

HAZARD
an object that can cause danger
or difficulty

MANUFACTURER
a company that makes and
produces cars

30
 For More
Information
FURTHER READING
Doeden, Matt. Stock Cars. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2007.
Sandler, Michael. Rally Car Dudes. New York: Bearport, 2010.
Savage, Jeff. Travis Pastrana. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2006.

WEBSITES
David Higgins
http://www.subaru.com/enthusiasts/rally/drivers/david-higgins/index
.html
Visit the Subaru Rally Team USA website to learn about championship-winning
driver David Higgins.
Rally America
http://www.Rally-America.com
Learn more about the drivers, the codrivers, and the races of the top rally series
in the United States.
WRC: FIA World Rally Championship
http://www.WRC.com
The official website of the World Rally Championship features videos, results,
and news about the top rally car racers around the world.

31
 Index
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Monte Carlo Rally, 10, 11 seats, 21
16 tires, 8, 21, 25
Open cars, 22, 23, 24
African Rally Championship, 19 windows, 20
Oregon Trail Rally, 4, 6, 13
RallyCross, 16
British Rally Championship, 27
points, 12, 13 repairs, 25
car manufacturers, 11 prizes, 7, 13, 16 road rallies, 14, 16, 18
codrivers, 4, 5, 6, 20, 21, 22, Production cars, 22–23, 29 Rougier, Henri, 10
26, 27, 28, 29
Rally America, 13, 14, 16, 22, Safari Rally, 19
crews, 25
26, 27 safety, 8, 9, 21, 22
Dakar Rally, 28, 29 Rally America classes Sno*Drift Rally, 16
Drew, Craig, 6, 27 Open, 23, 26, 27 sponsors, 20, 24–25
Open Light, 23 stage rallies, 6, 14, 15–16, 18
early auto races, 8–11
Production, 22 Subaru, 4, 19, 25, 26, 27
Edstrom, Christian, 26
Production GT, 23
Elena, Daniel, 28 turbochargers, 20, 23
Super Production, 23
two-wheel drive, 22, 23
Federation Internationale de rally car racing history, 8–11
l’Automobile, 15, 16 rally car racing schools, 24, 27 World Cup for Cross Country
four-wheel drive, 23 rally cars Rallies, 16
brakes, 21 World Rally Championship, 12,
Higgins, David, 4, 6, 25, 27 engines, 20, 22, 23 14, 19, 28
Kleinschmidt, Jutta, 29 fuel tanks, 21
X Games, 16
graphics, 20
Loeb, Sébastien, 28 roll cages, 21

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Howell is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colorado. He has been a
sports journalist for nearly 20 years, writing about high school, college, and
professional athletics. He has also written books about sports and history. A
native of Colorado, Howell lives with his wife and four children in his home state.

32
 THIS PAGE
INTENTIONALLY
LEFT BLANK
 Howell
hicles may
H
look like cars
yo u
a ra
se
lly

e
ca
ave you seen e on the street, but rally
n d
r

u
ra

ra
ce

n ce
before? The ve have been

, streng an n ice!
th ,
cars
d speed.
incredible nd, and eve
modif ied for u rs e s m a de of dir t, sa nufacturers, drivers,
co
They race on together the best car ma
s st.
Rallying bring to put their cars to the te
ic s
and mechan Zone to learn drivers
about the
ct io n Sp o rt s
and Destru e celebrity
Enter the Dir t co m p e tit io n rules, and th
s, :
history, course lly car racing. You’ll learn
ct e d to ra ry is.
conne r racer in histo

rally car racing Tearing it up

ss fu l ra lly ca
ost succe
• Who the m ugh a tough
1,000-mile
ilt to la st th ro
car is bu
• How a rally eter) race.
(1,609-k ilo m racers
e n su re th e safety of the
s
ment and rule
• What equip
and fans. skill
u lti m a te te st of a driver’s
e
r races are th
• Why rally caa.
and stamin
zone!
to sp o rt s? Th en get in the
Are you in

y
io n
demolition derb
Di rt an d De st ru ct
sports
zone monster trucks
ng
mud truck raci
g
rally car racin
rock crawling
tractor pulling

Brian Howell
L ERNER