WRC
Ever fancied going rallying but in miniature?
The holidays often represent a chance to set up a slot car track for some festive fun, getting that competitive fix before the FIA World Rally Championship action kicks off again in Monte Carlo.
The holidays often represent a chance to set up a slot car track for some festive fun, getting that competitive fix before the FIA World Rally Championship action kicks off again in Monte Carlo.
But have you ever thought about taking it to the next level and conducting a rally in miniature?
It is not as far-fetched as it may initially seem. Slot car racing is a hobby that has captured imaginations for decades and continues to do so today. It has evolved far beyond the humble task of setting up a track in your living room for a spot of miniature motorsport using toy cars.
Throughout Europe, there is a thriving slot car rallying scene where competitors take on meticulously designed stages against the clock, albeit in 1:32 scale. The events attempt to replicate real-world formats and conditions as closely as possible, with stages made to mimic snow-covered roads, gravel and smooth Tarmac. Even water splashes, using de-ionised water, can be recreated.
Stages are created using traditional plastic track that can be bought from toy shops, while some have taken months to complete and are carefully carved out of wood, using copper tape to create the desired routes.
Cars and drivers are required to undertake multiple stages, with times added together to create an overall leaderboard and an eventual winner. Just like the real world, events can be decided by a matter of seconds, such is the fierce level of competition.
These pocket electric cars have come a long way over the decades, becoming complex machines that are fully customisable as drivers go in search of valuable tenths of a second. Another similarity to real-world rallying is car set-up, which is vital. Today, various tyre compounds are on offer, while motors, gearing, suspension and chassis roll can all be adjusted in a bid to navigate a stage as quickly as possible.
Next year marks 20 years since the UK’s national slot car rally championship began, known as Slot Rally GB. From humble beginnings, it has developed into a multi-round series travelling the length and breadth of the UK, as competitors battle to become champion. Events can feature multiple stages and attract drivers aged from 10 to 80.
Slot Rally GB is split into four defined classes. The ‘Classic’ class features cars such as Ford Escort Mk2s, with ‘Group B’ catering for the iconic WRC cars from the 1980s. Miniature versions of Group A cars can be run in the 1990s class, while current Rally1 and Rally2 machinery competes in the ‘Modern’ class.
So how competitive does it get? Very, is the answer, as 2011 Slot Rally GB champion Ben Buesnel explains:
“It is like real rallying - you have teams, drivers, cars and stages, but the only difference is it is in 1:32 scale.
“For a rally nut and petrolhead like myself, you can get a kick in miniature form and it doesn’t cost the earth. It is really accessible.
“After a good number of years racing slot cars, I decided to do the UK championship and in 2011 it went down to the final round in Wales, where I won it by 0.7sec, which was amazing.
“You have time cards and it is all against the clock. Once you have done the stages, the times are added up like a real rally and it can go down to tenths of a second. Every tenth counts.
“Tyres are a big thing because grip is so important. When you set your car up before scrutineering, you have to pick your tyres for the day.
“There could be really abrasive stages, so you have to bear that in mind, but you have to keep that set-up for the whole event. There are some things you can tweak - the motor, gearing and chassis movement - and like in gravel rallying you want the suspension nice and soft. Some stages are smooth like billiard tables, but some are rough and tough, so you need a car that can adapt to all conditions.
“There is no co-driver, so you don’t have anyone else to blame if it goes wrong. It is all down to you - the car preparation, getting to the event and then competing.
“The great thing is you can start from nothing. At most clubs, people will lend you a controller. A good one might cost €50 to €100, but a car straight out of the box can cost €40 to €50. You can run it as it is and just have some fun.”
So if you simply cannot wait for a fix of WRC action, perhaps slot car rallying can scratch that competitive itch during the cold winter months.
