History

This distinctive approach to motorsport is not truly 'racing' in the strictest sense, instead best seen as a parallel approach to that of circuit racing.

Widespread interest in rallying started when car manufacturers began to support 'works' or 'factory' cars and sometimes entire teams in the events scattered around Europe throughout the year, and eventually a European Championship series was arranged, awarding points to the top finishers of the various respective events and standardising rules.

Later to become the World Rally Championship, this was a large step forward for rallying. There were negatives, however, as countries like Britain (with multiple rallies) were ultimately forced to nominate a single event for the regional and later world championship to the detriment to the other rounds.

The rallying movement really hit its stride after the Second World War, reaching its romantic 'Golden Age' in the 1960's as the 'baby-boom' generation began to grow up.

Soon after, sponsors' advertisements were emblazened across the paintwork of the rally cars, and the commercialisation that permeates the modern sporting world began to change rallying forever. Drivers became paid professionals and technology advanced at absurd speeds.

The World Rally Championship now visits nearly all continents, taking the stylish sideways driving style and specialised cars to a vast global market. This has produced unprecedented levels of visibility in recent years, but in many ways removed the motorsport from its grassroots past. For better or worse, rally has become a lucrative business.