A significant change this year was the introduction of FIA Group 5 vehicles. Group 5 eventually (in 1982) became FIA Group B when Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were combined into FIA Group A. Vehicles also had to have a fire extinguisher system. Also in terms of safety, this was the first year that helmets were mentioned but they were not mandatory.
Some interesting excerpts from the Supplementary Regulations:
Entry fee and prizemoney
The classification of entries was simplified back to private, trade and manufacturer but a penalty was applied (or available) to entries that chose not to display the organiser’s official advertising.
Private entries Grade One: $315 ($100 penalty)
Commercial/trade entries: $720 ($300 penalty)
Manufacturer entries: $1100 ($500 penalty)
Despite the withdrawal of Total Oil Sponsorship, the prizemoney pool was maintained at about $13,000. Outright first received $1300, the first private uncatgeorised driver $1000 and class winners $250 each. There were also special stage prices which were not detailed in the regulations.
Vehicle eligibility
Vehicles had to be roadworthy and two-wheel drive and like the previous year, eligibility was FIA Group 1 (Series Production Touring Cars with 5000 annual production units), Group 2 (Special Touring Cars with 1000 annual production units), Group 3 (Series Production Grant Touring Cars with 1000 annual production) or Group 4 (Special Grand Touring Cars with 500 annual production units). However in 1978, FIA Group 5 vehicles (Special Production Cars) were also permitted. Group 5 had been introduced in 1976 and allowed significant modifications on Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 vehicles, and may have allowed some Group G vehicles to run.
All vehicles were permitted modifications in such aspects as extra lights (maximum 4 additional), internal crew protection, under body protection, additional fuel tanks etc. It was recommended that vehicles have a fuel range of 500 km (or 250 km with service crew provision of fuel), as per the previous year.
All vehicles had to carry a first-aid kit and reflective triangles. Seat belts, proper mudflaps, towing points laminated windscreen and roll bars (without the cross brace) were mandatory for all vehicles. For the first time, vehicles required a fire extinguisher system of not less than 5 kg capacity. A flame and liquid proof metallic firewall was also required between the fuel tank and passenger compartment. For the first time helmets were mentioned and recommended to be worn on special stages, but were not mandatory.
Classes
Class 1A: Up to 1300 cc Group 1
Class 1B: 1301-1600 cc Group 1
Class 1C: 1601 and over cc Group 1
Class 2A: Up to 1300 cc Group 2
Class 2B: 1301-1600 cc Group 2
Class 2C: 1601 and over cc Group 2
Class 3A: Up to 1300 cc Group 3
Class 3B: 1301-1600 cc Group 3
Class 3C: 1601 and over cc Group 3
Class 4A: Up to 1300 cc Group 4
Class 4B: 1301-1600 cc Group 4
Class 4C: 1601 and over cc Group 4
Class 5A: Up to 1300 cc Group 5
Class 5B: 1301-1600 cc Group 5
Class 5C: 1601 and over cc Group 5
Classes required a minimum of 5 entries otherwise they would be combined.
Timing and Scoring
Like the previous year, special stages were timed and scored to the second (lateness over the target time), and this year they really were timed to the second. However control procedures were substantially rewritten. The officials at the end of special stages allocated a start order number for the next special stage, which would be foregone if the crew were late. Two crews with adjacent start order were also able to swap position if mutually agreed. Crews could not enter controls early at the end of liaison stages (the terminology was changed to align with FIA conventions) and their arrival time was read to the elapsed (current) minute. Late penalties accrued in minutes only. Booking in early on a liaison resulted in a penalty of double the time in minutes, but late time could not be regained.
Because competitors had to complete the ENTIRE course, there were few other penalties. Failure to report to any control (main or passage) from the correct direction, in sequence and within late time resulted in exclusion.
Late time was maintained at 150 minutes per division with no 30 minute grace. The event was broken into four divisions. As mentioned above, competitors had to do the whole course.
As with previous years, penalties were also listed for exceeding posted speed limits, but unlike previous years, there was no penalty for up to 10 km/h over the posted limit above which penalties were 2 minutes for each km/h over.
Other
Starting order was based on the same driver categories as the previous year, with the organisers seeding drivers within categories except for category 1 which used a ballot. The first category was FIA seeded drivers. The second category was for drivers placed up to 3rd in any FIA Rally Championship event since 1973. The third category was for drivers who had finished up to 3rd in an international rally since 1973 or won a national champiosnhip rally since 1977.
The requirement for late drivers on non daylight special stages to not exceed 50 km/h after sunrise was removed and replaced with stage neutralisation provisions (still 50 km/h limit but no penalties).
Crews could work on their cars at any time except when in parc ferme. Work on the car by other than the crew was only permitted on liaison stages and at designated service points.
