2021 RSEA Safety Australian Rally Championship

After the COVID lockdowns that had forced the almost complete abdnonment of rallying in 2020, hopes were high for a full Australian Rally Championship in 2021. However, it wasn’t to be. The first two rounds in Canberra (postponed to April) and Queensland ran successfully with Harry Bates and John McCarthy taking full points at both events. Then lockdowns began being re-introduced in several states. Initially events were postponed but as the year progressed, it became apparent that it would be difficult to complete the championship. Events such as Victoria’s round, the Gippsland Rally, ran as a state championship round. There was a proposal to run the Coffs Coast Rally as two rounds but that ultimately did not happen. As lockdowns eased, there was hopes of completing the series with a new final round, the Monaro Stages. Sadly it was cancelled at the last moment due to wet weather, rounding out a dismal year for rallying. Motorsport Australia declared that there would be no championship awarded but leaders in each category were awarded “cups”.

To see other years of the ARC, go to the series page.

Harry Bates and John McCarthy at 2021 Rally Queensland, photo: CH Images

Series Regulations

The series was regulated by the ARC Sporting and Technical Regs. We don’t have a copy but we think they were much the same as 2022.

Events were to be Compact (one day greater than 100 km competitive), Sprint (two days, two heats overall greater than 160 km competitive) or Endurance (over 160 km competitive as a single event). This year there were three sprint events (one cancelled) and four endurance events.

Vehicle eligibility was FIA categories except Rally1, Motorsport Australia PRC, AP4, G4/G2, Classic and Club.

Outright Driver and Co-driver points were awarded down to twentieth thus: 50, 40, 35, 31, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for sprint event heats and double these points for compact and endurance events. Power stage placing were awarded down to fifth thus: 10, 6, 4, 2 and 1. All points counted. Crews had to be registered to score points. The Manufacturer Championship used a different points system, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for sprint heats and double these for compact and endurance events with the highest placed two cars counted for each manufacturer.

Additional awards were as follows, and used the same points system as for outright but with the best four results to count:

  • ARC 2WD Cup
  • ARC Production Cup
  • ARC Classic Cup (2WD only)
  • ARC Junior Cup

Events

There were six rounds originally calendared, as follows. WA was not included, principally because of the strict COVID lockdown still being enforced by that state. Only the first two rounds were conducted (click on the events for more information and results):

  1. National Capital Rally (ACT, Endurance, also NSWRC)
  2. Rally Queensland (Qld, Sprint, also QRC)
  3. Launceston Rally (Tas, Sprint, also TRC)
  4. Gippsland Rally (Vic, Endurance, also VRC)
  5. Adelaide Hills Rally (SA, Sprint?)
  6. Coffs Coast Rally (NSW, Endurance, also APRC and NSWRC)
With the spread of the COVID Delta variant, further lockdowns prevented crews travelling interstate. When those lockdowns eased later in the year, a new event the Monaro Stages, organised by the Canberra Light Car Club, was co-opted as a final round, but it too was cancelled because of wet weather.

Pointscores (two rounds only)

Awards

  • ARC Cup: Harry Bates/ John McCarthy, Toyota Yaris AP4
  • 2WD Cup: Ryan Williams/ Brad Jones, Ford Fiesta R2T
  • Production Cup: Arron Windus/ Daniel Brkic, Subaru Impreza WRX STi
  • Classic Cup: Trevor Stilling/ Murray Hynes, Datsun Stanza
  • Junior Cup: Ryan Williams/ Brad Jones, Ford Fiesta R2T