As its name suggests, the Honda City isn’t the first car you would think of when the words “rally” and “winner” serendipitously locate themselves together in speech. Well, think again. Because the car you see above is an rallycross winner. And it is a Honda City.
What is rallycross? Well, just like circuit racing, it’s a motorsport held in purpose-built race tracks – “purpose-built” meaning some guy with a bulldozer just carved a vestigial pathway through some undergrowth and called it a day. Tarmac? Asphalt? None. Mud? Gravel? Hell yeah! Participants have to negotiate through a such a circuit course, usually in cars designed to deal with the rough roads. Say for example, the Lancer Evolution or the Impreza WRX.
Yet this City, fielded by Team HCLA Sport, the motorsports arm of Honda Cars Laguna, won the first and second leg of the 2011 RallyEKross Series. Let us restate that: a bone-stock City, save for safety equipment, rally tires, and unknown minor suspension modifications, can and has kicked the be-winged asses of the rallye-special establishment.
What this plebian City has, which you cannot buy from your local speed shop, is in the pilots flinging this thing through loose surfaces. Racing talent is what allows this City to win. Racing talent represented by ten-time Philippine rally champion Vip Isada and his son Ivan. Videographic evidence of their skill level is available after the jump. And while you’re at it, check out Ivan’s WordPress blog.
And, should you consider joining the RallyEKross Series, the next leg is on November 12, in Enchanted Kingdom (yes the theme park) Sta. Rosa Laguna. Don’t have an Evo/WRX? Join the utility vehicle (UV) class, so you in the Ford Fierra or FMC Anfra can jump in on the fun.
Source: flatoutivan.wordpress.com, Roam Manila blog
Best of luck Lewis Hamilton – with McLaren supporting you you triumphed at Abu Dhabi and you’ll sail through easily in Brazil!
I would love to do a rally like this, so cool!
Great vids, very exciting!