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Britek Rallye
Sport, the company responsible for running the Pirtek Rally Team in the
NEC Australian Rally Championship, has begun the process for
International homologation of the Ford Fiesta Super 2000.
The only organisation in the world to
run Super 2000 Ford Fiestas, Britek Rallye Sport has been campaigning
in Australia under a dispensation from the Confederation of Australian
Motor Sport (CAMS) during 2007.
From 2008 the Super 2000 Fiesta will
be registered to run throughout the Asia Pacific region with Fédération
Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) homologation.
A review of the official Ford Fiesta
Super 2000 homologation document, plus inspection of the two rally
Fiestas, plus a complete kit, was carried out by the President of the
FIA Technical Commission Jacques Berger, Director General of the FIA
Manufacturers Commission Gabriel Cadringher and CAMS Technical Manager
Peter Lawrence.
Berger and Cadringher are also in Australia
to meet with CAMS as well as hold a summit with manufacturers and major
parties involved in motor sport.
As President of the FIA Technical
Commission, Berger is the foremost official involved with the
homologation process and is responsible for formatting the Super 2000
regulations.
As well as displaying a complete
rally car, Britek Rallye Sport had to present its second car
stripped-down with all parts available for inspection. Also on hand was
a bare Fiesta road going shell, complete XR4 Fiesta and standard
two-litre Duratec engine.
Britek Rallye Sport Chief Engineer
Marcus Clarke was responsible for presenting the cars, parts and
associated documents to the FIA and CAMS officials.
"The entire process has been an
excellent way to fully understand the regulations involved in the category,"
said Clarke.
"We have been communicating with
CAMS and the FIA since the start of the year and it was great to go
through the full inspection process.
"When you have the person
responsible for putting together the regulations actually here to inspect
the cars, you can move through the process very quickly. I have to say
Jacque was terrific and along with Gabriel were most encouraging into
what we are doing.
"It's important to note that the
process is not complete. They have asked for further information on
some areas in the homologation document and a few changes to the car
in-line with ongoing updates to the Super 2000 regulations. All of
which will be done before the final sign-off after the new year."
Britek Rallye Sport Team Principal
Jason Bright was pleased with the visit and the outcome.
"There are still some things
that need to be done before we get the full FIA sign-off, but it's a
credit to our rally group to have passed this milestone," said
Bright.
"Importantly it's a credit to
our Australian-based team to have taken up the challenge of designing
and building the Super 2000 Ford Fiesta.
"The car proved at the recent
NGK Rally of Melbourne, that against very stiff opposition it's quickly
becoming a very competitive piece of equipment.
"We know that this car can
challenge for the Australian title next year. Importantly it would also
be a very competitive car throughout the Asia Pacific region.
"We are required to have 10 kits
to gain full worldwide FIA homologation; ideally we will be looking to
achieve that status in 12 months time."
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