Nestled in a reasonably unassuming Chichester industrial property simply down the street from Goodwood, is a somewhat particular place.
Between the assorted plumbing and constructing commerce suppliers is a shrine to all issues rally, identified merely as Rally Replay.
Rally Replay can finest be described as equal elements showroom, store and museum. I’ve made some extent of stopping in each time I head to Goodwood, and the fixed rotation of automobiles means there’s at all times one thing new to see. The pictures on this submit are a fruits of some completely different visits, so if issues look barely completely different, that’s as a result of they’re.
After a delayed opening in Might 2021 as a result of UK’s pandemic lockdowns, Rally Replay has rapidly stuffed its 4 partitions with extremely attention-grabbing automobiles and uncommon rally collectables.
It additionally has workshop which carries out servicing, rally preparation and help. Among the automobiles on show belong to Rally Replay prospects; others might be yours – in case your pockets are deep sufficient.
When you have been a toddler of the ’90s, there’s a robust probability you spent a portion of your youth in arcades. SEGA Rally consumed an enormous quantity of my allowance, however is simply nearly as good as I bear in mind. And it’s even higher when it’s free to play.
Trying barely extra sedate than the later Evo variations, this pink Lancia Delta Integrale was initially a Group A machine, believed to be an Abarth Manufacturing facility privateer automobile. In recent times it has been restored with Miki Biasion to have fun the thirtieth anniversary of his second World Rally Championship win. Its exterior displays that of the Rallye Sanremo 1989 entry.
Whereas trying like a contest automobile, this 8-valve Integrale is a street automobile with the livery of Biasion’s Rallye Sanremo 1988 works automobile.
In interval, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth shone on race circuits, however had restricted success as a rally automobile. This instance now resides in New Zealand and was constructed from new as a Group N automobile, earlier than being upgraded to Group A specification.
Rally plates adorn the mezzanine, one from every of the primary WRC rounds within the order they would comply with.
On just a few completely different visits to Rally Replay, the Repsol and Martini WRC Lancia Delta Integrale Evos have been on show, together with a Fiat 242 restored as a trustworthy reproduction of the service van that ran alongside the Lancia 037 and S4 rally program.
Asking somebody to decide on a favorite between the Martini and Repsol-liveried Lancias could be like asking them to select their favorite baby; each look extremely purposeful. A devoted highlight on these two will comply with, with a extra detailed have a look at these iconic Group A heroes.
Henri’s bar – named after Henri Toivonen, the Finnish rally icon who alongside together with his co-driver Sergio Cresto, sadly misplaced their lives when their Lancia Delta S4 plunged off a cliff throughout the 1986 Tour De Corse rally.
Because the plaque particulars, the wing and automobile went seperate methods after contact with a gate submit throughout the 1985 RAC Rally.
I’ve a confession to make – I’m not a fan of blue Subarus (sorry, Toby!) Which is why this very automobile is one in all my favourites to place tyres to tarmac (or gravel) throughout a rally stage. Pushed by Toshi Arai, the automobile shaped a part of the Prodrive Allstars program – successfully a paid seat to enter as a privateer, with its personal mini championship.
Arai was profitable in Group N for Subaru and in 1999 took the helm of this automobile within the Acropolis and Tour De Corse rallies.
Rally Replay has a literal library of reference materials, painstakingly sourced during the last 25 years, and from all around the world.
Previous to the appearance of the web, you would need to look ahead to month-to-month magazines, or yearly for VHS protection. Duke Video was the go-to for something motorsport associated, overlaying numerous disciplines in tape format, whereas every nation had their very own publication overlaying the occasions.
Rally Replay’s store component sells security gear and race put on, helpful for these competing at Goodwood who haven’t realised their equipment has lapsed certification
Each Fiat 131 Abarth rally automobile began as one of many 400 road-going automobiles produced for homologation. As quickly as 150 of these got here off the road, they went straight to the Abarth motorsport division for his or her conversion to rally automobiles. These noticed competitors till 1982, earlier than being changed by the Lancia 037.
This 1976 Group 4 rally automobile automobile was utilized by the press division for motor exhibits and magazines, the offered on to one in all staff mechanics. He stored it for 35 years, and to at the present time it has by no means been rallied.
The 1995cc twin-cam motor initially made between 225 and 245 horsepower, fed down the throats of 4 intakes through Kugelfischer mechanical gasoline injection.
This Impreza was the automobile that earned its Kiwi driver, the late Possum Bourne, his remaining victory.
This victory was on the Hokkaido spherical of the 2000 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, the primary worldwide rally in Japan which was used as a check run for WRC.
These major vendor Fiat service boards got here from the Fiat dealership in Brighton, and when the dealership closed their doorways a few years in the past, these went into storage within the basement. After being unearthed lately, Rally Replay was fast to purchase them and put them on show.
In all places you look, you’ll discover quite a few odes to rallying, or artefacts from rallying historical past which have been fastidiously curated.
Not many will recognise the identify Martin Holmes, however as a motorsport photojournalist, few extra come acclaimed. Martin wrote the World Rallying annuals, devoting his life to following the travelling circus that’s the World Rally Championship.
The cameras above have been his, usually arrange on a bar to take a number of photographs in every cross.
In whole, Martin attended round 550 rounds of the World Rally Championship.
He additionally stored detailed data, logging each end result from each spherical.
This fastidious strategy to his craft earned him the respect of many, as evidenced within the letters of congratulations and thanks supplied to him on the time of his twenty fifth annual.
Varied helmets are stored on show, together with one from early in Walter Röhrl’s profession when he drove for Opel.
I’m not conscious of anyplace else fairly like Rally Replay. Because the identify suggests, it pays tribute to rally of years previous. You’d possible count on to pay a steep entry charge for entry to such a group, however there aren’t any tickets required right here. All it’ll value you is a copious period of time, as a result of it received’t be a fast go to.
Chaydon Ford
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