NRC RUFFLES IT’S 2025 FEATHERS
The National Rally Working Group wishes all our competitors, partners, service providers, officials, and fans a successful and memorable 2025.
We have been meeting regularly since the completion of the last rally in 2024 to come up with ideas that we believe will bring about improvements and to provide a new level of excitement to the National and Regional Rally Championships. We would like to share some of these exciting new developments with you:
Event Formats and Scoring
In 2025, the National Rally Championship (NRC) will use two distinct event formats as described below. The format will be chosen by the organisers based on various logistical and other criteria. Although these formats are not new, being able to choose the best format for each unique event during the season will greatly assist in providing competitors and fans with more variety and maximum excitement. The format of each event will be announced in the event’s Supplementary Regulations.
Format 1
Will be the “traditional” single event held over two days, but with a twist:
It is often difficult to find enough time for reconnaissance runs on the Friday prior to the start of an event; however, a two-day event (1 round) alleviates many of these time constraints. This format will be executed with a 40/60 formula. Day 1 will allow for reconnaissance and +/- 40% of the required stage kilometers, with the remaining stages completed on Day 2.
To get more cars to the finish line of Day 2, there will be no overnight Parc-Fermé. Competitors will be allowed to work on their cars once the end of Day 1 Parc-Fermé is opened.
The biggest and most exciting change to this format will be in the scoring. Competitors will score class points based on their finishing position for Day 1 and for Day 2 separately, but overall points will be based on their finishing position at the end of the rally (Day 1 and 2 combined).
This format will bring both endurance and strategy back into play when compared with Format 2 (which is more of a “sprint”), but you will still be able to take away some points if you were unable to finish Day 1 (without the confusing Super Rally format used in the past).
Example: If a competitor does not complete Day 1, they may restart on Day 2 and score class points based on their finishing position on Day 2 but will not score overall points because they did not complete both days.
Format 2
What we called the “COVID format” has proved very successful since its inception in 2020, with two independent rounds spread over two consecutive days (Friday and Saturday): The rally consists of two days of competition, with each day being a separate round with its own set of points and approximately 50/50 split in stage distance.
This well-known and popular format will remain largely unchanged for 2025, except for the new Points Scoring format as described below.
New Points Scoring Format
The point scoring format will be completely revamped this year. This will make it possible for almost any car to win a national championship! We have lowered the overall points while increasing the class point allocation per event.
The new points format will ensure increased excitement and closer competition, but we also want to remind everybody that we no longer only have one NRC championship. It may have gone unnoticed by some, but since 2024, our regulations make provision for two separate championships for our 4WD and 2WD categories. We would like to congratulate Anton and Isabel Raaths again for winning the inaugural NRC 2WD Championship last year!
We have a class for every rally car in our country, and our goal is to make competitive rallying accessible to everyone.
Power Stages
As hinted by the above Points Structure, the NRC will introduce Power Stages on selected national events from 2025 (where stages or locations are suitable). This will allow for a thrilling conclusion to our events! Here’s a detailed overview:
Characteristics:
- Final Stage: The Power Stage is typically the last stage of the rally.
- Competitive: Drivers compete against each other to set the fastest time.
- Bonus Points: The top 5 drivers per 2WD and 4WD category earn bonus points, which impact the overall rally standings and championship points.
Significance:
- Increased Excitement: The Power Stage adds an extra layer of excitement as drivers push for valuable bonus points.
- Championship Implications: Bonus points can greatly influence the championship standings, making the Power Stage a crucial aspect.
Power Stage Format:
- Stage Length: Typically between 5 and 10 km long.
- Stage Type: Usually a gravel or tarmac stage.
- Timing: The stage is timed, with drivers aiming for the fastest time.
In summary, the Power Stage adds an exciting element to rallying, as drivers battle for every second to earn valuable bonus points.
New Tyre Supplier for 2025
The NRC has partnered with Dunlop for the 2025/26 NRC Seasons, and they will be the official tyre supplier to the NRC. The exact details of this new partnership will follow as an “official announcement” by Dunlop & ATS soon. In the meantime, we are happy to welcome them back as valued partners.
NRC Class Changes
We have made some changes to our national classes. Together with the new points format, this will ensure more competition in every class and will allow every competitor a fair chance to compete for the ultimate prize of a real national championship.
To reiterate, there is a place for all cars in our championship (the place to be in 2025).
| NRC Class | Description (Refer to SSR’s Part 9 for details) | Category |
| NRC 1 | AR1 and Rally2-Kit Cars | 4 Wheel Drive Cars |
| NRC 2 | AR2-Kit, and legacy 4WD cars, e.g.S2000, Subarus etc. | 4 Wheel Drive Cars |
| NRC 3 | Open to 2WD cars complying with the current FIA Rally 5 regulations, as well as the legacy R2N and R1000T cars. The legacy R2 cars must still comply with their current homologation. | 2 Wheel Drive Cars |
| NRC 4 | Open 2 Wheel Drive Class, Legacy 2WD cars. | 2 Wheel Drive Cars |
For clarity, the AR2-Kit regulations are being finalised, and have been written around the concept of the Polo constructed by VW Motorsport. The first car has already been delivered to its owner. The regulations have been written to maintain strict cost control for this class of car.
The guiding philosophy is that you compete with the car exactly as it came from VW Motorsport.
As they are the homologating entity, only they can apply to the Technical Panel for any changes or modifications to the vehicle via the Evolution of Type or Variant Option process. There is a second manufacturer considering providing another make of vehicle to compete in this class under the same regulations and utilising the same kit.
The current FIA Rally 5 class replaces the old R2B class, bringing the regulations up to date with current trends.
To ensure/enhance a level playing field, cars in all NRC classes (NRC 1 to 4) may be subjected to balance of performance measures at the discretion of the technical consultants.
2025 Entry Fees
To provide equal benefit to all competitors, there will no longer be different entry fees for national and regional entries. All competitors will now be classified as national entrants when entering an NRC event with a combined regional section. Competitors who qualify and wish to be part of the Regional Championship event will be scored accordingly. It is important to unify our competitors; thus, going forward, all entrants will be scored in the NRC.
This means that every competitor will now be scored as part of the NRC field (1 Result-Sheet), according to Overall Position and National Class, but in addition, there will still be a Regional Championship Rally included at most NRC events with its own separate results, listing only the regional competitors. This will make it much easier for our spectators and the public in general to understand who ended up where.
| Category | NRC Entry Fee |
| 4 Wheel Drive | R6000-00 per event |
| 2 Wheel Drive | R4000-00 per event |
For the avoidance of doubt, there is only 1 entry fee payable. You enter only for the NRC event, but will be scored twice if you qualify for the Regional Championship. For the regional qualifying criteria, please refer to the Northern Regions Rally SSR’s.
In closing for now, we are happy to announce a brand new rally to be held in the Free State. The Fouriesburg Rally will not be your typical Mielie Field Grand Prix. It promises to be challenging. We will share more information regarding this new event in due course, but we would really appreciate your support for the local accommodation venues in and around Fouriesburg. There are a lot of options available in the area, so please try to support the local businesses first before you start venturing out towards Clarence.
These are just some of the changes aimed at making your sport more exciting and ensuring that we continue to evolve and grow. Please keep following our future announcements for further exciting news.
We would like to thank our partners and service providers, Toyota Gazoo Racing, TracN4, Dunlop, ATS Motorsport, Ctrack, Mibern Medi-Call, and Fixed Mobile Telecoms, for their continued support and stern belief in Our Sport.
We trust that everybody is just as excited as we are to start a new season; now let’s go racing! Go-Go the NRC in 2025!
Kind regards,
Chris Coertse
NRC Working Group Chairman
