Freelander 1 rally car???

[MR LR]

Hi all,

Been watching the ARC today, and i noticed that someone was running a Subaru Forester rally car, first high-rider i've seen on the rally scene (i don't watch it much).

I've got a dune buggy and absolutely love hammering round tight wooded dirt tracks out bush , although they are more of a flat track. And i've got my Disco 1 which is the tow vehicle and satisfies my offroad touring desires right now, however i would like to turn this into more of a hard-core off roader and then update the DD/tourer to a D2.

This got me thinking, how hard and how suitable would a FL1 2 door be for making into a rally car? Just to be different from all the rice-boxes getting round (and satisfy my Landie needs haha). Personally i think they would be good and because the front end has a lot in common with the FWD Ford stuff, you could make a pretty fat motor bolt in there i woud think.

And they are cheap to buy aswell because they all blow up

What's your opinion on this?
And should i be looking for an rally ready car instead of wanting to build my own?

Cheers
Will

[101RRS]

There are ex brits on this forum who used to race Fl 1s offroad back in the old country.

[Reads90]

My brother had two freelanders he used for rally and off road racing

He was British off road champion in his class for 4 years running in one

This is his 1.8 petrol one









And his TD4 ex Dakar 2 door

[MR LR]

Wow those are some fat looking Freelanders, obviously there is some merit to the idea, have to see what the ARC regulations and everything deemed. Hopefull the COG of a Freebie wouldn't be too high for Australian rallying, but i think it would ba a pretty good platform to build upon. I guess it would even be possible to just turbocharge the standard petrol, not sure the diesel would have that competitive edge any more.

Cheers
Will

[nat p]

hi, absolutely buy one done!!!!!
WAY WAY WAY cheaper, look at my105.com and/or bsmc.com.au

some decent cars on that. They do rally them in UK so if you really want to rally one check out OS first to see the do and donts.
Cheers NAT

[justinc]

Are you familiar with the term 'DNF' ????






JC

[MR LR]

Yeah i'm thinking that buying a finished car would be a lot easier way to get into the sport, and yeah with a Freelander there is always the 'DNF' possibility, haha

[justinc]

Yeah i'm thinking that buying a finished car would be a lot easier way to get into the sport, and yeah with a Freelander there is always the 'DNF' possibility, haha

I meant just that, building your own FL1 you would have to ensure IRD and diff issues were out of the way permanently. Let alone suspension and body shell stiffening etc etc etc.

I suspect Pete Simpsons brothers one in those pics is substantially modified in all those areas or it will be in those DNF stats

I can imagine they would make a reasonably good rally car due to their dimensions and weight. Just drive train needs to be pretty much completely addressed.

JC

[Naviguesser]

I guess it would even be possible to just turbocharge the standard petrol, not sure the diesel would have that competitive edge any more. Cheers
Will

Can't use turbo petrol engine in SUV class, only N/A petrol or turbo diesel.

[MR LR]

Can't use turbo petrol engine in SUV class, only N/A petrol or turbo diesel.

Hmm, well there is no substitute for cubic capacity then (hehe, we have a few pre 1918 cars). Well a Td4 3 door won't be easy to find, and since i am good with a welder strengthening wouldn't be a problem, i think with access to advice building a first rally car wouldn't be too hard. Maybe it's got some merit