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 Jacques was terrific and, along with Gabriel, were most encouraging in 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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Britek Rallye Sport returns to Australian Rally Championship competition with Michael Guest and Darren Windus aboard the Pirtek Rally Team Super 2000 Ford Fiestas at the opening round, the Coates Rally Queensland on the Sunshine Coast on the second weekend in March.
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