A new revolutionary concept was introduced in 2002 at the Kings Hall motor show called The Vauxhall Nova Rally Challenge; which meant that entertainment rallying, normally offered as an expensive schooling experience, was now offered in a real competitive format affordable by basically everyone. Alan had studied the competition, some local, some in the Republic and some overseas and it was realised that to get a decent ‘blast’ in a rallycar was very expensive with prices starting well in excess of £100, in Alan’s opinion, way too expensive in this country and in actual fact, a bit of a ‘rip-off’ really. These packages were wrapped up in the form of a rally school with classes and instructors, lessons, certificates with tea, coffee and biscuits – just to get a drive in a rallycar……….! Because of the expense and format the volume of participants was low and overheads were high so it was a vicious circle.

The Vauxhall Nova Rally Challenge was not a school but a competition where participants could not only drive a rallycar but they would be encouraged to do so as fast as they can, against the clock in a competition against others – a real rally with trophies and bubbly for the winners and at a cost, at that time of only £39 it was affordable by almost everyone, ideal for corporate and private groups. It proved to be an instant success.

In 2003 Alltrak Rallysport introduced The Subaru Impreza Driving Experience with one car and also offered a range of packages including Quadbiking, Mudplugging, Digger Driving, Archery and other imaginative activities.

The Rallysport Association invites owners of rallycars to attend events both run at Bluestone in Craigavon and at other race circuits in the province. The underlying formula is again family orientated and affordable. To achieve this The Rallysport Association had to remain independent of the Motor Sports Association, who are the body who provide guidance and insurance to car clubs and require a hefty contribution from all income. The Rallysport Association had to acquire its own insurance and have the vision that some day not too far away that they were going to be successful. Due to the fact that all RSA events took place on a ‘closed’ venue and not public roads, children from 12years were permitted to compete with adult supervision. These kids gain a tremendous amount of experience in their formative years and indeed many have gone on to the top of British and Irish Rallycross Championships as young as 16 and 17 years old while their mainland counterparts are still driving with their ‘L’ plates up!

To say the RSA has been a great success is an understatement. The RSA has promoted 36 Rallysprint events during 2006 and 2007, the most by any club or organisation in the UK by far. Over 700 different competitors have driven in at least one RSA event in 2006/7 and new participants appear at every event with many now travelling from as far away as Dublin and the West Coast of Ireland.