The 323 is going Vintage racing. Maybe.

VARAC added a G90 class for next year. The 323 will be going vintage. If I can figure out what this cryptic message from the organization means:

"Sorry, this is where you have to do some research.

As you can imagine, when you think about it, with probably more than 15 different race series out there and a different set of rules every year, it would be impossible for me or anyone else to do this work for you."

This is the answer I got to the question of 'how do I know if my car is legal and are there members of the group who can help me?'

What are they trying to tell me? Do I just have to make sure my car is using period correct (1993) technology? Do I make sure it complies with the CARS 1993 rule book? Any vintage folks who can help me out please chime in.

Thanks.

What they are saying is that it is up to you to prove to them that your car is both eligible to race and prepared to race. Which means you must document that your car meets the rules of a particular race series and complies with the rules of of that series as raced in period.

I've been through this.

I've got an '87 190E 2.3-16 that I've built as a DTM/Evo I replica with the intention of running in VARAC's Group 70+ class. It's been difficult to figure out what I need to do to race with them, though the car has been built 100% period-correct and I'm licensed to race in other series using vintage rules (e.g., BMW CCA CR).

You need to start by proving that your car was legal to race in "some appropriate" class back in the day. As far as I can tell, international classes are allowed. In my case, I was able to show that the 190 Cosworth was raced in IMSA and SCCA in North America, as well as various FIA Group A classes abroad. I was able to find the original FIA homologation papers, which documented which mods were legal at the time.

Thanks for the replies. I'm now trying to see if CRC/CARS, SCCA rally, or WRC is an appropriate series for VARAC. If they accept CRC/CARS, I'm golden and can start planning an engine swap because I can build to open 2wd class rules.

In reply to Jeff:

that would be fantastic news. If they accept SCCA rally let me know as I would then have a Talon TSI that would be legal to run with them, providing me with a new group to market it's sale to.

VARAC gave it's blessing to run to 1993 CRC rally rules for open 2wd. I found someone who has a copy of the '93 rules, so we'll see what it allows. But I think an engine swap is back in the plans. CDS, looks like you'd be go for VARA for your car.

In reply to Jeff:

Jeff in the 93 rulebook, it will be Group 2 or Group 5 depending on NA or Turbo/Supercharged - not open 2wd.

Both should allow any engine up to the max (3.0L NA and I can't remember for Group 5 IIRC) from the same manufacturer.