The article below tells you all you need to know about becoming a rally driver! Good Luck!  If you are not from the UK, you may want to do an internet search for local driving schools!

You want to get started in rallying but you just don't know how. You fancy yourself as a bit of a Colin McRae, have passed your driving test and have even done the odd handbrake turn in an empty supermarket car park (it's OK, we won't tell Dad). But you aren't sure where to go and what to do next.

wrc.com's Rachel Rumsey has the lowdown on reaching the highlights. And while we can't promise to turn you into the next World Rally Champion, you just might pick up some advice you didn't know before.

Get a licence

In Britain, from January 1 this year, the licensing rules were changed and every driver wishing to contest stage rallies now has to hold a Stage Rally Competition Licence. 

Complete novices will have to complete a BARS (British Association of Rally schools) course and apply to British rallying's governing body, the MSA, for a "Go Rallying Pack". For39 British Pounds, you will receive an MSA Competitors' yearbook, a novice application and a video on rallying.

The next step is attending one of the 10 registered BARS schools for a 15-minute theory test and a driving test lasting roughly 10 minutes. If you successfully pass both, you can send off your application and a 'National B' status licence will be yours.

The National B licence

This piece of paper is your gateway to the various national rally championships at clubman level. Alternatively you could join a one-make series, of which there are currently four in the UK run by Peugeot, Ford and Volkswagen.

There are advantages to both but with a one-make series you will learn fast and compete against people at your level. A full season in a one-make series will be relatively cost effective and coupled with that you have the back-up of a manufacturer and skilled personnel at your disposal. Indeed, reigning world rally champion, Richard won Peugeot's one-make series, the Peugeot Challenge in 1991.

Peugeot Sport boss, Mick Linford offers his words of advice: "My own point of view is that a one-make championship is a very level playing field. You go into the championship knowing that everything is down to your driving.

"To anyone wanting to get started in rallying, get as many events under your belt as you can. Nothing beats experience. Also build up that experience with a regular co-driver."

The next step

PlayStation gamers will think this is a little like Gran Turismo because once you've competed successfully at National B level, the next step-up licence wise is the 'National A', which you can upgrade to after contesting four of the 'National B' events.

This opens up a whole new world of rallying with access to national championships such as ANCRO or BTRDA and the British Rally Championship (BRC).

The BRC has traditionally been the step-up to world rallying and a talent spotters' paradise. Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen is a past competitor in a Nissan and Colin McRae stepped-up from the Scottish Championship to the British series winning in 1991 and '92.

"The championship is Britain's premier series geared up to give any talented driver, in any class of car, the chance to win," says Mark Taylor, championship manager for the BRC.

"It's held over seven qualifying rounds and is a mixture of demanding, high-quality tarmac and gravel events. Drivers with Super 1600, WRC or Production cars can gain experience of top-class, competitive rallying and the top team managers view any BRC champion as a potential star of the future."

For budding Finnish rally drivers, the Finnish Championship is also a breeding ground for future WRC talent. Marcus Gronholm and Harri Rovanpera are among the successful graduates who have made the transition to the world stage.

But also remember that while you are talented, you don't necessarily have to be in the best car to get yourself noticed. Ford's young gun for the 2002 season Markko Martin was originally spotted driving a Lada in the Estonian Rally Championship

And for some world rally debuts are lucky breaks. Quite literally for Norwegian Petter Solberg who replaced Thomas Radstrom on the Safari Rally when the Ford driver broke his leg!

Career swaps?

You don't have to start your career in rallying either. Carlos Sainz was a Formula Ford driver before he switched his allegiance to rallying, Belgian ace Francois Duval started out in karting and Petter Solberg was a rallycrosser.

But what if despite all your efforts that Peugeot works-drive with your name on it just doesn't come to fruition? It is possible (if you can attract enough sponsorship), that you can contest a part or full series in WRC. 1998 British Rally Champion Martin Rowe has done just that this year and is contesting this year's Production Cup in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI.

But if getting your hands on the 'readies' is a problem, a private drive at the wheel of a world rally car is about as likely as Carlos Sainz returning to Formula Ford. To hire one of the manufacturers cars, such as the awesome Hyundai world rally car will cost you about 100,000 British Pounds per event!

So in conclusion...The path from novice to world champion may well be a long one, Richard Burns realised his dreams last year winning the world championship, but it took him 10 years to do so.

But for the budding enthusiast, the important thing is to enjoy what you do, set and work within a budget and get out there. You won't know what you can achieve until you try.

Article source: www.wrc.com