Lets play a game Oppo Update: We have a winner!

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 02/21/2019 at 15:15 • Filed to: None

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This is a Peugeot 306 Maxi, a bonkers F2 class rally car powered by a naturally aspirated 2L 4 cylinder that gloriously screams to 11k rpm to make 300hp. Pictured is Francois Delecour driving one to 2nd place overall in the 1997 Tour de Course, only beat by Colin McRae. It’s awesome but that’s not the game we are going to play.

The game we are going to play is “Guess why you can’t technically enter this in an ARA event”. I say technically because the reason is stupid enough that I’m sure if you actually showed up at an event with one of these they would give it an exemption.

I will state right now it has nothing to do with safety equipment and roll cages. I can’t be bothered to compare the FIA F2 rule book to the ARA rules to figure out what’s different. The 20 year old cage probably needs to be updated anyway so we’re ignoring that. We’re also ignoring the legal shenanigans needed to have one in the US to begin with.

So Oppo, you roll into tech at an ARA event with a 306 Maxi, what’s the tech inspector going to fail you for?

Hint 1: The reason is externally visible and is somewhat unique to the 306 Maxi

Update: WilliamsSW got it, ARA has a rule stating that all aerodynamic devices must be lower than 3 inches above the roof line which the wing on the Maxi clearly does not meet. I would guess that this rule is in place to prevent people from showing up with crazy home built hill climb aero contraptions that would be prone to falling off the car. Given that this car has been winning rallies for the last 23 years (seriously, 306 Maxis won events just last year, 20 years after Peugeot stopped campaigning the 306 Maxi in favor of the new 206 WRC) and is a product of a major factory program I’m sure you could get it through tech without issue. Frankly it would probably be super sketchy to drive without the wing.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:22

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Engine revs too high?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:23

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Non-factory body panels ?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:26

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Number of hub lugs.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:31

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It has two windscreen wipers?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:32

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Non DOT headlights?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/21/2019 at 15:35

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Nope, You are allowed to widen or replace quarter panels as long as they still completely cover the wheels when viewed from above in the Open 2wd class .

3point8isgreat > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:36

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How badly he wants it, and figures if you’re not allowed to race it you’ll be more likely to sell it?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:36

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RHD?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 02/21/2019 at 15:37

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Nope, The modifications made to achieve that level of performance are legal to the ARA rules.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/21/2019 at 15:38

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You would ban a lot of cars if you didn’t allow 4 lug hubs. So no, its not the wheels.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:38

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Non glass windshield?

RallyWrench > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:38

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Sequential box not allowed in 2wd? 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2019 at 15:39

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I don’t think they made the 306 Maxi in a RHD configuration. But no, RHD vehicles are not banned in the ARA rules (that would take away all the awesome Escorts)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > RallyWrench 02/21/2019 at 15:41

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Sequential boxes are legal as long as they are mechanically actuated, which this one is.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:41

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Do the Maxis even have VINs ?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/21/2019 at 15:42

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That would be a reason to fail tech however I believe that the FIA has the same requirement for a laminated glass windshield as the ARA does so that would not be why this would fail. I will say that your first guess was closer.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/21/2019 at 15:44

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They do. As a factory program they may even have a VIN that identifies them as a 306 Maxi instead of a standard 306.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/21/2019 at 15:46

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ARA does not specify the need for DOT headlights (just functioning lights), that would be more of a concern for getting it legal in the US and I believe a competition import permit would get you around that.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 15:48

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Non metal body pan els?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 02/21/2019 at 15:50

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Nope, composite panels are legal as long as the A, B, C pillars and doors are metallic and retain the factory profile which I believe the Maxis do.

RallyWrench > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 16:04

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Hmm. Is it something exceptionally stupid like defrost operation? If memory serves, there used to be a Rally America rule that required a switch just for the defrost blower.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > RallyWrench 02/21/2019 at 16:14

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I’m not sure if ARA’s rules mandate a defroster but they ran the 306 Maxi in Rally Monte Carlo so I would assume it has some form of defroster.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 16:17

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Aah forgot the Escorts.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 16:18

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Widebody/width restrictions? Wang/non-stock extra bodywork?

WilliamsSW > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 16:32

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Spoiler height? 

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 16:49

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Rear window glass area is too large?

Cé hé sin > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 17:15

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The rear spoiler

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > WilliamsSW 02/21/2019 at 17:53

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Winner, Winner. ARA rules mandate that all aerodynamic devices be lower than 3 inches above the roof line. 

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Cé hé sin 02/21/2019 at 17:54

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WilliamsSW beat you to it but ARA has a rule stating that all aerodynamic devices must be lower than 3 inches above the roof line.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/21/2019 at 17:58

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No width restrictions or anything banning widening the track. Funny that you should mention that though as at the Maxi’s debut event in the 1995 French rally championship they actually had to shorten the stage when it was discovered that the Maxi didn’t actually fit on a bridge at the end of one of the stages.

You were right about the wing but WilliamsSW got the reason right. ARA has a rule stating that all aerodynamic devices must be lower than 3 inches above the roof line.

WilliamsSW > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 18:04

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Yaaasssss!  How much monies for me then?

kanadanmajava1 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 18:33

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Maxi’s wing should still work if it would be lowered to meet the rules. It wouldn’t be as good but the difference should be only significant  at  very high speeds.

But are ARA’s rallies tarmac rallies? 306 Maxi was built solely for tarmac rallies and it’s not very fast on gravel.

Genuine 306 Maxis are also very expensive. You can find partially authentic rep licas for cheaper but the genuine ones can climb near ~100,000 euros.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/21/2019 at 18:38

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Ooooo...weird

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > kanadanmajava1 02/21/2019 at 19:33

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You are applying logic to a completely theoretical idea. I’ll probably never even get to see a 306 Maxi, let alone ever be able to afford one.

And yes, ARA events are all either gravel or snow. And while the 306 was really a tarmac weapon there was a gravel setup for it which while not heavily developed has still seen a decent amount of use.

Here it is running in Rally Portugal in 1998 where it finished 14th overall. It even has a pair of 10th overalls with Portugal in 1997 and Cyprus in 2004. While it’s mostly known for its domination of the French national championship it still saw use on the gravel events that were part of the 2-Litre World Rally Cup.  This tarmac weapon is far from useless in the dirt.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/22/2019 at 03:38

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Damn you! I stopped looking for this a while ago, and now I found that:

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1550351165.htm/

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction 02/22/2019 at 07:18

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Pretty cool, even if the seller is being scummy about trying to pass off their replica as real. They only made 96 306 Maxi Chassis so I don’t know how this can be #198 of 200. Wheels don’t fit the fenders right because it doesn’t have the widened suspension, engine bay is completely wrong. I’m all for replicas of cool cars but don’t try to pass it off as real when it isn’t.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/22/2019 at 12:23

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They wouldn't grant an exception for the wing regardless of pedigree. They don't mess when it comes to aero rules (unless the car/driver is so hopeless they don't stand a chance even with the component, then it's a maybe)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dusty Ventures 02/22/2019 at 13:00

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So you don’t think they would give it an exemption based on it s FIA compliance? T here’s nothing in the Open 2WD rules about it but the first thing in the Open 4WD rules is that FIA cars that do not meet current ARA rules are legal with approval from ARA before the event. I don’t think they would make you remove the wing if you provided the current FIA paperwork for the car before hand.

Dusty Ventures > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/22/2019 at 19:18

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I’m skeptical. Meeting FIA regulation hasn't carried much weight in the past.