Holden versus Ford, Carlton vs Collingwood, Wallabies vs All Blacks. Down Under, there are plenty of great sporting rivalries. In world of Powersports, Polaris and BRP have fought in North America for over 50 years. An agreement has now been made with the Australian Rally

Championship to bring the battle to Australia with the first of four rounds of the Australian Side by Side Challenge to be held at Calder Park in March 2-4 2012.

Since the 1960's the snowmobiles of both premium brands have been raced against each other. In the 1980's came ATVs (quad bikes), and most recently Side by Side (SxS) vehicles. Polaris are from Minnesota, USA, and across their northern border sits Canadian arch rival, BRP,

makers Can-Am ATVs and SxS.

Since the introduction of the Polaris RZR in 2008, the sport of SxS Racing has exploded in North America, with tens of thousands of Polaris SxS now sold each year. In Australia Polaris RZR owners have been welcomed at events all over the country, from the Outback races such

as Finke Desert Race and Cliffhanger, to KharnaCross and plenty of other events endorsed by CAMS or the Cross Country Drivers Association, not to forget the fact that we had SxS race at our very own 2011 Thumb Pump 300 ATV Festival under Motorcycling Australia.

"One of the key things the ARC SxS Racing will deliver is a CAMS nationally recognised cage spec. From 2012 a Polaris RZR owner will be able to enter a host of different CAMS events with the one spec vehicle" said Neil Anderson, Polaris National Marketing Manager. The CAMS spec cage should then of course be eligible for MA and CCDA events also.

The only permitted vehicles in the Rally Australia events will be the Polaris RZR XP and the Can-Am Commander. Neil also pointed out that this will effectively be a stock class, basically everything is standard apart from the necessary safety changes such as approved racing cage and harnesses. "We are very keen that this not become cheque book racing. As a result, there will be no engine or transmission modifications allowed. Even the alloy wheels must be stock."

Rounds will be held on the following dates

Mar 2-4 Rally Calder Melbourne VIC

Mar 31-April 1 Quit Forest Rally Busselton WA

May 26-27 International Rally Sunshine Coast QLD

Oct 13-14 Coffs Coast Forest Rally NSW

Now is the time to start getting a cage made if you want to compete at the first round, competitors are free to choose their own manufacturer or make it themselves, so long as it complies with CAMS Schedule J.

Sporting and Technical regulations are published at

www.rally.com.au (Competitors – Regulation)

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86&Itemid=100

Supplementary Regulations and Entry information is also

at www.rally.com.au (Events – Rally Calder – Rally Calder

Event Information – Competitor Information)

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_c

ontent&view=article&id=1316%3Acompetit

or-information-australian-side-x-side-rallychallenge&

http://www.rally.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1316%3Acompetitor-information-australian-side-x-side-rallychallenge&catid=79&Itemid=199

View the Rally Calder Video

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