World Rally for All as Hotbuggy Hits the Track

15 July 2003

The current crop of World Rally Cars are purebred machines of power and purpose so are allowed out in only the most experienced, or wealthy, of hands, leaving the rest of us looking on in awe and wonder at the pinnacle of rally technology. Until now.

On Thursday 10th July, Donington Park saw the launch of the affordable WRC alternative - Hotbuggy. This lightweight rally kart developed by Octave Engineering and former Ford WRC man, Marc Amblard is designed to give as close as possible to the feel of a fully blown WRC car for much less money.

The tubular chassis, designed using 3D computer modelling, provides the best compromise of weight, safety and rigidity, all the components and geometry of the kart designed with ultimate performance in mind. Sold as a rolling chassis, the Hotbuggy can accept any motorcycle engine from 500cc upwards to drive the rear wheels through a sequential-shift lever system.

The suspension, front and rear gives over 12 inches of travel and uses dampers specifically designed for the Hotbuggy. Derived from current WRC designs, they offer low weight and characteristics to match their rally siblings, and with a high-ratio rack and pinion steering system offer unstoppable cross-country abilities.

Marketed toward professional race and rally drivers, the fully adjustable Hotbuggy is also set, in a slightly calmer setup, to be a hit on corporate events and track days with its 'bang per buck' exceeding virtually everything else available. But for now we're interested in the hardcore, no-holds-barred version and to launch a machine like this, you need some people who know what they're doing.

Enter our band of launch test drivers, set to square up in the Hotbuggy Rally Challenge. The launch event is the Day of Champions, a pre-event opener for the British MotoGP weekend and official charity Riders for Health have called upon some of the riders present, and a few more experienced rally names, to lend a hand.

Once set-up by rally school top man, and designer of the day's track, Bill Gwynne, the buggy is first handed over to bike racer and TT ace Jim Moodie, but not before a couple of tonnes of water are dumped on the track to keep the dust down. Moodie sets a flying lap time, returning home thoroughly muddied.

Next up, Team KR Proton principal and 3-times World Champion Kenny Roberts, followed by former British 500cc and Truck Racing champion Steve Parrish, both running impressively muddy laps. Roberts took the fastest time, but Parrish was penalised for cutting corners dropping him to last place. Next up a decidedly over-aggressive run by former 500 GP rider Niall McKenzie, the Hotbuggy standing up to the abuse far better than the Donington fences, and the fastest time changing hands again.

Finally, to show how it was supposed to be done, Mitsubishi World Rally ace and former British Rally Champion Alistair McRae took the wheel and the fastest lap of the day, finishing off with some improvisation on course direction and the obligatory do-nuts. The final positions for the day, in first place McRae, followed by McKenzie, Roberts, Moodie and, after his penalty, Parrish. Suitably impressed with the Hotbuggy, McRae told MSport-UK, "It's really good fun. You get really close to the feel of a World Rally Car, but at a tiny fraction of the price... Everyone should do it!"

And so they should. The Hotbuggy rolling chassis will cost as little as £7,500 with bike engines available for a few hundred on top. The buggies used at the launch were running Honda CBR600 engines, providing 100bhp to the wheels. More than enough for lively performance in a machine weighing only 350kg. If you can't stretch to one of your own, Bill Gwynne Rally School are amongst the first to get the Hotbuggy for corporate events, but if you can, then you should - for further information, visit www.hotbuggy.com or contact Octave Engineering.

Thanks to Octave Engineering and Riders for Health for their hospitality.

Related Story 08.07.2003 - Hotbuggy Debut at Riders Rally Kart Challenge

For more pictures from the Hotbuggy launch event, click here.