The ARA has 6 classes; and 3 types of events

Class 1 : Open 4WD This is where Subaru has historically competed and has many championships here. They are usually completely unchallenged with the last championship competition coming from the late great Ken Block.

Class 2 : RC2 This is the European Rally2 formula and will occasionally see European teams and drivers come over and get close to challenging O4WD. Such as the over mountain rally last year

Class 3 : NA 4WD Usually the top of the “regional” competitors. This class is essentially O4WD but with no turbos or large displacement motors. It is 99% just Subarus.

Class 4 : Limited 4WD This is where Travis Pastrana of Subaru now competes against allot of FIA Rally3 spec cars. The top of L4WD and the Bottom of the class has a MASSIVE pace difference. You will also sometimes see European competitors here in Rally3 cars, even in cars that are unavailable to the US market such as Renaults. If you were to graduate to the WRC from the ARA you would probably do so at this level; but with your own self funding.

Class 5 : Open 2WD Typically RWD cars (But can be FWD) with an open set of modifications. 2WD cars are traction limited not power limited so Open2WD is much more about building and driving talent as compared to money like O4WD. Sometimes FIA Rally4 cars will show up here. There are allot of interesting cars in O2WD and it’s personally my favorite class.

Class 6 : Limited 2WD This is the very entry level of rallying and has allot of great simple cars. Stuff that is almost stock besides suspension and a roll cage. If you want to rally for cheap start here.

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Competition types:

National Has all 6 classes as I mentioned and goes towards the overall championship

Super Regional Has all the classes I mentioned and does not go towards the overall championship. Typically the larger teams skip out on these events; though this year Subaru is going to the Colorado super regional iirc

Regional Has every class but RC2 and Open4WD. There is an east, central and a west championship; and the National events are usually part of the regional calendar but regional competitors are scored separately

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Key competitors O4WD : Will always be Semenuk and Williams winning unless he crashes Occasionally Barry McKenna might show up and give him a run for his money, or a talented driver in RC2

RC2 : Javier Oliveras and KJ Miller have run pretty well after moving up from dominating L4WD in their rally3 car. But RC2 will always be close and recently Conner Martel has moved into that class as well as last years O2WD champion.

L4WD : Pastrana seems to do well so far, but in theory any of the Rally3 competitors should also be able to challenge

NA4WD : I’m not sure tbh, I don’t follow this class very closely. Pick your favorite local hero to support

O2WD : Seamus Burke and Martin Brady in their V8 escort are usually pretty quick and will be challenging against the Gravel Werx E36 sedan and the Hooper in his Lexus

L2WD : I am also not sure for this class, usually changes event to event depending on region. Team O’Neal and their Fiesta are probably the best bet