[Group A]ntique

Anyone who has been around the sport of rally for even a short while has probably heard of “Group B.” While the 1980s World Rally Championship Group B period is often lauded as the glory days of rallying, the iconic rallies, cars, and drivers from the Group A period which followed pushed the sport into the global limelight in a way that Group B never achieved. The spirit of Group A was about technical ingenuity in the face of a seriously constraining ruleset, and a never quit attitude. Combine that with iconic cars like the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Celica, Ford Escort, etc., and those of us in the know know that the real halcyon days were in the 1990s. 

Michael Tirpak keeping the Group A spirit alive with a beautiful 1993 Ford Escort Cosworth.

Photo by W. Conley

Jump to present day, and part of what makes American rallying so appealing is the ability to race just about anything. And while it makes good sense to start with something new, or to buy into the current FIA rallying pyramid, this isn’t the route that everyone takes. Either by necessity or by choice, American Rally Association entry lists are littered with vehicles from that famous Group A period of the 1990s to early 2000s. And those guys and gals racing these classics in the limited classes? They are keeping that Group A spirit alive. 

Drift tax paid, the 240SX makes a head turning rally car.

Photo by W. Conley

To support these competitors, Overmountain is teaming up with Hoosier Racing Tire to provide a full set of gravel tires to the highest finishing 2WD and 4WD limited class teams at the 2026 Overmountain Rally Tennessee. The catch? The vehicle chassis code must have begun production at least 20 years ago to be eligible.

And what will this neo-vintage sub-category be called? Overmountain Group Antique… or just Group A for short. 

Full details will be available in the Supplemental Regulations. THANK YOU to Hoosier Racing Tire for supporting grassroots rallying in the United States!