Rally America, the premier sanctioning body for performance rally competition in the United States, has signed a contingency and spec tire deal with Maxxis for 2016-2017.  The deal is expected to dramatically raise Maxxis’ profile in the world of rally racing.

The program will provide a level playing field for National 2WD competitors, for whom the Maxxis Victra R19 will be the new spec tire. Maxxis will continue to offer free shipping to competitors. National 2WD overall winners will have the opportunity to earn monetary prizes within the contingency program administered by Rally America: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. National competitors in Open, Super Production and National Limited Open who race on the Maxxis R19 can win products through a contingency program, with two tires awarded for first place and one tire each for racers who finish second and third. 

Through the Honda team, Maxxis will also provide a self-service tire-mounting station to National 2WD teams competing in the Rally America National Championship, and to teams participating in the contingency program in all classes.

 “We’re both pleased and proud to make this announcement,” said Bill Fogg Sr., owner of Rally America, Inc. “Maxxis International is recognized around the world as a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of competition tires for professionals and enthusiasts. Having this top-level tire manufacturer and its technical assistance available at each of our National Championship events for the next two years is a tremendous step forward for the sport of rally, and it will provide a lot of support for the teams, in addition to being very convenient from their point of view. We’re all very excited about this partnership.”

The relationship between Rally America and Maxxis began in April 2014 with Maxxis’ sponsorship of the Honda Performance Development Team. Maxxis’ presence at Rally America National events led the company to immediately recognize the viability of the rally racing market. The company has continued to reap benefits from its involvement with the organization, including receiving feedback on tire performance directly from racers.

“The sport of stage rally in North America has continued to grow, and we’re excited to be a part of it. We have a strong presence in rally racing in many other parts of the world, supporting many of the teams in Europe, South America and Asia,” said Ritche Tay, senior marketing specialist for Maxxis. “In 2014 and 2015, we gained valuable insight from consulting with US teams regarding their tire needs. We were thrilled that after running the entire season on Maxxis rally tires, Steve LaRoza won Rookie of the Year in 2015, and that James Robinson, running the Maxxis-sponsored Honda FIT, won his third B-Spec Class championship in a row.”

Both regional and national Rally America teams can order tires directly from Maxxis at http://shop.maxxis.com/c/automotive_victra-r19 , with FREE SHIPPING! For additional information, please visit rally-america.com.