BOB WATSONIT'S A BIT hard to write about rallies in the middle of summer, when everyone's attention is focussed (rightly so!) on the Tasman series. Daylight and dust -two big bu11bears in rallie! - are most prevalent at this time of year, so us rally types can take a few months off to watch how the other half lives.ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL competitive side is quiet at the moment, preparation-wise Renault (and presumably everyone else) is flat out. Our shipment of five R 12 Gordinis has just arrived and with cars to prepare for NSW. Queensland. Western Australia and South Australia as well as two for the national series - all required by the end of February.Mechanics Enzo Dozzi and Bruce Shepherd will have their work cut out.RENAULT'S ATTACK on the various State Championships is probably the most determined ever launched by a manufacturer.With crews like Rod Slater/John Large (WA). Tom Barr-Smith/Rob Hunt (SA), Bruce Collier/Lindsay Adcock (NSW) and Brian Michelmore/Greg Sked (OLD) - with the exception of Collier all past champions in their respective states - we have high hopes for a successful year. I will be contesting the Victorian Championship in a Peugeot 504 fuel injection with Geoff Thomas navigating. Advancing age dictates the use of a quiet, dignified gentlemans carriage, but don't dismiss the 504 as a sluggard.It is a deceptively quick car. even in standard trim, and the reliability factor should be no problem.OUR NATIONAL TEAM has been cut to two cars -Mai McPherson/ Jeff Beaumont and Myself /Geoff Thomas -to be supported by the Renault State entry in each heat. McPherson is definitely improving with age (like a good claret!) and with the Victorian Championship to his name, is looking forward to bigger and better things.All considered it should be a good year.• Regulations for the initial rallycross meetings at Catalina and Calder have been issued, and already- in spite of supposed meetings by promoters to standardise on a common set of rules - some anomalities are evident.For Catalina, engines are free, provided they are from the same maker as the car, and have the same number of cylinders as the original engine.This means that if we suppose (not that it would every happen. mind you!) that Harry Firth is building a V8 Torana, it would be eligible for Calder (where virtually all restrictions have been removed) but not Cataline.Ah, well - these things all take time. Perhaps next year.