Forestburgh, New York — Entry is now open for New York Winter Rally scheduled for January 15 - 16, 2011. The rally is the first round of the 2011 United States Rally Championship. Each day is also a separate round of the regional New York Rally Championship.

Both the United States Rally Championship and the New York Rally Championship award separate Championship titles for drivers and co-drivers in the two-wheel-drive category and in the all-wheel-drive category.

The rally is much more compact than in the past. It will start with registration and two-pass reconnaissance on Saturday morning and 104 miles of special stages will be completed by Sunday afternoon.

This is the first time ever in North America that snow and ice tires with real rally studs are authorized on a National Championship rally. It snowed heavily on the stages yesterday and snow cover remained on the ground at higher elevations. The studded tires are not mandatory and separate awards have been established for the highest-placed two-wheel-drive car and the highest-placed all-wheel-drive car without studded tires.

The total of $7,000 in prize money and cash support will be awarded to teams driving two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars. The "early bird" entry with the early entry fee of only $480 for the two Regional events will close on December 16. The regular entry will close in early January.

The rally is entirely based on the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation in Narrowsburg, New York including the Rally Headquarters and the overnight Parc Ferme. All racing will take place on private roads located on the Reservation. Motels in the area are offering attractive special rally rates to participants in the rally.

Further information about New York Winter Rally 2011 and secure online entry can be found at www.RallyNewYork.com.