16/09/2026
RALLYX-TESTED: The Hippo in a Small Pond
Doc Kris Urian brought something a little different to the RallyDev Monsoon Rally: a Mercedes-Benz C220.
On paper, it wasn't exactly the obvious choice for a tight dirt rally. A relatively large and heavy sedan going up against smaller, lighter cars on a course that demanded quick changes in direction.
But once the dirt got slippery, the C220 started to show what it could do.
The dry practice run in the morning already gave Doc Kris an idea of how the car would behave. Then came the first afternoon run after the heavy rain, and the car really came into its own.
Doc Kris expected the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension to be most useful in high-speed corners. Instead, the setup proved just as valuable in slippery conditions, keeping the tail end tame while allowing the front to stay pointed where he wanted it.
Even the open differential behaved well. Though Doc Kris noted that if it had an L*D, it would have been a very different story.
The biggest challenge wasn't grip. It was the car's size and weight.
Doc Kris had to be careful around the cones, and while he could clear them cleanly, the C220's track width and larger dimensions meant it took longer to set up for the next corner.
The experience also changed the way he looked at the car.
As the saying goes, "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight."
But Doc Kris has another way of looking at it: what happens when you bring a knife against a samurai inside an oak barrel?
Conditions change.
The C220 may feel like a "hippo in a small pond" on a tight rally course, but the experience also highlighted what makes the car good. Comfortable, stable, and built more for long drives, it may not be the ideal weapon for every rally course, but that doesn't mean it can't have fun on the dirt.
Would he bring it back?
It depends on the course.
For extremely tight dirt roads, Doc Kris would rather have a lightweight front-wheel-drive car like a Honda Jazz, EG Civic, Nissan March, or Mazda 2. On a tight course, lightweight cars can run circles around bigger and more powerful machines.
But his advice for anyone wondering if their car is suitable for rally is simple:
"Any roadworthy car is suitable for rally."
With a few safety-focused modifications and a properly prepared car, you can get to the finish safely. The important thing is to track your own progress and compare your times with competitors in the same category.
For Doc Kris, RallyDev was also a chance to get back behind the wheel. He hadn't touched the wheel since 2024, and the welcoming atmosphere made it a great way to wake up the driving spirit again.
Different cars. Different drivers. Different levels of experience.
That's what makes RallyDev interesting.
You don't need the perfect rally car to get started. You just need a roadworthy car, a willingness to learn, and a place to put it through its paces.
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