For Chris Havas the building of a highly competitive car is almost as rewarding as racing it... almost. For the last two years he has been designing, building and racing his top-class Group 5, VW Golf lV in the SCCA ProRally series through out the U.S. Chris’ racing career started in 1985 with great success autocrossing and hillclimbing. In 1995 he combined his driving and engineering talents to build hi first rally car, a VW Golf ll. The time-spent building the car paid off in 1996 when Chris won the Canadian Novice of the Year award, Overall Canadian Group 2 Rally Championship, placed 4th in the U.S. Group 2 series and a first in class at the Mt. Washington Climb to the Clouds.

Since then he has built 2 more rally cars from the ground up and the latest rally car exhibits the depth of Chris’ commitment to rallying. To build a nationally competitive car without a manufacturer’s sponsorship, or using a commercial shop, means dedicating 800 hours or more to the project.

There are many differences between the first car Chris built and the Group 5 car he is running today. The advanced engineering has meant learning how to install and run an engine management system, making carbon fiber, kevlar and fiber-glass parts, designing a new rear suspension and learning how to best utilize a turbo while racing at 14,000 ft elevation. Though the new car took top 2 wheel drive and Group 5 honors at it’s debut event in 2002, the shakedown for the car and the team has continued through 2003.

Chris Havas still runs the occasional Hillclimb and Ice Trial when there is time in the schedule and when he needs to take a complete break from racing he turns to skiing, kayaking or a few hours metal detecting for old coins. If frustrated by mechanical bits, he clears his head by playing the drums or working on metal sculpture.  Chris’ rally habit is mostly sponsored by the job as a mechanical technician at IBM he has held for 20 years.