Group Rally4

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Group Rally4 is a technical specification of rally car determined by the FIA for use in its international competitions: World Rally Championship (WRC) and regional championships. National rallying competitions also allow Group Rally4 cars to compete. There are two technical subclasses of Group Rally4 however these do not affect competitive eligibility. 'Rally4' may be used alone with the same definition. The group was launched in 2019 after the introduction of the Rally Pyramid initiative to reorganise the classes of car and championships in international rallying was approved in June 2018.[1]

Group Rally4
Motor racing formula
CategoryRallying
Country/RegionInternational
ChampionshipsWRC, Regional, National
Inaugural2019 (2008 as R2)
StatusActive
DrivetrainTwo Wheel Drive
Power to weight5.1kg/hp
AptitudePerformance

The formula for Group Rally4 cars was taken from R2 class of Group R and tweaked with the defining ruleset interchanging the terms, this meant that any existing R2 car homologated or approved since their introduction in 2008 could continue to be used in Rally4 level competition.[2] However, R2 cars homologated prior to 2019 were not required to have a turbo restrictor fitted and remain exempt. Those of R2B class cars also retain the minimum weight of 1030 kg and must use 6.5"x16" on asphalt rallies.

In July 2024, the FIA announced slightly modified Group Rally4 cars will be eligible to race in circuit touring car racing under the name of TCL4 from 2025.[3][4]

Definition

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Group Rally4 cars are defined in FIA document Appendix J - Article 260 as Touring Cars or Large Scale Series Production Cars, supercharged Petrol engine (including rotary engines), 2-wheel drive (front or rear wheel drive)). A production touring car with at least 2500 identical units manufactured must be homologated in Group A, with all the components and changes that make it a Group Rally4 car homologated in an extension.[2] They have a power to weight ratio of 5.1kg/hp.[1]

Key Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally4[2]
Class (Group R

legacy class)

Drivetrain Minimum

Weight

Engine

Capacity

Aspiration Fuel Maximum

Cylinders

Turbo

Restrictor

Wheels

Gravel

Wheels

Asphalt

Production

Requirement

Ra4B R2B 2WD 1080 kg 1390-1600cc Normal Petrol 6 30mm 6"x15" 6.5"x16"

or

7"x17"

2500
927-1067cc Turbo
Ra4C R2C 1600-2000cc Normal 7"x17"
1067-1333cc Turbo

FIA Competition

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Rally4 cars are placed in FIA 'RC4' sporting class alongside R3 and Group A cars.[5]

Eligibility in FIA WRC Championships 2023
Class Group WRC M T WRC2 WRC3 Masters Junior
RC4 Rally4    
Eligibility in FIA Regional Championships 2023
Class Group ALL ERC ERT ARC MERC APRC NACAM CODASUR
Absolute Teams ERC3 ERC4 Jun Jun ARC2 ARC3 ARC4 Jun MERC2 MERC3 MERC4 Jun APRC3 APRC4 Jun NAC3 NAC4 Jun COD2 COD3 COD4
RC4 Rally4                            

Cars

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Manufacturer Car Debut Homologation Basis Image
  Ford Fiesta Rally4[6] 2019 FIA - A5775
Fiesta ST-Line (Fiesta Mk7)
999cc Turbo
 
  Ford Fiesta R2T 2015 FIA - A5762
Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost 140 PS (Fiesta Mk7)
999cc Turbo
 
  Ford Fiesta R2 2012 FIA - A5729
Fiesta 1.6 (Fiesta Mk6)
1597cc Normal
 
  Opel Corsa Rally4[7] 2021 FIA - A5781
Opel Corsa GS Line 130
1204cc Turbo
 
  Opel Adam R2 2014 FIA - A5752
Adam Slam 3-Door Hatchback
1398cc Normal
 
  Peugeot 208 Rally4[8] 2020 FIA - A5780
208 GT Line 130
1204cc Turbo
 
  Peugeot 208 R2 2012 FIA - A5743
208 VTI 125 3 Portes
1598cc Normal
 
  Renault Clio Rally4[9] 2021 FIA - A5779
Clio R.S. Line TCE 1.3EDC
1331cc Turbo
 
  Renault Twingo R2 2010 FIA - A5731
Twingo "Renault Sport"
1598cc Normal
 
  Škoda Fabia R2 2011 FIA - A5737
Fabia 1.6 16v
1598cc Normal
 
  Kia Rio Rally4[10] 2021 FIA - none

Built by CRM Motorsport Approved for use in national championships[11]

  Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF[12] 2025
Source: FIA Homologation List 2021[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure February 2021" (PDF).
  2. ^ a b c "Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally5/Rally4/Rally3" (PDF).
  3. ^ "FIA announces TC Lite, technical ruleset for accessible low-cost touring car racing". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2024-07-23). "New Touring Car Platform to Share Regulations with Rallying". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ^ "FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations 2021" (PDF).
  6. ^ "FIESTA RALLY4". M-Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. ^ "Opel Corsa Rally4 on the Start Line | Media OPEL International". int-media.opel.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  8. ^ "PEUGEOT 208 Rally 4… Time for action! | Media Peugeot Sport". media.peugeot-sport.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  9. ^ "Clio Trophy France - Communiqués de presse - Clio Rally4, née pour gagner - renaultsport.com". Renault Sport (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  10. ^ Shacki. "eWRC-results.com - rally database". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  11. ^ "Kia Rio Rally4 regessa no Rally Vidreiro: "continuar a evoluir o carro" | AutoSport". www.autosport.pt. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  12. ^ "Il marchio torna alle corse con la Ypsilon Rally 4 HF". quattroruote.it. quattroruote.it. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  13. ^ "FIA Homologation List 2021" (PDF).
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