Group Rally3 is a technical specification of rally car determined by the FIA. It features four-wheel drive and a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 5.6kg/hp. The class is used in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and regional championships. National rallying competitions also allow Group Rally3 cars to compete. There are three technical subclasses of Group Rally3 however these do not affect competitive eligibility so 'Rally3' may be used alone with the same definition. The group was launched in 2021 with the homologation of the first car 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 Rally3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motor racing formula | |
| Category | Rallying |
| Country/Region | International |
| Championships | WRC, Regional, National |
| Inaugural | 2021 |
| Status | Active |
| Drivetrain | Four Wheel Drive |
| Power to weight | 5.6kg/hp |
| Aptitude | Access |
The group was designed to be entry level and the cheapest way to go rallying with four-wheel drive, as existing options like Group Rally2 and Group Rally2-Kit were considered too expensive for some privateers, and too high performance for newcomers to 4WD cars.
Two-wheel-drive R3 cars from Group R were at level RC3 with the mentioned Rally2 and Rally2-Kit at level RC2 in the FIA's sporting classes. With the introduction of Rally3, R3 were reclassified to RC4.[1]
Definition
editGroup Rally3 cars are defined in FIA document 'Appendix J - Article 260' as Touring Cars or Large Scale Series Production Cars, petrol engine, 4-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 Rally3 car homologated in an extension.[2]
Cars have a 31mm air intake restrictor, a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 5.6kg/hp, and a rally-ready price cap of €100,000 plus taxes.[3][1]
The subclasses are based on engine cylinder capacity in common with existing Group Rally4 classes, allowing for possibility of upgrade or sharing of many components with a Rally4 car.
| Class | Drivetrain | Minimum
Weight |
Engine
Capacity |
Aspiration | Fuel | Maximum
Cylinders |
Turbo
Restrictor |
Wheels
Gravel |
Wheels
Asphalt |
Production
Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ra3B | 4WD | 1210 kg | 1390-1600cc | Normal | Petrol | 6 | 31mm | 6"x15" | 7"x17" | 2500 |
| 927-1067cc | Turbo | |||||||||
| Ra3C | 1600-2000cc | Normal | ||||||||
| 1067-1333cc | Turbo | |||||||||
| Ra3D | 1333-1620cc | Turbo |
FIA Competition
editRally3 cars are placed alone in FIA 'RC3' sporting class.[4]
| Class | Group | WRC | M | T | WRC2 | WRC3 | Masters | Junior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC3 | Rally3 |
| 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 | ||
| RC3 | Rally3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cars
edit| Manufacturer | Car | Debut | Homologation Basis | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiesta Rally3[5] | 2021 | FIA - A5782 Fiesta ST (Fiesta Mk7) 1497cc Turbo |
||
| Clio Rally3[6][7] | 2023 | FIA - A5779 Clio R.S. Line (Clio V) 1,330 cc Turbo |
||
| Source: FIA Homologation List 2023[8] | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure February 2021" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally5/Rally4/Rally3" (PDF).
- ^ "FIA Rally Newsletter #4".
- ^ "FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations 2021" (PDF).
- ^ "FIESTA RALLY3". M-Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- ^ "Renault's Clio Rally3 almost ready to break cover". WRC - World Rally Championship. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
- ^ Barry, Luke (2023-04-25). "Renault Clio Rally3 passes FIA homologation". DirtFish. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ HOMOLOGATIONS LIST – 2023 (PDF). FIA.