Group R
In relation to motorsport governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, Group R refers to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for rally competition. The Group R regulations were gradually introduced from 2008 as a replacement for Group A and Group N rally cars.
To comply with Group R regulations, a car must first be homologated in Group A (or in some cases Group N) and receive one or more VR extensions. Each VR extension is a set of homologated parts and modifications, designed and sold (as a kit or as a complete car) by the manufacturer.
As part of its structure, the Group R regulations have a provision for GT cars, known as R-GT.
Classes
Group R consists of six classes, designated R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R-GT; some of these groups contain their own sub-groups, with cars allocated to each group based on their weight, engine size and powertrain.
The first batch of rules, which were introduced in 2008, featured the R1, R2 and R3 classes. These were restricted to two-wheel drive cars with atmospheric engines up to 2000cc. Supercharged engines were allowed only in R3T (petrol) and R3D (diesel) sub-classes. Since 2015 the R1, R2 and R3 classes allow supercharged engines with a 1.5 equivalency factor for displacement.
Additional regulations were issued in 2011 which covered the R4 and R-GT classes; the R4 was conceived as an evolutionary step for previously-homologated Group N4 cars, turbocharged, all-wheel drive cars based on production models. The R4 class is for cars competing under Group N regulations for production cars prior to 2013. No new models would be homologated under R4 regulations, with the FIA taking the long-term view that these would be replaced by bespoke kit cars. The R4 Kit cars have a standard engine, four-wheel drive powertrain and suspension. In January 2017, French racecar manufacturer Oreca was selected as supplier.
R-GT was introduced to allow Grand Touring cars that competed in sports car racing to enter rallies. The R5 class was designed to replace Super 2000 cars, and its regulations were introduced in 2013. Prior to 2014, there was no specific championship for cars entered under R-GT regulations, and R-GT cars were ineligible to score points in any existing championship outside the World Rally Championship. The FIA R-GT Cup for R-GT cars started in 2015, sharing some events from the WRC and ERC events.
The World Rally Championship has historically had specific support championships that each class has been eligible for. Cars classified as R1, R2 and R3 contested the WRC3 for two-wheel drive cars between 2013 and 2018; specially-prepared R3T, later R2B cars, were also used in the Junior WRC. Cars classified as R5 compete in WRC2; and WRC3 in 2020 and 2021, whilst regional championships may allow R5 alongside existing Super 2000 and Group N Production Cars. Cars classified as R-GT competed in the R-GT Cup until it ceased at the end of the 2022 competition.
Summary
| FIA Sporting Class |
Group R Class |
Engine capacity |
Engine type | Fuel | Minimum weight |
Drivetrain |
Homologation requirement |
Championship eligibility |
Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RC2 | R5 | 1600cc | Turbocharged | Petrol | 1230 kg | Four-wheel drive | 2500 per year | WRC2 | Škoda Fabia R5 |
| R4 | Over 2000cc | Turbocharged | Petrol | 1300 kg | Four-wheel drive | none | Subaru Impreza R4 | ||
| RC4 | R3T | Up to 1620cc | Turbocharged | Petrol | 1080 kg | Two-wheel drive | none | Citroën DS3 R3T | |
| R3C | 1600cc to 2000cc | Naturally aspirated | Petrol | 1080 kg | none | Renault Clio R3C | |||
| 1067cc to 1333cc | Turbocharged | none | |||||||
| R3D | Up to 2000cc | Supercharged | Diesel | 1150 kg | Fiat Grande Punto R3D | ||||
| RC4 | R2B | 1390cc to 1600cc | Naturally aspirated | Petrol | 1030 kg | none | Ford Fiesta 1.6 R2 | ||
| 927cc to 1067cc | Turbocharged | Ford Fiesta Ecoboost R2 | |||||||
| R2C | 1600cc to 2000cc | Naturally aspirated | Petrol | 1080 kg | none | none | |||
| 1067cc to 1333cc | Turbocharged | none | |||||||
| RC5 | R1A | Up to 1390cc | Naturally aspirated | Petrol | 980 kg | Toyota TMG Yaris R1A | |||
| Up to 927cc | Turbocharged | none | |||||||
| R1B | 1390cc to 1600cc | Naturally aspirated | Petrol | 1030 kg | Renault Twingo RS R1 | ||||
| 927cc to 1067cc | Turbocharged | none | |||||||
| R-GT | No limit | Turbocharged or supercharged | Petrol | 3.4 kg/hp | n/a | R-GT Cup | Lotus Exige R-GT | ||
Models
The following models have been homologated by the FIA under Group R regulations:
R1
| Manufacturer | Model | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Citroën | Citroën DS3 |
|
| Ford | Ford Fiesta Mk 6 |
|
| Renault | Renault Twingo II |
|
| Suzuki | Suzuki Baleno | |
| Suzuki Swift Italian homologation | ||
| Toyota | Toyota Vitz |
|
| Toyota Yaris |
|
R2
| Manufacturer | Model | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Citroën | Citroën C2 |
|
| Ford | Ford Fiesta Mk 6 |
|
| Opel | Opel Adam |
|
| Peugeot | Peugeot 208 |
|
| Renault | Renault Twingo II |
|
| Škoda | Škoda Fabia |
|
| Suzuki | Suzuki Swift |
|
R3
| Manufacturer | Model | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Citroën | Citroën DS3 R3T |
|
| Fiat | Fiat Abarth 500 R3T |
|
| Fiat Grande Punto R3D | ||
| Honda | Honda Civic R3C |
|
| Peugeot | Peugeot 207 R3T |
|
| Renault | Renault Clio III R3C |
|
| Renault Clio IV R3T |
|
|
| Toyota | Toyota GT86 R3C |
|
R4
Based on Group N
| Manufacturer | Model | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
|
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X |
|
|
| Subaru | Subaru Impreza WRX STI 3rd Gen. |
|
| Subaru WRX STI 4th Gen. |
New vehicles under the FIA R4 Kit project in partnership with Oreca:
| Model | Developer | Image | FIA Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A1 SSM R4 | Signed Streets Motorsport |
|
|
| Dacia Sandero R4 | (digital concept by Oreca) |
|
|
| Fiat 500X R4 | (digital concept by Oreca) |
|
|
| Ford Fiesta R4 | Offered by Rally Technic | ||
| Hyundai i20 R4 | Rally Technic | ||
| Lada Kalina R4 | (digital concept by Oreca) | ||
| Mazda 2 R4 | Rally Technic | ||
| Mini One F56 Rally2-Kit |
|
||
| Nissan Micra R4 | (digital concept by Dytko Sport) | ||
| Škoda Fabia R4 | Proracing Engineering |
|
|
| Suzuki Swift R4LLY S | R-Technology |
|
|
| Toyota Etios R4 | Rally Technic |
|
|
| Toyota Yaris R4 | Evolve Motorsport Victor Cartier Offered by Rally Technic |
|
|
| Volkswagen Polo R4 | Offered by Rally Technic |
R5
Cars approved for competition in the WRC2 and other R5 based championships:
| Manufacturer | Car | Debut | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citroën | Citroën DS3 R5 | 2012 |
|
| Citroën C3 R5 | 2018 |
|
|
| Ford | Ford Fiesta R5 | 2013 |
|
| Hyundai | Hyundai i20 R5 | 2018 |
|
| Peugeot | Peugeot 208 T16 R5 | 2014 |
|
| Proton | Proton Iriz R5 | 2017 |
|
| Škoda | Škoda Fabia R5 | 2015 |
|
| Volkswagen | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 | 2018 |
|
Cars that are homologated with national ASNs may compete at national level, or with FIA approval may compete in FIA Regional Championships (European Rally Trophy, African Rally Championship, Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, Codasur South American Rally Championship and NACAM Rally Championship), as per Article 12.3 of the FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations:
| Manufacturer | Car | Debut | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi Mirage R5 | 2014 |
|
| Opel | Opel Corsa R5 | 2017 | |
| Toyota | Toyota Etios R5 | 2016 |
|
R-GT
| Manufacturer | Car | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth | Abarth 124 Spider |
|
| Alpine | Alpine A110 Rally |
|
| Aston Martin | Aston Martin Vantage V8 R-GT |
|
| Lotus | Lotus Exige R-GT |
|
| Porsche | Porsche 911 GT3 |
|
| Porsche Cayman GT4 (Typ 981c) |
|