Group Rally3

In the motorsport discipline of rallying, Group Rally3 is a formula of rally car specification determined by the FIA for use in its international competitions: 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
CategoryRallying
Country/RegionInternational
ChampionshipsWRC, Regional, National
Inaugural2021
StatusActive
DrivetrainFour Wheel Drive
Power to weight5.1kg/hp
AptitudeAccess
GRR Co-efficient0.5
2021 Barum Czech Rally Zlín - Solberg

Group Rally3 cars were created to fill a gap in demand where existing four-wheel-drive (4WD) options such as Group Rally2 or Group Rally2-Kit were considered to be too expensive for cost conscious privateers and too high performance for newcomers to 4WD. 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

Group 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]

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. The group is designed to be entry level and the most cost-efficient way to go rallying with four wheel drive. The FIA have included a rally-ready price cap of €100,000 in the homologation requirements. The cars have been described as a modern day Group N and a 4WD version of the Rally4/R2 and with a 31mm restrictor, have a maximum power to weight ratio of 5.1kg/hp.[3][1]

Key Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally3[2]
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

Rally3 cars are placed in FIA 'RC3' sporting class alone.[4] In new Global Rally Rankings for drivers and co-drivers being introduced in 2022, Rally3 cars have a Group Co-efficient of 0.5.[5]

Rally3 cars are eligible for the open drivers' and co-drivers' championships of WRC and all the regional championships as well as being the sole formula car permitted in ERC Junior championship in 2021. From 2022 it will be the sole car allowed in WRC3 drivers' and co-drivers' championships, both open and junior categories, as well as ERC3 Open and Junior categories.

Cars
Manufacturer Car Debut Homologation Basis Image
Ford Fiesta Rally3[6] 2021 FIA - A5782
Fiesta ST (Fiesta Mk7)
1496cc Turbo
Source: FIA Homologation List 2021[7]

See Also

References
  1. "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure February 2021" (PDF).
  2. "Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally5/Rally4/Rally3" (PDF).
  3. "FIA Rally Newsletter #4".
  4. "FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations 2021" (PDF).
  5. "FIA Global Rally Ranking Regulations" (PDF).
  6. "FIESTA RALLY3". M-Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. "FIA Homologation List 2021" (PDF).
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