R-Classes News

[navtheace]

So how is the new R5 category coming along ? M Sport have had some outings in their Fiesta R5.

What is the outlook by the FIA for the next few years? Will it still be WRC RRC R5 or will WRC/RRC be phased out when R5 is established?

[Vaggelis27]

Test Kris Meeke Citroen DS3 HD - YouTube

[Doon]

Test Kris Meeke Citroen DS3 HD - YouTube

Is this an R3 car with an R5 engine? Sure it's FWD and it doesn't look as meaty as the Fiesta R5.

[Mirek]

Exactly. The engine of R5 is very similar to R3T (I don't know exact difference in rules besides much bigger restrictor but the basis is absolutely same).

[noel157]

So how is the new R5 category coming along ? M Sport have had some outings in their Fiesta R5.

What is the outlook by the FIA for the next few years? Will it still be WRC RRC R5 or will WRC/RRC be phased out when R5 is established?

I think current WRC will be phased out 2016 or so and replaced with R5. Not sure RRC but imagine it will go too.

[Jack4688`]

I think current WRC will be phased out 2016 or so and replaced with R5. Not sure RRC but imagine it will go too.

What is your source for this?

[Mirek]

I really hope it will not happen. Full WRC teams commitment into R5 will only grow prices sky high.

[Prisoner Monkeys]

I really hope it will not happen. Full WRC teams commitment into R5 will only grow prices sky high.

But isn't the whole idea behind Group R driven by the FIA fixing the price for every category?

[Mirek]

But isn't the whole idea behind Group R driven by the FIA fixing the price for every category?

Doesn't matter what was the idea, it will never work unless there are no big players directly involved in the competition. It can work in feeder classes but never in top category.

[Hazza555)]

What is your source for this?

He doesn't need a source. He stating his opinion, not a fact. "I think..., but imagine..."

I tend to agree with him I can see R5 becoming the next top flight category or the basis of. Make manufacturers homologate a R5 car and then allow a spec upgrade from R5 to WRC, basically bigger restrictor and more wing . So sort of the opposite way round to RRC/1.6T S2000. And the spec upgrade from R5 to WRC should be available to all, with a price cap. The move to production based engines is vital I believe. The next evolution of the Fiesta WRC could quite easily be an R5 with 300 horses, some aero and 6 speed 'box.

If this was to happen there would be huge number of potential manufacturers and cars available already with such interest in the R5 category, probably much to the dismay of VW.