GT Class

[Mirek]

Agree but look at it from manufacturer's point of view. Why shall be people from Porsche or Ferrari happy that they fight with Škoda, Ford or Hyundai? Their whole existence is based on the principle of exclusivity. How can they sell as an achievement that their 911 fight somewhat successfully with Fabia when You can buy a Fabia for price of exclusive painting on 911?

Their target is Ferrari or Lamborgini, not Škoda or Hyundai. That's why they may be interested in rallying only if they can defeat the plebs. But is it a right thing to allow them to do so? Will the other traditional rally brands stay? Who knows but maybe it's correct decision to keep rallying as a playground of these mass manufacturers who have proved to be willing to keep their focus in rallying for decades and who undoubtedly gain marketing points from it.

[Jack4688`]

I think part of the problem is the very nature of Rallying itself. Like you said the GT manufacturers have no interest in competing against Skoda, Hyundai etc so why should they? It's so much easier in circuit racing where a field of 20+ cars per race is fine, so you don't need to shore up the numbers but letting S1600, TC2 and TC1 cars competing on the same racetrack on the same day and the same time as DTM cars. Race meetings will have more than 20 odd cars attending but in different events throughout the weekend, keeping the fans interest occupied and no one complaining that they have no chance to compete for the overall win in their touring car in a GT race.

If it were possible for the GTs to have their own events - not just a series - then they will be competing for the overall wins without someone in a more expensive R5 getting the raw end of the deal. Unfortunately I don't see how that would be achievable - you'd need an event promotor ready to put on an event just for GTs, then R3 and below and enough GT competitors to make that worth your while.

[Mirek]

Abarth has just presented 124 Spider R-GT. The car shall have factory homologation and be available for customers in 2017: http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=17953




It has 1.8 supercharged engine with 300 Hp and 6-speed sequential gearbox. Unfortunately there is no information about weight but it must be a lot less than 911.

[Jarek Z]

Everybody is talking about Porsche here, but it seems we may have a new R-GT car from FIAT. I don't know how much truth in this piece of news is, but in my opinion this car looks fabulous!

Check it out here:
http://rajdy.autoklub.pl/news/rajdow...-abartha,66403

[Mirek]

It's definitely the most beautiful rally car in a looong time. Wish it's successful and starts some serious development in GT class. I actually think such GT light" cars have a lot more sense in rallying than supercars.

[Jarek Z]

I actually think such GT light" cars have a lot more sense in rallying than supercars.

What a pity the Lotus rally project didn't work!

[Mirek]

It was abandoned before it could achieve anything... still I don't know why.

[AndyRAC]

That’s a nice looking piece of kit!! Lets hope we see it onthe stages. Recently Alpine have shown a new car, now this Abarth 124 – both seenin the 70’s when 4WD wasn’t allowed….
Both these cars and their like should be seen in rallying, and the WRC.

So, c’mon FiA, get your backsides in gear; encourage moremanufacturers. A proper lightweight GT class is needed/ wanted.

[wildboar]

That's good news! Maybe the R-GT class is not dead after all.

Also just saw, that the Tuthill Porsche (the one that Delecour drove last year) has been bought by the "Guagliardo Team" from Italy. They plan to do the Targa Florio with it. Hopefully they will also do some ERC/WRC events.

http://www.scomunicando.it/notizie/r...am-guagliardo/

[Arnold Triyudho Wardono]

Mazda should joins the game..