Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[m-ast]

any news about new proton r5? will that ever be homologated?

Last news were that will be homologated the 1st July

[dupanton]

We are many years farther now. The optimization of the design is much easier today and the amount of experience and data is enormous. The simple fact is that the size or wheelbase matter. Everyone knows that and that's why modern rallycars are nearly all of the same size - the optimum found after many years of development.

Of course it may not be crucial that the car is somewhat bigger (for rallies like Finland it can be even plus) but it can be an overall handicap. On the other hand with the S2000 we could see that even with some handicaps it was still possible to have the best car (Fabia S2000 being the only 5-door car of that time and rather high as well).

Isn't it so that a longer wheel base gives you more stability and a shorter wheel base makes the car more nimble?

[Mirek]

Yes, basically like that if other variables are +/- same (not a special case like Octavia WRC with large car on a small wheelbase which isn't nimble at all due to large overhangs).

[tommeke_B]

In the 2L WRC era, top rally cars had clear size variations but were, mostly, equally competitive (Impreza/206, Lancer/Corolla,…).

Probably, Skoda main advantage comes from having R5 as their main motorsport program; besides the standard costumer program, they compete with the Fabia as a works team, which hugely helps to boost the car development.

Btw, the next Fabia will use the current Polo platform.

PS: nice start of the C3; lets hope it'll be more successfull than the DS.

Those differences in dimensions were not that big actually. I remember the wheelbase of the Impreza WRC had a wheelbase of +-5cm longer than the 206 WRC. The differences in appearance/looks of the cars were bigger than they are now, for sure...

[RS]

Btw, the next Fabia will use the current Polo platform.

That doesn't necessarily mean it will have the same dimensions. New VAG platform architecture is much more variable (and even before this MQB architecture many Skoda models actually used different wheelbases to similar VW counterparts)

However Skoda tend to major on interior space so it's a good bet the next generation Fabia will have a longer wheelbase.

[Mirek]

Most likely Fabia IV will have same wheelbase as Polo/Ibiza, i.e. reasonably larger than current R5 car.

[Rally Power]

Those differences in dimensions were not that big actually. I remember the wheelbase of the Impreza WRC had a wheelbase of +-5cm longer than the 206 WRC. The differences in appearance/looks of the cars were bigger than they are now, for sure...

Quick check on Martin Holmes yearbooks: the 206 WB measured 2,468m, 4,2cm less than the Evo VI, 13,2cm less than the Evo VII, 5,2 cm less than any Impreza GD, 8,7cm less than the Xsara or less 14,7cm than the Focus MkI. The Corolla WB was 3cm shorter than the 206.

Instead of a max length, at the time there was a mandatory minimal 4m overall length; only Peugeot (and later Skoda) choose a B segment car, all the others used C cars. If a shorter WB was so vital, for sure other manus would easily, like Peugeot, sort a limited series of their B models with larger bumpers in order to pass the 4m.

That doesn't necessarily mean it will have the same dimensions.

True. Still the only B cars already using the new platform (Ibiza and Polo) have the same WB (2,564m).

[Mirek]

Quick check on Martin Holmes yearbooks: the 206 WB measured 2,468m, 4,2cm less than the Evo VI, 13,2cm less than the Evo VII, 5,2 cm less than any Impreza GD, 8,7cm less than the Xsara or less 14,7cm than the Focus MkI. The Corolla WB was 3cm shorter than the 206.

Different times, different technical rules (all active cars before 2006 for example), very different tyres and suspension and very different conditions for design optimization through simulations. I would say that today it's less about personal inventions of the designers and more about very systematic work.

[Andre Oliveira]

According rallye-magazin.de Polo GTI R5 will not be homologated in August. So, debut should be in Catalunya.

[Sulland]

So will all R5s have a version of this document, where the last joker it has installed is noted?
So are manufacturers and firms approved to install jokers issuing them?
Just so byuers know what to ask the seller to show as proof.

https://www.rfeda.es/documents/20185/734626/RD%20ASFALTO%202017%20Anexo%2012%20Declaraci%C3%B3 n%20Jokers%20Veh%C3%ADculos%20Gr%20R5