Rally2 (ex-R5) News

On the subject of older Rally2 cars, the M-Sport Fiesta is showing it's not dead yet.

Jon Armstrong was winning stages on the recent ERC Rally Silesia and was 2nd overall. Also Keith Cronin won the 2024 Irish Tarmac RC and is in contention to win the BRC, as well as William Creighton in another Fiesta.

You would think the newer Fabia RS and Yaris GR would be unbeatable but the older cars are still holding their own in the right hands, conditions and surface. This rally car formula has to be the best ever created.

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

Maybe these two guys should share their development set-ups with the Hyundai customers and get them in contention against the other cars in the Class...

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Why would anyone in their right mind share all info they worked on during those years? Also, what works for one driver doesn't necessarily work for another.

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Originally Posted by tommeke_B

Why would anyone in their right mind share all info they worked on during those years? Also, what works for one driver doesn't necessarily work for another.

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If they're not in the same Championship then why not ? Plus I'm sure Hyundai would give them some payment for the info if it helps their customer programme with a more competitive i20.

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Originally Posted by Fast Eddie WRC

On the subject of older Rally2 cars, the M-Sport Fiesta is showing it's not dead yet.

Jon Armstrong was winning stages on the recent ERC Rally Silesia and was 2nd overall. Also Keith Cronin won the 2024 Irish Tarmac RC and is in contention to win the BRC, as well as William Creighton in another Fiesta.

You would think the newer Fabia RS and Yaris GR would be unbeatable but the older cars are still holding their own in the right hands, conditions and surface. This rally car formula has to be the best ever created.

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Agreed - for my own personal preference/enjoyment, it's a shame to see MSport throw all their money in the Rally1 hole instead of focusing on properly developing and running a Rally2 programme a la Skoda; with a pro driver they're plenty competitive in that class. The Skoda and Yaris may be ahead, but the C3, i20 and Fiesta are all perfectly competent with the right drivers.

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Originally Posted by Jarek Z

Skoda Fabia Rally2 number 600 goes to Mapo Motorsport!
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...21620046679088

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And if you add 400+ Fabia R5 they have sold over 1000 RC2 cars, and that is quite impressive!!

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Originally Posted by Sulland

And if you add 400+ Fabia R5 they have sold over 1000 RC2 cars, and that is quite impressive!!

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I thought R5 were yet counted in the Rc2 class...

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Originally Posted by manthey

I thought R5 were yet counted in the Rc2 class...

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They are, but not as Rally2.

No no.

600 is R5 + Rally2 evo + RS Rally2

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Originally Posted by mknight

I read Suninen was testing Yaris R2.

Makes sense if Pajari is moving to more Rally1 drives they need experienced driver for development/showcase of the car.

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Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

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Originally Posted by dodge33cymru

Agreed - for my own personal preference/enjoyment, it's a shame to see MSport throw all their money in the Rally1 hole instead of focusing on properly developing and running a Rally2 programme a la Skoda; with a pro driver they're plenty competitive in that class.

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My disappointment is that they took so long to make it competitive, launching it in 2019 when undercooked and leaving it until 2023 to get it upgraded.

I know these were tough times for M-Sport with Covid and the Rally1 Puma to be dealt with, but surely the development of the Fiesta wouldve been worth it in sales.