Rally 3 class

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Isn't the extra weight of the 4WD hardware likely to hamper performance compared to the 2WD version on tarmac ? Or will the extra traction and grip be enough to compensate ?

[Rally Power]

Isn't the extra weight of the 4WD hardware likely to hamper performance compared to the 2WD version on tarmac ? Or will the extra traction and grip be enough to compensate ?

That’s a good point. On dry tarmac Rally3 cars won’t get a chance against Rally4 cars unless they’ll be allowed to use a wider restrictor. The extra power from a 33 or 34mm air restrictor would compensate the 4wd weight, besides being in line with FIA’s class pyramid purpose.

Btw, as in the top class, the FIA needs to attract more manus to the lower categories: currently there are only 3 brands involved in Rally5/4/3; that’s ridiculously low.

[br21]

Hard to imagine 1,0l engine which is already making ~215hp to run with much more power and still be reliable...

[Rally Power]

Hard to imagine 1,0l engine which is already making ~215hp to run with much more power and still be reliable...

No idea of how much more power and torque they had but the Fiesta Rally4 (as the ’19 R2) was using a 33mm restrictor until June, when the regs changed it to 30mm. The 208 was also developed having the wider restrictor in mind.

Anyway, without finding a way of making Rally3 cars competitive on tarmac the FIA risks having another ‘4wd entry class’ fiasco, after the R4 Kit failed attempt.

[Sulland]

Renault is using a 4 cyl 1333 ccm engine (R2C) on their Rally5, will they use the same base for their rally4 and rally3 cars?
Or will they go R2B for their Rally3/Rally4?

[pantealex]

Renault is using a 4 cyl 1333 ccm engine (R2C) on their Rally5, will they use the same base for their rally4 and rally3 cars?
Or will they go R2B for their Rally3/Rally4?

I don´t know but I´m expecting 1.2T

Is 1,33T even allowed in Rally3/4 ?

[Rally Power]

Renault is using a 4 cyl 1333 ccm engine (R2C) on their Rally5, will they use the same base for their rally4 and rally3 cars?
Or will they go R2B for their Rally3/Rally4?

No need to change engines as Rally 5/4 (and partially 3) allows the car upgrading, just like in Gr.N/A days; Renault (and hopefully other manus in the future) will sold a Rally4 kit for Rally5 owners. Besides, Rally5/4 turbo engines max capacity is 1333cc (non turbo limited to 1600cc in Rally5 and 2000cc in Rally4).

Btw, Rally4 rules changes approved in last June (including a new 30mm restrictor) will only be effective from January 1. The cars will become a bit slower but, surprisingly, Rally3 cars will also be forced to use the small restrictor, meaning they won’t get any advantage on tarmac events regarding Rally4 cars.

June WMSC resolutions on Rally 5/4/3 can be seen on Regional Rally Championships section: https://www.fia.com/news/fia-announc...l-decisions-18

[Sulland]

If tests show that Rally3 need this larger restrictor to be able to get the power needed to utilise the 4wd, FIA could opt to keep a bigger restrictor for the 4wd I guess.

[pantealex]

If tests show that Rally3 need this larger restrictor to be able to get the power needed to utilise the 4wd, FIA could opt to keep a bigger restrictor for the 4wd I guess.

If engines don´t last, car is not so cheap anymore...

[Sulland]

If engines don´t last, car is not so cheap anymore...

Fully agree, but do we know that durability is the reason to reduce restrictor size, or is it that Rally4 is so much quicker compared to existing R2 cars?