GT Class

[Mirek]

What You say is true but we have to see that GTs are cars of high class, expensive, fast with very big reputation. These cars must be faster than some B-segment shopping bags from some Korean carmaker but they are not. It doesn't work to pretend that it's no problem because it is a real problem and main reason why manufacturers don't give a shit about taking part in rallies. I know some people from Porsche, they are very proud on their cars and they want to beat anyone in their way - be it in Le Mans, on Nordschleiffe or wherever and they don't care how much it costs. They can't accept entering a battle which is lost already before it started.

There's only one way to bring GTs fully in rallying - to allow them to win. That will naturally make them a lot more expensive but it would bring the manufacturers in. After that it is possible to introduce something like "GT light" or whatever as a kind of gr.N GT level. I can't see any other way how this can work...

[pantealex]

Peugeot 306 Maxi was not competitive in Gravel, Snow, Wet,
Why R-GT needs to be fast everywhere ?

I was happy when Jani Ylipahkala started with 911 GT3 (997) at Rally Finland.
I know that EvoX or R2 are faster but I rather see some GT-cars.

[N.O.T]

R-GT is just a car for show nothing more, if they allow them to run unrestricted then something could come out of them on tarmac, for now they are nothing for people who want a career in the sport.

[Mirek]

Peugeot 306 Maxi was not competitive in Gravel, Snow, Wet,
Why R-GT needs to be fast everywhere ?

I was happy when Jani Ylipahkala started with 911 GT3 (997) at Rally Finland.
I know that EvoX or R2 are faster but I rather see some GT-cars.

That's different case for many reasons. First 306 maxi was able to win in overall classification, RGT are nowhere close to that. Second 306 Maxi was in no way a cheap car. It was very expensive hi-tech machine. I doubt the running cost was lower than of WRC. And the last thing Peugeot 306 isn't a car which in stock version costs 10x more than their direct competitors. While 306 maxi was great for the marketing promotion of stock 306, such thing definitely can't be said about RGT in relation to stock 911. The marketing value of RGT for Porsche is null or even negative.

[Jarek Z]

Peugeot 306 Maxi was not competitive in Gravel, Snow, Wet,
Why R-GT needs to be fast everywhere ?

Very good point! The same applies to Renault Maxi Megane and Renault Clio Maxi. Those cars have never been successful on loose surface. Does that mean that they do not belong in rallying?

[tommeke_B]

Anyone remember what FIA did when these cars started winning on tarmac?... So why would FIA allow regulations to let GT cars win in certain events?

[Jarek Z]

Anyone remember what FIA did when these cars started winning on tarmac?

As far as I remember, FIA changed regulations to make those cars heavier and be sure they will never win again. Is that right?

[tommeke_B]

Indeed. I think it was in Corsica or Catalunya that there was a lot of commotion about it. Citroën Xsara Kitcars were winning, I think it was mainly Toyota that complained about it being unfair.

[Mirek]

Yes, they added weight and forbid traction control.

[Andre Oliveira]

Armindo Araújo was portuguese champion (mix rallies) with Saxo Kit Car against 4wd cars. Porsche of atual teams can't do the same. It is not a rally car. A Cayman 4x4 maybe can be, a 997 RWD no.