New R4 Car - Think Tank

[AdvEvo]

Yep the price is to close to an R5 car. Maybe running costs are lower but rallycar buyers that can spend 200k in regional rally s you can t find manny.

[PLuto]

I have heard rumours that Oreca asked FIA to increase this basic price 108 000 euro...

[dimviii]

Oreca‏*@Oreca
#FIAR4Kit : after the Dacia Sandero what do you think about our Lada R4?
More pictures here -> https://goo.gl/xETbcf

[Arnold Triyudho Wardono]

Oreca‏*@Oreca
#FIAR4Kit : after the Dacia Sandero what do you think about our Lada R4?
More pictures here -> https://goo.gl/xETbcf

Looks too simple..

Where's Sandero..?

Sent from my A12 using Tapatalk

[Sulland]

Same car, different badge!

https://www.facebook.com/rallyemag/p...type=3&theater

[Sulland]

Not sure if this blogarticle have been posted here before, but voices same cost concern as many here have;

https://drivetribe.com/p/r4-is-comin...R3CAU4pXWtLu6g

[Rally Power]

The 3D pics of the Dacia and the Lada made me wonder if Oreca’s real purpose is to serve privateers (notably those that previously used Gr.N cars) or to provide rally cars to brands with little or none connection to the sport.

Let’s face it, exotic brands and even some traditional ones, but currently with no intention to start a rally program, can easily make their own R4 and use it in national or international series, through importers and major dealers, making consumers believe they’re actively engaged in rally.

Probably no one will care if they’re using the same mechanical base, as people will still believe the distinctive bodywork represents brand x or y. That has been the case in Argentina with the Maxi Rally cars and now in Spain with N5 models (based in MR).

If so, eventually what will be the point of keeping R5 category, as any Ford (or any other R5 manu) importer can build a R4 Fiesta that will look exactly the same and cost a bit less than the genuine article?!?

[Mirek]

If so, eventually what will be the point of keeping R5 category, as any Ford (or any other R5 manu) importer can build a R4 Fiesta that will look exactly the same and cost a bit less than the genuine article?!?

The question shall be what is the point of having R4 when they are nearly as expensive as R5 while the R5 are way faster?

The history proved many times that in motorsport customers don't buy less expensive but slow cars because the sole purpose of motorsport is to compete not to save money.

Can You imagine someone spending 200 thousand Euro to buy an equivalent of gr.N car, i.e. second tier car in national and third tier car in WRC events?

[dupanton]

For this class to be successful, prices shouldn't go (much) about 100-125k for the complete car.
I like the idea behind it, but the price kills it before it has even started.

[Rally Power]

The question shall be what is the point of having R4 when they are nearly as expensive as R5 while the R5 are way faster?

The history proved many times that in motorsport customers don't buy less expensive but slow cars because the sole purpose of motorsport is to compete not to save money.

Can You imagine someone spending 200 thousand Euro to buy an equivalent of gr.N car, i.e. second tier car in national and third tier car in WRC events?

I’m only speculating and I agree with you; top privateers will use faster R5 cars (and the less resourced ones will still have to use their old Evo's or Impreza's, as R4 will be inaccessible to them!), but looking at the current situation it’s clear that there's a much larger number of manus that are not involved in rally.

Somehow, R4 can become their entrance door to the sport. Will they use it in a massive way? In that case will they eventually pressure local ASN's to turn R4 into the leading category at national series (and even the FIA in the regional ones) or at least force a sort of BoP with current R5’s?

For sure it's premature to ask all these, but in spain N5's already won gravel rallyes (using a 34mm restrictor) and even the fact of being less competitive than R5's on tarmac didn't stopped Renault Spain to make a N5 Clio (actually, Fuster will start it next weekend).