Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[Andre Oliveira]

236 to Marius Aasen

[Andre Oliveira]

Fabia R5 #169 to P.A. Racing (I)
Hyundai i20 R5 #27 to RallyBaron (FIN)

[Andre Oliveira]

FIA reject R5 paddleshift gearbox rule change


Last week the FIA cancelled the proposed rule change allowing paddle gear shift systems, which teams have been busy preparing for the 2018 season.

This was decided at the August meeting of the FIA WRC Commission held at Rally Germany.

One of the teams concerned explained that this was all part of the FIA’s fight to keep R5 costs down, believing that costs cannot be maintained if the FIA allow more technology, while at the same time introducing new safety measures.

It is believed that a group of the manufacturers involved in this issue had proposed with the FIA an increase in the costs of the 5%, after finding that actual production costs since the rules were originally drafted had risen in the region of 10% on the total car.

With the recent announcement of the new Citroen C3 R5 and news that Volkswagen Motorsport is on schedule with their R5 rally car to be available in 2018, the issue of costs is becoming increasingly urgent.


Written by Martin Holmes on 07 September 2017.

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home...ox-rule-change

[RS]

Well that was clever, leaving it so late after teams had spent time and money developing it.

So what are the other changes to the R5 rules for 2018?

[AdvEvo]

An R5 is still very expensive to run if you compare it to group N

[Mirek]

That's natural because they are way faster.

[AnttiL]

Yeh, I'd compare R5's more to 4WD Group A cars with WRC being the step above that. Although, we need a good cheaper R4 alternative as well.

[AnttiL]

Also, Lefebvre testing the C3 R5 today https://twitter.com/AS_PipoLopez/sta...19458819395586

[liposh]

...Although, we need a good cheaper R4 alternative as well.

I totally agree. I think the R5 class is really good formula for top level of regional rallying (thanks God, because with people in FIA you never know) , but you need some cheaper 4wd car. From point of view of average rally spectator, who isn´t hardcore petrolhead the N4 cars were enough fun to watch and there were plenty of them on every small rally some 7 years ago...For all my nephews, girlfriends, wives (well, there is only one wife till now ) etc. the R2 and R3 class cars are not spectacular enough. (except veery few drivers) anyway I am not totally convinced about that R4 "oreca way" concept. We will see.

[tommeke_B]

N4 cars were enough fun to watch??? I think you need really crazy drivers to make N4 cars somewhat interesting..