New R4 Car - Think Tank

[AnttiL]

Maybe they need to call that option R3, since current R3 Fwd is slowing in popularity.

Could we have a category where smaller engined 4WD's and bigger-engined 2WD's would compete equally like the early Group A days when a VW Golf could beat an Audi Coupe Quattro?

[Rally Power]

The R4 Kit concept is interesting, especially because it allows to have a new breed of rally cars without manufactures direct involvement, but FIA is missing its implementation by choosing a unique supplier and not being able to effectively control the kit price (for the 108k Oreca is selling only a part of the kit; some vital parts are sold as options for an extra price!).

Besides, to impose a single spec Kit car as a rally category can make total sense to develop the sport in countries or regions were there’s a small rally market, but there’s no real need for that in Europe, where dozens of private rally tuners are long established.

The best option would be to set international rules for this new R4 category, which would included some mandatory components (like it was done with AP4 and N5), allowing different tuners from each country to homologate the cars on their local FIA affiliated ASN. That way a larger number of R4 cars would become immediately available, making them cheaper and easier to get.

[pantealex]

I'm trying to see if I can purchase a Dytko car for rallying in Australia. I've heard it's not an issue, but I would not be able to participate in Rally Australia since it's an FIA event part of the WRC.

You can enter WRC event with national car but can´t score points with it.
First it was only allowed for non euro events (longhaul) but now each rally can take national cars if they want. (Corsica and Finland had national cars)

[Andre Oliveira]

Portuguese João Fernando Ramos will debut Fiesta N5 by RMC in Catalunya.

[AdvEvo]

Could we have a category where smaller engined 4WD's and bigger-engined 2WD's would compete equally like the early Group A days when a VW Golf could beat an Audi Coupe Quattro?

In Holland we are preparing an Production class. That means cars which you can buy at every dealer new or second hand.

max 2.0 turbo or 3.5 atmo fwd or RWD. Every car gets special electronic case onboard which monitors you're speed and acceleration to have a nice competition. We are finalizing the rules at the moment. All those FIA options are way to expensive to start rallying.

[racerx1979]

I spoke with a contact who works for a WRC team and he mentioned an interesting point about the R4 cars. He said countries like Indonesia and even Australia have large taxes on imports. People who want a Skoda or Fiesta R5 in Indonesia to compete on the APRC would have to pay a large amount on taxes to import the cars. The R4 class allowing people to add their kit into any car that has a certain number of cars manufactured overcomes this issue. So a lot of people in Indonesia, Australia and other countries where import duty taxes are insane will benefit from these cars. Hence why Oreca are showing the Toyota Etios as a base car. This little Toyota was mainly for South America and Asian markets. The same markets which pay hefty duties if trying to import a car which is not sold in their region... So the target for R4 is most likely not Europe...

[Rally Power]

I spoke with a contact who works for a WRC team and he mentioned an interesting point about the R4 cars. He said countries like Indonesia and even Australia have large taxes on imports. People who want a Skoda or Fiesta R5 in Indonesia to compete on the APRC would have to pay a large amount on taxes to import the cars. The R4 class allowing people to add their kit into any car that has a certain number of cars manufactured overcomes this issue. So a lot of people in Indonesia, Australia and other countries where import duty taxes are insane will benefit from these cars. Hence why Oreca are showing the Toyota Etios as a base car. This little Toyota was mainly for South America and Asian markets. The same markets which pay hefty duties if trying to import a car which is not sold in their region... So the target for R4 is most likely not Europe...

That’s quite true, but in Europe there’s also room for a cheaper 4wd category. Many Evo and Impreza owners can’t afford a R5. R4 makes total sense, but not with this expensive and single supplied Kit.

[br21]

First rollout next week, then some tests in France end of the month and beginning of October big test session on gravel and tarmac.

[Jarek Z]

I'm trying to see if I can purchase a Dytko car for rallying in Australia. I've heard it's not an issue

I think it shouldn't be a problem. Some Dytko cars have been competing in New Zealand for a long time.
http://nzrallychamps.co.nz/nzrc-driv...nnon-chambers/
http://nzrallychamps.co.nz/race-agai...iting-new-car/

Here's Shannon Chambers and his Dytko Polo Proto:

[Archie Gillaine]

Cant see the point in R4 really certainly when touted as a cheaper alternative to R5 but limited to a single supplier of the kits. This seems to fly in the face of opening up the market. We've already talked about the Maxi cars in Argentina etc and the UK has a log history of men in sheds building great cars, Andy Burton being at the forefront. Trouble is the RACMSA outlawed most of them so can see them having kittens about any new wave of machinery...

Ah, the good old MSA......friend to rallying since when??