New R4 Car - Think Tank

[PLuto]

Sorry but no such class exists in the current FIA scheme. Both R5 and R4 are RC2 class.

Besides that it's clear that overall results are the most important for the sponsors and a car sitting one class lower but being only marginally less expensive doesn't make economical sense.

Yes, that is another problem. R4 cars should be in different class than R5 cars. And thats not true, not only overall results are most important for the sponsors. Because with this logic you should have no chance to find any sponsor with any car out of R5...

[Mirek]

And thats not true, not only overall results are most important for the sponsors. Because with this logic you should have no chance to find any sponsor with any car out of R5...

That's not what I have said. The point is that You can hardly get SAME or SIMILAR money from the sponsors to compete somewhere in lower classes. That's why the cars in lower classes must be reasonably cheaper, not only slightly.

[Sulland]

ERC should have a R4 class in 2019, maybe call that one ERC2 and the 2wd class ERC3.

Could also make a Under 25 class with R4 cars.

[Mirek]

For what? Cheaper ERC classes have been around for ages yet very few took part (ERC2 for gr.N cars, ERC3 for 2WD cars). ERC doesn't need more new classes. It shall work on what works, i.e. mainly U28 and U27. This is where the real value of ERC is and where the effort shall be concentrated.

U25 do compete in U27. For God's sake don't try to divide the so successful group into two. This is a perfect way how to change one successful championship into two useless ones.

[Sulland]

The most successful seies outside Wrc lately has been IRC. They took a gamble and went for S2000 as top class. It paid off so well that FIA killed both the car and the series off.

ERC of today has not been the success many of us hoped for, in terms of numbers.

So maybe show a pair again and go for R4 as top class?

[Mirek]

The most successful seies outside Wrc lately has been IRC. They took a gamble and went for S2000 as top class. It paid off so well that FIA killed both the car and the series off.

ERC of today has not been the success many of us hoped for, in terms of numbers.

So maybe show a pair again and go for R4 as top class?

Again whyyyyy? Why should anyone do that when every top team in Europe has R5? Sorry but have You come from Mars? What You suggest is complete nonsense.

[Rally Power]

For what? Cheaper ERC classes have been around for ages yet very few took part (ERC2 for gr.N cars, ERC3 for 2WD cars). ERC doesn't need more new classes.

Actually, it's not about having a new class; it's about getting R4 cars into ERC2, once R4 main purpose is to replace N4 in the rally scene; to run them on R5 class is a waste, as they’re not supposed to compete with R5's. Hopefully, FIA's new class naming will already have that in mind.

[Mirek]

Actually, it's not about having a new class; it's about getting R4 cars into ERC2, once R4 main purpose is to replace N4 in the rally scene; to run them on R5 class is a waste, as they’re not supposed to compete with R5's. Hopefully, FIA's new class naming will already have that in mind.

That makes more sense but I fail to see why it shall attract more drivers than today when the eligible car would be twice more expensive than today. Take into account that there were only four competitors in ERC2 who did at least four events this year - even though they could use cheap gr.N cars and fight for an official ERC champion title.

[Sulland]

Again whyyyyy? Why should anyone do that when every top team in Europe has R5? Sorry but have You come from Mars? What You suggest is complete nonsense.

If R4 is made top car class in ERC, the top teams will have to swap car to compete. Simple logic (non)sense

But We need a few more rallies to see how much difference in speed there is btw R4 and R5, and to see reliabiliry on the R4s.

But as said before, I struggle to see R4 take the place of the old N4. It is way to expensive. Lets see if competition btw tuners brings prices a bit down, and hopefully there will be a second hand market in 2020.

[Mirek]

If R4 is made top car class in ERC, the top teams will have to swap car to compete. Simple logic (non)sense .

OMG, how is that cheaper to buy a completely new car when I have one and faster?