New R4 Car - Think Tank

[HaCo]

Fiat 500x R4 from Milano Racing curently holding 8th in Terre de Langres, with a nice 5th time in the last stage:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results...te-marne-2019/

[Andre Oliveira]

ASM Motorsport Ford Fiesta MK8 R5

[Ricardo Filipe Matos]

Beyond to those announced (Swift, Sandero, A1, Clio, I20, Fiesta, Etios and 500x) are others planned?

[Sulland]

New SA i20 R4 from Rally Technic
https://www.rallytechnic.com/services

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

69233326_2380072825575951_7320072500996472832_o.jpg

[Jarek Z]

Beyond to those announced (Swift, Sandero, A1, Clio, I20, Fiesta, Etios and 500x) are others planned?

There is also Mini Cooper R4 in Finland. Finnish driver Riku Tahko was second overall in its debut in Kalpalinnan Rallisprint.

Final results:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/5...lisprint-2019/

Photo:
http://www.evolve-motorsport.com/wp-...ku_isokoko.jpg

[Rally Power]

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...adder/4554693/

Unless Evans got it wrong, or Matton is totally lost, apparently R4 may be revoked, giving room for a new 4wd entry class called Rally 3 in FIA's new 'Rally Pyramid':

Rally 3
“The home for the FIA's all-new, low-cost four-wheel drive car. The intention is to make this a current R2 car with a rear differential. Crucial to this new class is the cost of the car, which the FIA says has to be under €100,000 (£90,000). This will offer gentlemen drivers the chance to enjoy four-wheel drive in the WRC, while offering a cost-effective solution to the next generation chasing experience beyond front-wheel drive.”

It's a quite surprising move and besides all the tech and cost doubts it raises one can honestly believe, having in mind it took ages to sort out R4, that Rally 3 won't start any time soon.

Btw, the rest of the future ‘FIA Rally Pyramid’ is mainly a badge swop: Rally 5 will gather current R1 cars; Rally 4 the current R2; Rally 2 the current R5 and R1 will be the class for post-2017 WRC cars.

[Mirek]

R2 with 4WD would be very boring car to watch I am afraid. Too badly underpowered.

[Zeakiwi2]

Is there an online form where spectators can write into the FIA officials, writing that there are some people who do not want to watch boring 4wd R2 cars?

[Rally Power]

No this just looks the FIA muddying the waters and realising that the R4 class never had legs in its main market, Europe.

Probably, but to sort out a new category when R4 is still giving its first steps is quite puzzling…still hoping this is a misunderstanding and Rallye 3 will end being the current R4 Kit.

Btw, ASM Motorsport built Dacia Sandero R4 debut this wkd, getting a P2 on a sprint gravel rally, driven by Daniel Marban.



Video by Max Motorsport: https://pt-pt.facebook.com/maxmotors...3214876249757/

[Sulland]

https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/...adder/4554693/

Unless Evans got it wrong, or Matton is totally lost, apparently R4 may be revoked, giving room for a new 4wd entry class called Rally 3 in FIA's new 'Rally Pyramid':

Rally 3
“The home for the FIA's all-new, low-cost four-wheel drive car. The intention is to make this a current R2 car with a rear differential. Crucial to this new class is the cost of the car, which the FIA says has to be under €100,000 (£90,000). This will offer gentlemen drivers the chance to enjoy four-wheel drive in the WRC, while offering a cost-effective solution to the next generation chasing experience beyond front-wheel drive.”

It's a quite surprising move and besides all the tech and cost doubts it raises one can honestly believe, having in mind it took ages to sort out R4, that Rally 3 won't start any time soon.

Btw, the rest of the future ‘FIA Rally Pyramid’ is mainly a badge swop: Rally 5 will gather current R1 cars; Rally 4 the current R2; Rally 2 the current R5 and R1 will be the class for post-2017 WRC cars.

How long ago was it FIA went for an overprized kit from Oreca, that formed the basis for the new R4 class, not long.
Now we see cars coming on the market, and 2020 is really the first year that teams can plan a season with R4, nationally, regionally, and that now also is allowed in The World Championship rounds.

Suddenly the "old man club" in FIA turn around and put together a new ladder, where it is hard to see where R4 fits in.

My proposal would be
R1 - WRCar
R2 - R5, no factory teams left, so no need for a "Pro" class
R3 - R4 kit
R4 - R3 = new R2 awd
R5 - R2
R6 - R1

All current cars will have to be re-branded with the new R Class, so we do not have two names, one for the class, and one for the car. Not logical!

That in my opinion, makes more sense, and we will have a real logical rally ladder, for all. National, regional and world series!

PS; Agree on that new R3 will not be a gentleman driver class, it will become a class for up and coming talent, that need a cheaper way into awd!