Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[Andre Oliveira]

He is a tarmac driver.

[focus206]

heikki kovalainen won his first "event" in a R5 (Yaris) in japan. awesome!
the guy is rooted in japanese motorsport but it'd be really cool to have him in ERC, like in the swedish round at least

First? He has won plenty of events with Fabia R5 already, he's Japanese champion 2022 and 2023.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile...ki-kovalainen/

[saco0o]

First? He has won plenty of events with Fabia R5 already, he's Japanese champion 2022 and 2023.
https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile...ki-kovalainen/

sorry, first after the open heart surgery and first on a Yaris! going to edit that. cheers!

[focus206]

sorry, first after the open heart surgery and first on a Yaris! going to edit that. cheers!

Ah, then you're right. Hopefully everything went right and he can continue rallying.

[saco0o]

chris ingram is the 24' british champion! HEEECK YEAAAH!
go to 15min to see the post stage interview
https://www.facebook.com/BRCrally/vi...9654621295016/

[saco0o]

if rally2 cars are to change for 2027, what you fellas think we are going to get? just a move to smallcrossover models (to follow road models) and maybe some upgrades on the safety cell? i imagine they are not going crazy over changes here. hope theres also a big transition period where current R5s can still compete with the next car rules for a while, at least until more drivers and teams on national levels can reach the budget to get the new specs. fia cannot ruin national championships with rushed changes cuz we need the local entries to make up the numbers in erc's top class.

[Mirek]

If it was up to me I would not change the cars which already compete. I would allow privately homologated cars to compete and a space frame, so as not to limit the options for the future teams to enter the series. The spaceframe can be made cheap if the panels are not made of carbon but insted from heavier glassfibre laminate. Due to the coming lack of options I would also allow using engine from another manufacturer (that also applies automatically for the private cars) because too many carmakers don't produce suitable engines anymore.

I also think that EV or hybrid could be allowed to compete but alongside the current Rally2. If some team has the desire to build an EV or hybrid let's give them the chance and the media space they need for financing. For that reason I would give them quite a big freedom of choice in terms of design. Let them do what they need and see if they can build a competitive machine.

I mean instead of fixed rules designed by big heads sitting at the FIA table let's start with mission-oriented development. The mission is to finish given rally calendar as quick and as reliably as possible with a car which is safe. Let's see if they come with something competitive and if so we can use such design as a basis for future rally cars, maybe it can be even an option for Rally1.

[saco0o]

If it was up to me I would not change the cars which already compete. I would allow privately homologated cars to compete and a space frame, so as not to limit the options for the future teams to enter the series. The spaceframe can be made cheap if the panels are not made of carbon but insted from heavier glassfibre laminate. Due to the coming lack of options I would also allow using engine from another manufacturer (that also applies automatically for the private cars) because too many carmakers don't produce suitable engines anymore.

I also think that EV or hybrid could be allowed to compete but alongside the current Rally2. If some team has the desire to build an EV or hybrid let's give them the chance and the media space they need for financing. For that reason I would give them quite a big freedom of choice in terms of design. Let them do what they need and see if they can build a competitive machine.

I mean instead of fixed rules designed by big heads sitting at the FIA table let's start with mission-oriented development. The mission is to finish given rally calendar as quick and as reliably as possible with a car which is safe. Let's see if they come with something competitive and if so we can use such design as a basis for future rally cars, maybe it can be even an option for Rally1.

Rally2/R5 is really good, eh? i hope they manage not to destroy it haha. i mentioned smallcrossovers because theres this talk about current "hatchbackISH" models being phased out from production from brands, like the fiesta, the polo, the c3. idk how stuff actually work in europe, the hole homologation thing (how are new fiestas being made in rally when ford doesnt produce them anymore, for example) but it looked the simplest suggestion so far. keep same business model but for smallcrossover models. BUT YES, allowing current r5s to compete together, because we need probably 5 to 10 years to complete the replacement of current cars - IF thats the reasoning behind the courtains with manufacturers. like ford thinking "yes, we need pumas, no more fiestas, lets change this". It is a 5 to 10 year plan in my view, because of all the national championships. money is short for everybody haha

[Steve Boyd]

(how are new fiestas being made in rally when ford doesnt produce them anymore, for example)

M-Sport bought a stock of Fiesta bodyshells from Ford before they stopped making them. When they run out there won't be any new Rally2, 3 or 4 Fiestas. Any cars that have been made to the homologation rules can be used until the homologation runs out (I think it's 5 years after the cars were last made) so M-Sport can keep building and selling cars for another few years even though they are no longer manufactured by Ford.