Conference terri::cars_uk

Do they still have a 2wd class?

Dave

    .1�Do they still have a 2wd class?
    
    Yes, that's the - whatever they'll call it - 2 litre, normally aspirated, 
    2WD, kit car category.
    
    The Group A (and N) category is the most interesting and spectacular.
    They have turbocharged engines (with limitations in the airflow that
    Toyota Team Europe neglected) producing around ... 400Bhp ?, they have
    4WD, etc ... Strangely enough this is a category that has attracted the
    Japanese manufacturers while the Europeans (except Ford) have turned
    their back to it.
    
    The 2litre class is a new category which is being requested mostly by
    the European car manufacturers arguing that they don't really want to
    waste money building 25000 (or other number) special cars just for the
    FIA to give them homologation (permisssion to compete). In the 2litre
    class we should see:
    
    	- Renault with their new Megane (1st have to produce 25000)
    	- Peugeot with their 306Maxi, 106 ?, 406 ? who knows ?
    	- Opel with their new Vectra, Corsa, ...
    	- Fiat-Lancia-Alfa ? no indications 
    
    These 2litre 'kit cars' as name implies must be designed on the road
    car base. The engine must be of the same base and located at the same
    place. The transmission should also be similar to that of the road car
    (front engined FWD must remain front engined FWD). They can play with
    the bodywork (wider wheel arches, bigger wings) within limits. The
    engine can be developped like in Group A. The 2 litre engines can
    produce around 280hp. 2WD cars are obviously much lighter than the the
    GroupA 4WD. They also have less traction on slippery surfaces.
    
    I'm not particularly optimistic at the future of rallying as currently
    handled by FIA. They certainly don't want to make it a success (and
    have to share TV revenue with F1). We'll see how things go.

    Carlos Sainz joins the Ford-RAS camp, thanks to REPSOL Petroleums money. 
    The team talks of entering 3 cars.
    
    The MonteCarlo rally is not part of the 1996 Group A rally championship
    but is limited to the 2litre 2WD class. Delecour will drive a Peugeot 306
    Maxi.

    FIA have just announced that the current erratic rules will disappear
    for the 1997 World Rally Championship. Major events like the MonteCarlo
    will be back in the proper championship which will include:
    
    	- Group A (2litre, turbo engines, 4WD, modifications)
    	- Group N (road cars, nearly unmodified)
    	- Group 2 (2litre, normally aspirated engines, 2WD front or rear)
    
    The strong pushers for the 2litre class are the European manufacturers
    who, except Ford, can't or don't compete with the Japanese. FIA did not
    want the Rally Championship to turn into a Japanese event. They had to
    do something to attract the Europeans back: Ford, Renault and Peugeot have
    cars ready. Opel, Fiat are watching.

    Monte Carlo
    
    At the end of day 2
    
    Bernardini		Ford Escort Cosworth		Grp A, 4WD
    Delecour		Peugeot 306 Maxi		2 ltr, 2WD
    Schwarz		Toyota Celica 			Grp A, 4WD
    
    Weather: mild, rain, tricky roads, melting ice, ...
    Forecast: more rain, warmer, no snow, no ice
    
    Bernardini is France's rally champion of 1994, 1995. Delecour is doing
    a beautiful job with his very agile but brutal 2WD (FWD).
                                                             

    Final results
    
     Bernardini		Ford Escort Cosworth		Grp A, 4WD
     Delecour		Peugeot 306 Maxi		2 ltr, 2WD
     Schwarz		Toyota Celica 			Grp A, 4WD
    
    Apalling weather (heavy rain and floods) conditions. Some snow at the
    Turini pass.
     

    Before someone asks:
    
    The 2litre class (2litre, normally aspirated engines, 2 WD front or
    rear) is a subset of GroupA. They have a different minimum weight but
    the same modifications are allowed.
    
    In addition the 2litre class cars can be "KIT CARS" ie some additional
    mods are permitted (bigger wheelbase, wheelspan, wheelarches).
    
    GroupN cars are still there (much closer to standard roadcar specs)
    
    MonteCarlo was not counting in the "big" World Championships. Swedish
    Rally is the 1st 1996 World Rally Championship.
    
    Some news: Auriol joins the Prodrive Subaru Team (McRae) at the expense
    of Piero Liatti. Sainz is with Ford-RAS. 

    Swedish Rally - 1st World Rally Championship Event of 1996
    
    Start today
    Finish Sunday 3pm
    
    Major contenders
    
    Subaru/Prodrive	McRae, Eriksson, Auriol
    Ford/RAS		Sainz, Delecour