Group Rally3
In the motorsport discipline of rallying, Group Rally3 is a formula of rally car specification determined by the FIA for use in its international competitions: the World Rally Championship (WRC) and regional championships. National rallying competitions also allow Group Rally3 cars to compete. There are three technical subclasses of Group Rally3 however these do not affect competitive eligibility so 'Rally3' may be used alone with the same definition. The group was launched in 2021 with the homologation of the first car after the introduction of the Rally Pyramid initiative to reorganise the classes of car and championships in international rallying was approved in June 2018.[1]
Group Rally3 | |
---|---|
Motor racing formula | |
Category | Rallying |
Country/Region | International |
Championships | WRC, Regional, National |
Inaugural | 2021 |
Status | Active |
Drivetrain | Four Wheel Drive |
Power to weight | 5.1kg/hp |
Aptitude | Access |

Group Rally3 cars were created to fill a gap in demand where existing four-wheel-drive (4WD) options such as Group Rally2 or Group Rally2-Kit were considered to be too expensive for cost conscious privateers and too high performance for newcomers to 4WD. Two-wheel-drive R3 cars from Group R were at level RC3 with the mentioned Rally2 and Rally2-Kit at level RC2 in the FIA's sporting classes. With the introduction of Rally3, R3 were reclassified to RC4.[1]
Definition
Group Rally3 cars are defined in FIA document 'Appendix J - Article 260' as Touring Cars or Large Scale Series Production Cars, petrol engine, 4-wheel drive. A production touring car with at least 2500 identical units manufactured must be homologated in Group A, with all the components and changes that make it a Group Rally3 car homologated in an extension.[2]
The subclasses are based on engine cylinder capacity in common with existing Group Rally4 classes, allowing for possibility of upgrade or sharing of many components with a Rally4 car. The group is designed to be entry level and the most cost-efficient way to go rallying with four wheel drive. The FIA have included a rally-ready price cap of €100,000 in the homologation requirements. The cars have been described as a modern day Group N and a 4WD version of the Rally4/R2 and with a 31mm restrictor, have a maximum power to weight ratio of 5.1kg/hp.[3][1]
Class | Drivetrain | Minimum
Weight |
Engine
Capacity |
Aspiration | Fuel | Maximum
Cylinders |
Turbo
Restrictor |
Wheels
Gravel |
Wheels
Asphalt |
Production
Requirement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ra3B | 4WD | 1210 kg | 1390-1600cc | Normal | Petrol | 6 | 31mm | 6"x15" | 7"x17" | 2500 |
927-1067cc | Turbo | |||||||||
Ra3C | 1600-2000cc | Normal | ||||||||
1067-1333cc | Turbo | |||||||||
Ra3D | 1333-1620cc | Turbo |
FIA Competition
Rally3 cars are placed alone in FIA 'RC3' sporting class.[4] In 2022, as well as being permitted in the WRC and Regional Open Championships, Rally3 will be the sole car allowed in all tier 3 championships such as WRC3. The full list of titles eligible for contention in a Rally3 car is:
WRC:
- FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers
- FIA World Rally Championship for Co-Drivers
- FIA WRC3 Open Championship for Drivers
- FIA WRC3 Open Championship for Co-Drivers
- FIA WRC3 Junior Championship for Drivers
- FIA WRC3 Junior Championship for Co-Drivers
- FIA WRC3 Championship for Teams
Regional:
ERC
- FIA European Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA European Rally Championship for Teams
- FIA ERC3 Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
ERT
- FIA European Rally Trophy (ERT) for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA ERT3 Trophy for Drivers and Co-Drivers
ARC
- FIA African Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA ARC3 Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA ARC Junior Championship for Drivers
MERC
- FIA Middle East Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA MERC3 for Drivers and Co-Drivers
APRC
- FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA Junior APRC Championship for Drivers
- FIA APRC3 Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA APRC Asia Rally Cup for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA APRC Pacific Rally Cup for Drivers and Co-Drivers
NACAM
- FIA NACAM Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA NACAM3 Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
CODASUR
- FIA CODASUR Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
- FIA CODASUR3 Rally Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers
Class | Group | WRC | R-GT Cup |
Regional Championships | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALL | ERC | ERT | ARC | MERC | APRC | NACAM | CODASUR | ||||||||||||||||||
Open | M | T | WRC2 | WRC3 | RGT | Open | ERC3 | ERC4 | ERT3 | ERT4 | ARC2 | ARC3 | ARC4 | MERC2 | MERC3 | MERC4 | APRC3 | APRC4 | NAC3 | NAC4 | COD2 | COD3 | COD4 | ||
RC3 | Rally3 | ![]() |
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Cars
Manufacturer | Car | Debut | Homologation Basis | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
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Fiesta Rally3[5] | 2021 | FIA - A5782 Fiesta ST (Fiesta Mk7) 1497cc Turbo |
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Source: FIA Homologation List 2021[6] |
See Also
References
- "FIA Rally Car Pyramid Brochure February 2021" (PDF).
- "Specific Regulations for Cars in Group Rally5/Rally4/Rally3" (PDF).
- "FIA Rally Newsletter #4".
- "FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations 2021" (PDF).
- "FIESTA RALLY3". M-Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
- "FIA Homologation List 2021" (PDF).