In relation to motorsport governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, Group R refers to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for rally competition. The Group R regulations were created in 2008 as a gradual replacement for Group A and Group N rally cars. To comply with Group R regulations, a car must be homologated in Group A and receive one or more VR extensions. Each VR extension is a set of homologated parts and modifications, designed and sold by the manufacturer. As part of its structure, the Group R regulations have a provision for GT cars, known as RGT.
Classes
Group R consists of six classes, designated R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R-GT; some of these groups contain their own sub-groups, with cars allocated to each group based on their weight, engine size and powertrain. The first batch of rules, which were introduced in 2008, featured the R1, R2 and R3 classes. These were restricted to two-wheel drive cars with atmospheric engines up to 2000cc. Supercharged engines were allowed only in R3T and R3D sub-classes. Since 2015 the R1, R2 and R3 classes allow supercharged engines with a 1.5 equivalency factor for displacement. Additional regulations were issued in 2011 which covered the R4 and R-GT classes; the R4 was conceived as an evolutionary step for previously-homologated Group N4 cars, turbocharged, all-wheel drive cars based on production models. The R4 class is for cars competing under Group N regulations for production cars prior to 2013. No new models would be homologated under R4 regulations, with the FIA taking the long-term view that these would be replaced by bespoke kit cars. The R4 Kit cars have a standard engine, four-wheel drive powertrain and suspension. In January 2017, French racecar manufacturer Oreca was selected as supplier. R-GT was introduced to allow Grand Touring cars that competed in sports car racing to enter rallies. The R5 class was designed to replace Super 2000 cars, and its regulations were introduced in 2013. Prior to 2014, there was no specific championship for cars entered under R-GT regulations, and R-GT cars were ineligible to score points in any existing championship outside the World Rally Championship. The FIA R-GT Cup for R-GT cars started in 2015, sharing some events from the WRC and ERC events. Teams and drivers are sorted into a specific championship based on the class their car fits into. Cars classified as R1, R2 and R3 contest the World Rally Championship-3 for two-wheel drive cars; especially-prepared R3T cars were also used in the Junior World Rally Championship. Cars classified as R4 and R5 compete in the World Rally Championship-2 alongside existing Super 2000 and Group N Production Cars. Cars classified as RGT compete in the R-GT Cup.
Summary
Models
The following models have been homologated by the FIA under Group R regulations:
