Group R-GT

Group R-GT (or sometimes Group RGT), is a FIA specification for GT cars in rallying. The R-GT regulations were introduced in 2011, and since 2014 technical passports for individual vehicles can be obtained. Thus a homologation for specific car models is no longer required.[1]

Group R-GT
Motor racing formula
CategoryRally cars
Country or regionInternational
ChampionshipsVarious
Inaugural season2011
StatusActive

Internationally, R-GT cars compete in the FIA R-GT Cup, which is contested on tarmac rounds of the ERC and WRC.[2]

Technical regulations

The technical regulations are described in Appendix J, article 256 of the FIA sporting regulations.[3] The category is for series production GT cars, that must be two-wheel driven. A car with four-wheel drive cars can be used as basis, but must be transformed into a 2WD version. All cars must be fitted with a restrictor whose diameter is determined by the FIA in order to achieve a weight/power ratio of 3.4 kg/hp (4.6 kg/kw, 294bhp/tonne).[3]

History

Lotus Exige R-GT homologation
Lotus Exige R-GT

Lotus presented an R-GT version of the Exige S at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, but it wasn't until July 2012 before they finally got the FIA homologation for this first car to compete in the R-GT category.[4] The competition debut took place at the end of July at Rally Vinho da Madeira, with Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa. After posting stage times in the top ten for the first two special stages, they had to retire in the third stage because of an accident caused by an electronics glitch.[5] After that, there were no further appearances of the Exige R-GT in international rallies.

Technical passports for individual cars

Since 2014, the FIA issues technical passports for individual cars that are prepared to comply with the R-GT regulations.[1] The first such appearance was Marc Duez who entered a Porsche 996 GT3 for the 2014 Monte Carlo Rally. He achieved some respectable stage times, but was forced to retire on the last day.[6] At the 2014 Rallye Deutschland, Richard Tuthill entered with a modified Porsche 997 and finished as 27th (of 63 classified), thus realising the first finish of a Porsche at a WRC event since 1986.[7]

FIA R-GT Cup

In 2015, the first international cup for R-GT cars, organised by the FIA, took place. The first season was competed on five tarmac events of the WRC and ERC: Rallye Monte-Carlo, Ypres Rally, Rallye Deutschland, Rallye International du Valais and Tour de Corse.[2] The championship was won by François Delecour in a Tuthill-prepared Porsche 997.[8] In 2016 the R-GT cup was not contested due to a lack of participants. In 2017, with the introduction of the Abarth 124 R-GT, the interest has risen again, and the first event of the 2017 FIA R-GT Cup, the 2017 Monte Carlo Rally, saw 4 participants in the R-GT category.[9]

Abarth 124 R-GT
Abarth 124 R-GT

At the 2016 Geneva Motor Show the Abarth 124 Spider R-GT car was presented, and later made its debut at the 2017 Monte Carlo Rally. The entrants were François Delecour, Fabio Andolfi and Gabriele Noberasco. Two of the Abarths had to retire, but Noberasco classified second in the R-GT class.

Champions

FIA R-GT Cup
Season Events Participants Winning driver Winning manufacturer Winning car
2015 5 4 François Delecour Porsche Porsche 997 GT3
2016 5 1 Marc Valliccioni Porsche Porsche 997 GT3
2017 5 7 Romain Dumas Porsche Porsche 997 GT3
2018 5 11 Raphaël Astier Abarth Abarth 124 R-GT
2019 8 6 Enrico Brazzoli Abarth[10] Abarth 124 R-GT
2020 5 1

Other starts in international rallies

Starts in R-GT Cup events are covered by the corresponding R-GT Cup season article and not listed below.

Season Event Series Car model Driver Result
2012 Rally Vinho da Madeira ERC Lotus Exige R-GT Bernardo Sousa retired (accident)[11]
2014 Monte Carlo Rally WRC Porsche 996 GT3 Marc Duez retired (mechanical)[12]
2014 Rally Finland WRC Porsche 997 GT3 Jani Ylipahkala retired (mechanical)[13]
2014 Rallye Deutschland WRC Porsche 997 GT3 Richard Tuthill 27th[14]
2014 Rallye de France—Alsace WRC Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 Romain Dumas 19th[15]
Porsche 997 GT3 François Delecour 37th[16]
2014 Tour de Corse ERC Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 Romain Dumas 5th[17]
2015 Circuit of Ireland ERC Porsche 997 GT3 Robert Woodside retired[18]
2016 Rallye International du Valais TER Porsche 997 GT3 Marc Valliccioni 9th[19]
2017 Rally Islas Canarias ERC Abarth 124 R-GT Álvaro Muñiz retired[20]

References
  1. "World Motor Sport Council June 2013". FIA. 2013-06-28. Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  2. "2015 FIA R-GT Cup". FIA. 2014-09-29.
  3. "Article 256 (2015) - Specific Regulations for GT Production Cars (Group RGT)" (PDF). FIA. 2013-12-19.
  4. "Lotus Exige R-GT Gets Homologated". Lotus Cars. 2012-07-26. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  5. "European Rally Championship - Rali Vinho da Madeira". Lotus Cars. 2012-07-30. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  6. "A thrilling sideshow". wrc.com. 2013-01-18.
  7. "Tuthill Porsche makes history". maxrally.com. 2014-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-11-20. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
  8. "Tuthill Porsche wins Tour de Corse & FIA R-GT Cup". Tuthill Porsche. 2015-10-04.
  9. "Ogier quickest on Rallye Monte Carlo shakedown". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. 2017-01-18.
  10. "Abarth 124 Rally vince per secondo anno FIA R-GT Cup". 27 August 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  11. "Bernardo Sousa at Rali Vinho da Madeira 2012". ewrc-results.com.
  12. "Marc Duez at Rally Monte Carlo 2014". ewrc-results.com.
  13. "Jani Ylipahkala at Rally Finland 2014". ewrc-results.com.
  14. "Richard Tuthill at Rallye Deutschland 2014". ewrc-results.com.
  15. "Romain Dumas at 2014 Rallye de France 2014 - Alsace". ewrc-results.com.
  16. "François Delecour at 2014 Rallye de France 2014 - Alsace". ewrc-results.com.
  17. "Romain Dumas at Tour de Corse 2014". ewrc-results.com.
  18. "Robert Woodside at Circuit of Ireland 2015". ewrc-results.com.
  19. "Marc Valliccioni at Rallye International du Valais 2016". ewrc-results.com.
  20. "Álvaro Muñiz at the Rally Islas Canarias 2017". ewrc-results.com.

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