The Group 4 racing class referred to regulations for cars in sportscar racing, GT racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. The Group 4 class was replaced by Group B for the 1983 season.
Prior to 1966, the FIA's Group 4 classification applied to Sports Cars which were in compliance with FIA Appendix C regulations. It also included recognised Series Touring Cars, Improved Touring Cars and Grand Touring Cars which had been modified beyond the respective Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 regulations under which they had been homologated.[1][2] In 1966, an overhaul of FIA categories saw Group 4 Sports Cars redefined such that they were now subject to a minimum production requirement of 50 units in 12 consecutive months and had to be fitted with all equipment necessary for use on public roads. A 5000cc engine capacity limit was applied for 1968 and the minimum production requirement was reduced to 25 units for the 1969 season.[3]
For 1969, Appendix J of the FIA International Sporting Code defined groups for Touring cars, Grand Touring cars and Sports cars as follows: (numbers between brackets are required minimum production in 12 consecutive months).[4]
For 1970, the limited production sports car category was renamed from Group 4 to Group 5[5] and, in the same year,[6] Group 4 became the class for special grand touring cars with minimum production of 500 in 12 consecutive months [7]
For 1971, the relevant FIA classifications were as follows:[7]
Group 1: series-production touring cars (5,000)
Group 2: touring cars (1,000)
Group 3: series-production grand touring cars (1,000)
In 1966 and 1967 the Group 4 Sports Cars played a supporting role to the Group 6 prototypes. While prototypes like the 7.0L Ford GT40 Mk II and the Mk IV raced for outright victories, the 4.7L GT40 Mk I entries were competing for Group 4 class wins.[9] Indeed, competitors in the two categories were competing for two different championships, the Group 6 cars for the International Championship for Sports-Prototypes and the Group 4 cars for the International Championship for Sports Cars. In 1968, the rules were changed, so that prototypes were limited to 3.0L, but Sports cars of up to 5.0L could still be entered. It was also announced that the minimum production figure for the Group 4 sports cars would be reduced to 25 cars for 1969. With larger engines than the prototypes, the Group 4 cars were now in contention for outright race wins. The Ford GT40 was the winner at Le Mans in both 1968 and 1969. Porsche began work on a production run of 25 cars for the Porsche 917. Ferrari, with some financial help from Fiat, produced the similar Ferrari 512.[10]
For the 1970 season, the Group 4 Sports car category was renamed and became Group 5 Sports Cars and Group 4 designation was applied to a new Special Grand Touring category. The new Group 4 was contested by production based cars such as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Porsche 911 Carrera RS and the De Tomaso Pantera.
The Group 4 GT category was replaced by a new Group B GT class for 1983.[11]
Rallying
Roberto Cambiaghi and Emanuele Sanfront on a Fiat 124 Abarth Rally at the Rally delle Regioni 1975 (valid for European Rally Championship)
The Group 4 regulations were also used as the basis for the World Rally Championships until they were replaced by the Group B regulations. In mid 1970s to early 1980s rallying, it was necessary to produce 400 identical cars for homologation as a Group 4 rally car. Notable cars included the Ford Escort RS1800, Fiat 131 Abarth, Lancia Stratos HF and the Audi Quattro.
In addition, cars were homologated for Group 4 as variants of Group 3 cars. Before 1976, this was possible using a "100-off rule":[12] clause bb of Art 260 of Appendix J to the FIA's International Sporting Code 1975 (invoked from Art 266). This rule only required production of 100 of a "bolt-on option kit" of parts, not the production of any modified cars as homologation specials, but was deleted after 1975 and approved components banned "Effective from the end of 1977".[13] Such an approval applies to the Group 4 16-valve TR7,[12] the multi-valve head (and other parts) from the Group 1Dolomite Sprint being approved as "valid for Group 4" on 1 Oct. 1975 in amendment 1/1V to the Group 3 TR7 homologation papers and reapproved (following production of about 60 16-valve TR7 Sprints in 1977) on 1 Feb. 1978 in amendment 10/8v.[14]
^ ab"Regulations - Period Appendix J | FIA Historic Database". historicdb.fia.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
^ ab"APPENDIX K TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE" (PDF).
External links
FIA Historic Racing Regulations
Historic Appendix J Regulations
April 05, 2023
group, racing, group, racing, class, referred, regulations, cars, sportscar, racing, racing, rallying, regulated, group, class, replaced, group, 1983, season, ford, gt40, contesting, group, sports, category, 1969, 1000, nürburgring, group, porsche, group, alpi. The Group 4 racing class referred to regulations for cars in sportscar racing GT racing and rallying as regulated by the FIA The Group 4 class was replaced by Group B for the 1983 season A Ford GT40 contesting the Group 4 Sports Car category at the 1969 1000 km Nurburgring A Group 4 Porsche 906 A Group 4 Alpine A110 1800 A Group 4 De Tomaso Pantera GTS BMW M1 Procar used in the M1 Procar Championship These cars were designed and built to FIA Group 4 racing specifications Contents 1 Production requirements 2 Sports car racing 3 Rallying 4 List of FIA Group 4 homologated cars 5 Groups 1 9 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksProduction requirements EditPrior to 1966 the FIA s Group 4 classification applied to Sports Cars which were in compliance with FIA Appendix C regulations It also included recognised Series Touring Cars Improved Touring Cars and Grand Touring Cars which had been modified beyond the respective Group 1 Group 2 or Group 3 regulations under which they had been homologated 1 2 In 1966 an overhaul of FIA categories saw Group 4 Sports Cars redefined such that they were now subject to a minimum production requirement of 50 units in 12 consecutive months and had to be fitted with all equipment necessary for use on public roads A 5000cc engine capacity limit was applied for 1968 and the minimum production requirement was reduced to 25 units for the 1969 season 3 For 1969 Appendix J of the FIA International Sporting Code defined groups for Touring cars Grand Touring cars and Sports cars as follows numbers between brackets are required minimum production in 12 consecutive months 4 Group 1 series production touring cars 5 000 Group 2 touring cars 1 000 Group 3 grand touring cars 500 Group 4 sports cars 25 Group 5 special touring cars Group 6 prototype sports carsFor 1970 the limited production sports car category was renamed from Group 4 to Group 5 5 and in the same year 6 Group 4 became the class for special grand touring cars with minimum production of 500 in 12 consecutive months 7 For 1971 the relevant FIA classifications were as follows 7 Group 1 series production touring cars 5 000 Group 2 touring cars 1 000 Group 3 series production grand touring cars 1 000 Group 4 special grand touring cars 500 Group 5 sports cars 25 Group 6 prototype sports carsIn 1976 the Group 4 production requirement was reduced to 400 in 24 months 8 Sports car racing Edit A Porsche 911 competing in the Group 4 Special Grand Touring Car category at the 1970 1000 km Nurburgring In 1966 and 1967 the Group 4 Sports Cars played a supporting role to the Group 6 prototypes While prototypes like the 7 0L Ford GT40 Mk II and the Mk IV raced for outright victories the 4 7L GT40 Mk I entries were competing for Group 4 class wins 9 Indeed competitors in the two categories were competing for two different championships the Group 6 cars for the International Championship for Sports Prototypes and the Group 4 cars for the International Championship for Sports Cars In 1968 the rules were changed so that prototypes were limited to 3 0L but Sports cars of up to 5 0L could still be entered It was also announced that the minimum production figure for the Group 4 sports cars would be reduced to 25 cars for 1969 With larger engines than the prototypes the Group 4 cars were now in contention for outright race wins The Ford GT40 was the winner at Le Mans in both 1968 and 1969 Porsche began work on a production run of 25 cars for the Porsche 917 Ferrari with some financial help from Fiat produced the similar Ferrari 512 10 For the 1970 season the Group 4 Sports car category was renamed and became Group 5 Sports Cars and Group 4 designation was applied to a new Special Grand Touring category The new Group 4 was contested by production based cars such as the Ferrari 365 GTB 4 Daytona Porsche 911 Carrera RS and the De Tomaso Pantera The Group 4 GT category was replaced by a new Group B GT class for 1983 11 Rallying Edit Roberto Cambiaghi and Emanuele Sanfront on a Fiat 124 Abarth Rally at the Rally delle Regioni 1975 valid for European Rally Championship Fiat Abarth 124 rally A Group 4 De Tomaso Pantera and Lancia Stratos pictured in 1973 Group 4 Lancia Stratos HF The Stratos helped Lancia win the World Rally Championship in 1974 1975 and 1976 Fiat 131 Abarth Group 4 rally 1982 The Group 4 regulations were also used as the basis for the World Rally Championships until they were replaced by the Group B regulations In mid 1970s to early 1980s rallying it was necessary to produce 400 identical cars for homologation as a Group 4 rally car Notable cars included the Ford Escort RS1800 Fiat 131 Abarth Lancia Stratos HF and the Audi Quattro List of FIA Group 4 homologated cars EditNo Marque Model Type Start End220 Shelby Cobra Roadster 427 January 2 1966 January 2 1966221 Matra Djet 5S MB 8S January 1 1965 January 1 1965222 Alpine A110 1300 February 1 1966 February 1 1966223 Panhard 24 BA February 1 1966 February 1 1966224 Ford GT40 February 2 1966 February 2 1966225 Ferrari 250 LM Berlinetta February 1 1966 February 1 1966227 Ford Taunus P5 Hardtop April 15 1966 April 15 1966228 Tunex Diva GT April 16 1966 April 16 1966229 Abarth 1300 OT April 15 1966 April 15 1966230 Abarth 1000 OTR Coupe April 30 1966 April 30 1966231 Saab Sonett II234 Ferrari 275 GTB 4 April 1 1967 April 1 1967235 Lamborghini 350 GT April 1 1967 April 1 1967236 Lamborghini 400 GT 2 2 April 1 1967 April 1 1967237 TVR MkIV 1800S July 1 1967 July 1 1967238 Lotus Mark 47 January 1 1969 January 1 1969239 Ferrari 308 GTB 4 April 1 1967 April 1 1967240 Lola T70 Mk III February 1 1968 February 1 1968241 Abarth 1000 SP March 1 1969 March 1 1969242 Marcos 1300 GT March 1 1968 March 1 1968242 Lamborghini Urraco P250 July 1 1975 December 31 1981244 Chevron GT May 1 1968 May 1 1968245 Lamborghini P400 Miura June 1 1968 June 1 1968246 Alfa Romeo 33 Spider January 1 1969 January 1 1969247 Ferrari 206 GT January 1 1969 January 1 1969248 McLaren M6 GT August 20 1968249 Porsche 910 January 1 1969 January 1 1969250 Porsche 917 May 1 1969 May 1 1969251 De Tomaso Mangusta April 1 1969 April 1 1969252 Abarth 2000 April 1 1969 April 1 1969253 Ferrari 365 GTB 4 Daytona June 1 1969 June 1 1969254 Ferrari 512 S July 1 1969 April 1 1970255 Chevron B16 Cosworth January 2 1970 January 2 1970624 Alpine A110 1600 January 1 1970 December 31 1970625 Alfa Romeo GTA Sprint January 1 1970 December 31 1977626 Porsche 914 6 March 1 1970 October 1 1971627 Ferrari 246 GT January 1 1971 February 1 1973628 Citroen SM Type SB April 1 1971 July 1 1971629 Range Rover Classic April 1 1971 January 1 1972630 Renault 12 Gordini R1173 October 1 1971 January 1 1972632 De Tomaso Pantera January 1 1972 July 1 1972633 Ferrari 365 GTB 4 January 1 1972 December 31 1979634 Lotus Europa Twin Cam April 1 1972 July 1 1972637 Porsche Carrera RS March 1 1973 July 1 1973638 Renault 17 TS April 1 1974 October 1 1974639 Maserati AM122 Merak May 1 1974 December 31 1981646 Aston Martin V8 April 1 1976 December 31 1981631 Alfa Romeo Montreal January 1 1972 April 1 1972640 Lancia Stratos HF October 1 1974 December 31 1981644 Opel Kadett C GT E October 1 1975 February 1 1976645 Porsche 911 Turbo January 1 1976 January 1 1977647 Abarth 131 Rally April 1 1976 December 31 1981648 Ferrari 308 GTB November 1 1976 December 31 1981649 Vauxhall Chevette HS2300 November 1 1976 December 31 1981650 Ford Escort RS April 2 1977 January 1 1982651 Alpine A310 V6 April 1 1977 January 1 1978652 Saab 99 Turbo Combi Coupe January 1 1978 October 1 1978653 Lotus Esprit April 1 1978 December 31 1981654 B L Triumph TR8 April 1 1978 December 31 1981655 Panther Lima October 1 1978 December 31 1981656 FSO Polonez 125 PN January 1 1979 April 1 1980657 FSO Polonez January 1 1979 April 1 1980658 Saab 99 Turbo Sedan February 1 1979 April 1 1979659 Audi 80 1600 February 1 1979 December 31 1981660 Porsche 924 Turbo February 1 1979 April 1 1979661 Daimler Benz 450 SLC 5 0 April 1 1979 December 31 1981662 Chrysler Sunbeam Lotus April 1 1979 January 1 1980663 Toyota Celica 2000GT Rally RA45 June 1 1979 December 31 1981664 Renault Argentina 12 Alpine July 1 1979 December 31 1981665 Morgan Plus 8 July 1 1979 December 31 1981666 Opel Ascona 400 November 1 1979 December 31 1981668 Alfa Romeo Alfetta Turbodelta February 1 1980 December 31 1981669 Renault 5 Turbo September 1 1980 April 1 1981670 BMW M1 December 1 1980 December 31 1981671 Audi Quattro 2145 January 2 1981 January 1 1982672 Porsche 924 Carrera GT January 1 1981 December 31 1981673 Daimler Benz 500 SL January 1 1980 December 31 1981674 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT 6 2 5 January 1 1981 October 1 1981675 Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo A176A April 1 1981 December 31 1981676 Talbot Matra Murena 2 2 August 1 1981 December 31 1981677 Volkswagen Golf Mk I 16S December 1 1981 December 31 1981 In addition cars were homologated for Group 4 as variants of Group 3 cars Before 1976 this was possible using a 100 off rule 12 clause bb of Art 260 of Appendix J to the FIA s International Sporting Code 1975 invoked from Art 266 This rule only required production of 100 of a bolt on option kit of parts not the production of any modified cars as homologation specials but was deleted after 1975 and approved components banned Effective from the end of 1977 13 Such an approval applies to the Group 4 16 valve TR7 12 the multi valve head and other parts from the Group 1 Dolomite Sprint being approved as valid for Group 4 on 1 Oct 1975 in amendment 1 1V to the Group 3 TR7 homologation papers and reapproved following production of about 60 16 valve TR7 Sprints in 1977 on 1 Feb 1978 in amendment 10 8v 14 Groups 1 9 EditCategories and Groups of Appendix J 1954 1965 Categories 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965I Touring A TouringII Sports II Grand Touring B Grand Touring C SportsGroup 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965Group 1 Normal series productionGroup 2 Grand Touring series prod Modified series prod Modified series prodGroup 3 Special series production Grand Touring CarsGroup 4 Series production Normal GT series prod Sports CarGroup 5 International Modified GT series prod Group 6 GT specials Source 15 16 Categories and Groups of Appendix J 1966 1981 Production requirement Categories 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981A ProductionB Special B Experimental Competition B Racing CarsC Racing Cars Group 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981Group 1 Series Touring 5000 Group 2 Touring 1000 Special Touring 1000 Group 3 Grand Touring 500 Series Grand Touring 1000 Group 4 Sportscars 50 25 Special Grand Touring 500 Grand Touring 400 Group 5 Special Touring Cars Sports cars 50 Sports cars Special cars derived from Groups 1 4Group 6 Prototype sportscars Two seater racecarsGroup 7 Two seater racecars International formulaGroup 8 Formula racing cars International formula Formula libre racing carsGroup 9 Formula libre racing cars Source 15 16 Note Special may be replaced with Competition in some official documents See also EditWorld Sportscar ChampionshipReferences Edit Article 252 of the FIA s Appendix J regulations 1962 Archived 2006 03 14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www fia com on 11 February 2009 Article 252 of the FIA s Appendix J regulations 1965 Archived 2009 07 11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www fia com on 11 February 2009 M L Twite The World s Racing Cars 1971 page 109 Appendix J 1969 Art 251 Art 252 Archived 2006 10 17 at the Wayback Machine on www fia com Janos L Wimpffen Time and Two Seats 1999 page 710 M L Twite The World s Racing Cars 1971 page 99 a b Appendix J 1971 Art 251 Art 252 Archived 2005 03 02 at the Wayback Machine on www fia com Appendix J 1976 Art 251 Art 252 Archived 2006 03 14 at the Wayback Machine on www fia com Ford GT40 MkI 289 Archived 2007 01 02 at the Wayback Machine on QV500 com 1970 Ferrari 512 S Archived 2006 12 29 at the Wayback Machine on QV500 com Janos L Wimpffen Time and Two Seats 1999 page 1347 a b Robson G The Works Triumphs 50 Years in Motorsport 1993 J H Haynes amp Co Ltd ISBN 978 0854299263 Robson G Ford Escort RS1800 Rally Giants page 16 Veloce Publishing Ltd 2008 ISBN 1845841409 9781845841409 RAC TR7 Homologation papers number 3071 a b Regulations Period Appendix J FIA Historic Database historicdb fia com Retrieved 2022 05 19 a b APPENDIX K TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE PDF External links EditFIA Historic Racing Regulations Historic Appendix J Regulations FIA 1969 Appendix J Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Group 4 racing amp oldid 1125118070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
