World Rally Car
World Rally Car is a term used to describe the racing automobiles built to the specification set by the FIA and used to compete in the outright class of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
Technical regulations mandate that World Rally Cars must be built upon a production car with a minimum of 2500 units, based on a pre-existing Group A model, to which a number of modifications may be added, including but not limited to increasing engine capacity to 2.0 litres, adding a turbocharger, four wheel drive, active differential, sequential gearbox and aerodynamic apendages.
However, unlike Group A, manufacturers are no longer required to build "Homologation Specials" in order to meet approval. The base model need not have the characteristics of the WRC, as evidenced from cars such the Peugeot 206 and 307, Citroën Xsara, or the Skoda Fabia, which have no road car with a turbocharged petrol engine or four wheel drive.
To limit power, all forced inducted (turbo) cars are fitted with a restrictor, which is a cylinder with a diameter of 34 mm placed in the inlet before the turbo. Although the restrictor is intended to limit the power to 300 bhp, most works cars (vehicles on a racing team supported directly by the vehicle manufacturer) are rumoured to have around 400 bhp. The cars are further modified for greater torque, and greater rigidity with rollcage and other chassis strengthening measures. Before each rally, the competing cars are fitted with suspension and tyres along with different differential settings to suit the conditions of the many stages, which may take place on asphalt roads, gravel and dirt roads of varying consistency, and even frozen snow-covered roads on some rallies held in relatively cold climates.
The Cars
World Rally Cars
External links
- Photos of World Rally Cars 2006 in Monaco