Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about rally cars, part 3.
What exactly is Rally Cars Part 3?
It is the third volume of a community-built, unofficial reference encyclopedia dedicated to rally competition vehicles. Unlike the earlier volumes that focused on the 1970s and 1980s, Part 3 centers on the modern era from roughly 1997 onward, covering World Rally Championship and national-level machines.
Who put the encyclopedia together?
A loose collective of rally fans, former mechanics, and motorsport journalists collaborated on the entries over several years. There is no single author; each chapter is credited to the contributor who researched and drafted it, with a small editorial team handling fact-checking and formatting.
Where should a complete newcomer begin reading?
Start with the introductory chapter titled 'Reading a Rally Spec Sheet,' which explains homologation rules, power-to-weight ratios, and the difference between R5, R5, and WRC classes. From there, the chronological timeline of manufacturer entries works well as a guided tour before jumping into individual car profiles.
Which era of rally cars does Part 3 cover?
The volume spans 1997 through the present, picking up where Part 2 left off after the Group A transition. It gives particular attention to the 2002–2012 WRC turbo-four-cylinder period and the 2017 shift back to four-wheel-drive, four-cylinder regulations.
Which manufacturers receive the most detailed coverage?
Toyota, Hyundai, and Ford dominate the page count because of their sustained factory WRC programs during the covered years. Subaru and Mitsubishi get substantial sections for their earlier 2000s campaigns, while Citroën and Škoda appear in shorter but well-sourced entries.
What is the single most-discussed car in this volume?
The Toyota Yaris WRC (2017–2021) consistently tops reader comments and forum threads because of its record-setting performance and the drama surrounding its development. The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 also draws heavy traffic, especially around its 2022–2023 title-winning seasons.
How does Part 3 differ in scope from Parts 1 and 2?
Parts 1 and 2 are organized primarily by manufacturer and model, while Part 3 restructures around regulatory eras and technical rule changes. It also introduces a dedicated appendix on rallycross and rally-raid vehicles, which the earlier volumes omitted entirely.
What technical specifications are highlighted for each car?
Every entry lists engine displacement, forced-induction type, peak power, weight, drivetrain layout, and the specific homologation batch number. Where available, contributors include lap-time deltas from published test data and notes on suspension geometry changes between model years.
Are there any disputed or controversial entries?
Yes—the section on the 2004 Subaru Impreza S11 WRC's power output is flagged with a 'contested figure' tag because official and independent measurements differ by roughly 20 horsepower. A similar note appears on the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X rally variant's exact torque curve.
Is the encyclopedia free to access and how is it maintained?
All three parts are hosted on a volunteer-run website and can be read or downloaded at no cost. Updates are posted whenever a contributor submits a verified correction, and a public changelog at the bottom of each chapter logs who edited what and when.