Group A
FIA regulations for production-derived touring cars and rally cars.
Group A is a set of motorsport regulations administered by the FIA covering production-derived touring cars for competition, used in touring car racing and rallying. Introduced in 1982 to replace Group 2 as modified touring cars, it limited power, weight, technology, and cost to encourage entries from privately owned vehicles. Group A formed the homologation basis for most production-based race car formulae, including the Groups Rally, and was phased out in many championships in later years.
Quick Facts
- Introduced
- 1982
- Governing body
- FIA
- Category
- Production-derived touring cars
- Used in
- Touring car racing and rallying
- Preceded by
- Group 2
Facts from the source article.
Homologation
To obtain FIA approval, 2,500 identical models had to be built within 12 consecutive months; before 1993 the requirement was 5,000. The homologation period continued for each subsequent year of production and for seven years after annual production fell below 10% (250 units), at which point the model was considered out of production. Evolutions of the series production model could be homologated with an ET (Evolution of the type) extension. Not all manufacturers sold every homologated model; some stripped most of them to rebuild as stock models or to allow teams to use modified parts. For instance, Volvo produced 500 evolution models of the 240 Turbo in 1985, then stripped 477 of their competition equipment and sold them as standard roadcars. After FISA failed to locate an evolution car in any European country, Volvo was forced to disclose the names of all 500 evolution owners to be permitted to compete. In Australia and New Zealand, a deal between FISA and CAMS allowed Australian manufacturers to homologate cars with only 1,000 base models, though the racing models still required 500 evolution units. Holden was the only Australian manufacturer to homologate cars for Group A racing, using V8-powered Commodores; evolution models came first from Peter Brock's HDT Special Vehicles, then from Tom Walkinshaw's Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) from 1987.
Touring car racing
In the European Touring Car Championship, Group A had three divisions: Division 3 for cars over 2500cc, Division 2 for 1600–2500cc, and Division 1 for under 1600cc. Cars used standard bodykits, and the production-derived nature required manufacturers to release faster road cars to be competitive on track; tyre width depended on engine size. The FIA continued to issue Group A touring car regulations until at least 1993, but the category survived in domestic championships only until that year. The German DTM switched to a 2.5L Class 1 formula in 1993, and the Japanese Touring Car Championship followed suit in 1994, adopting Supertouring regulations derived from the British Touring Car Championship. Many redundant Skylines were later used in the JGTC with modified aerodynamic devices, competing against Group C cars, former race-modified roadcars, and specially developed racers like the Toyota Supras. Australia adopted Group A from 1 January 1985, replacing local Group C rules; a class for Group A cars appeared in selected endurance races in late 1984. The category was officially termed Group 3A Touring Cars from 1988. From 1993, CAMS replaced the Group A-based category with a new formula also designated Group 3A Touring Cars, initially open to five-litre V8 cars and two-litre cars (later known as V8 Supercars and Super Touring Cars respectively).
Rallying
In the World Rally Championship, Group A cars were modified road cars, often turbocharged, four-wheel-drive versions of small models such as the Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Toyota Celica GT-Four, Nissan Pulsar GTI-R, Subaru Impreza WRX, Mazda 323 GT-R, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. These cars were modified for greater power and torque, and fitted with suspension and tyres suited to the specific rally surface, which could be asphalt, gravel, dirt, or snow and ice. By 1990, Group A cars exceeded the performance of the defunct Group B cars on many events due to better handling and traction, and they were much safer. Group A remains the basis for most rally competitions worldwide, though the most competitive cars are limited-production prototypes such as kit cars, World Rally Cars, Super 1600, and Super 2000. The last car to use the old Group A homologation requirement in the WRC Manufacturers' championship was the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI. Group A cars could enter WRC rallies until 2018 and can still enter FIA regional rally championships.
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