RA Vehicle Classes (groups)

[Lebe Frei]

Sorry if this is a repeat.
I was wondering how all the classes worked so I looked it up in the RA rulebook.
I decided to do a short summery in case anyone else had the same questions and because I can’t sleep :shocked:
Hope this helps!


Vehicle Classes

-In the Open Category: Open, Open Light, Group 2, Group 5
-In the Production Category: Production, Production GT, Super Production, RallyTruck
-In the historic category: historic


Open Category

Open Light: Class ID L (This is the letter(s) on the side of the car that mark which class it is in)
-Vehicles must be AWD, normally-aspirated and derived from models sold globally in minimum of 1000.
-The maximum displacement is 2650cc for overhead cam engines and 3313cc for pushrod engines.

Group 2: Class ID G2
-Vehicles must be 2WD, normally-aspirated and derived from models sold globally in minimum of 1000.
-Engine restrictions: No forced induction; must be derived (at least the engine block) from a product line offered by the manufacturer of the vehicle.
-Maximum displacement no greater than 3080cc.

Group 5: Class ID G5
-Vehicles must be 2WD, normally-aspirated, turbocharged or supercharged and derived from models sold globally in minimum of 1000.


*See Article 10.2.A of the RA rulebook for more specific information*



Production Category

-All street-licensed, closed-body, four-wheel vehicles that are available for retail sale (in minimum quantities of 1000 per year in the US) are legal.
-Production and Production GT classes must have an original, unmolested VIN and the body shell must match the declared model year for the entry.
-The adjusted engine displacement is calculated to separate Production Class and Production GT Class

Production: Class ID P
-Adjusted engine displacement limited to 2650 cc.
-Minimum weight equal to 1.05 lb. per cc of adjusted displacement.

Production GT: Class ID PGT
-Adjusted engine displacement limited to that specified by the manufacturer. The manufacturer-specified displacement is unrestricted.
-No stated minimum weight.

Super Production: Class ID SP
-Adjusted engine displacement limited to that specified by the manufacturer. The manufacturer-specified displacement is unrestricted. The class is distinguished from the Production GT based on other factors defined in Article 10.
-Has specific minimum weight requirements. See Article 10.2.B.5 Section c


*See Article 10.2.B of the RA rulebook for more specific information.*


RallyTruck Class ID P
-4 and 6 cylinder 2WD light trucks; 6 cylinder 4WD trucks; and 4 and 6 cylinder, 2WD and 4WD sport utility vehicles.
-All vehicles in this class are normally-aspirated.
-Incorporated within Production Class.

*See Article 10.2.C of the RA rulebook for more specific information*

For full set of Rally America Rules go to http://www.rally-america.com/rules.php


If I messed anything up or you think something should be added please let me know :tongue:

[BenSlocum]

The classes at the national and regional level are also a bit confusing to some folks-

Regional-
P
PGT
SP
G2
G5
L
O

National-
2WD (all G2 and G5 vehicles are eligible, as well as 2wd P class entries)
SP (if a vehicle is P or PGT eligible, it should be eligible here)
O (L would also fall into this category)

It should also be said that you don't have to enter an AWD car in either L or O, but can declare higher classes (you can't go down though, that's not fair). A G2 car is eligible to run G2, G5, L and O, but a Subaru STI can only run O. Chris Duplesis over the last two seasons has been entering G5 with a G2 golf for greater competition relative to his skill.

You are required to follow the rules of which ever class you choose to enter, so if you enter a G5 Dodge Neon SRT-4 in O, you would be required to run a restrictor when you wouldn't in G5.

[TouringBubble]

Since I'm new to the RA rule sets ...

Does "adjusted displacement" consider forced induction systems? that was my initial assumption when I read that line.

[BenSlocum]

Since I'm new to the RA rule sets ...

Does "adjusted displacement" consider forced induction systems? that was my initial assumption when I read that line.

Adjusted displacement for Open Classes-

Rotary 1.8
Turbo/Super 1.7
Pushrod 0.8

For open and G5 the maximum displacement allowed is 5800cc. So a 2.5L STI is a 4.25L (2.5x1.7) according to the rules while a 5.8L motor would put a car at 4.64L (5.8x0.8), allowing Mark Utecht's monster mustang on stages.

Adjusted displacement for Production Classes-

Rotary 1.8
Turbo/Super 1.7
4WD/AWD 1.3
Pushrod Single Cam in Block 0.8
Diesel 0.8

P is limited to vehicles under 2650 cc, so you have always been allowed to rally an AWD vehicle with Rally America. If you started with a 1.8L AWD Toyota Matrix you would have a displacement of 2.34L (1.8x1.3), while a 2.0L WRX would be 4.42L (2.0x1.7x1.3).

[Lebe Frei]

Thanks for adding that Ben.

Yeah it can get kind of confusing and that section is pretty long so I didn't know how much I should include. I just wanted people (and myself) to get the general idea of how it worked

[Carl S]

The classes at the national and regional level are also a bit confusing to some folks-

Regional-
P
PGT
SP
G2
G5
L
O

National-
2WD (all G2 and G5 vehicles are eligible, as well as 2wd P class entries)
SP (if a vehicle is P or PGT eligible, it should be eligible here)
O (L would also fall into this category)

It should also be said that you don't have to enter an AWD car in either L or O, but can declare higher classes (you can't go down though, that's not fair). A G2 car is eligible to run G2, G5, L and O, but a Subaru STI can only run O. Chris Duplesis over the last two seasons has been entering G5 with a G2 golf for greater competition relative to his skill.

You are required to follow the rules of which ever class you choose to enter, so if you enter a G5 Dodge Neon SRT-4 in O, you would be required to run a restrictor when you wouldn't in G5.

You're close, Ben. What was your finnish name again? Bjen Slocumaki? We'll need to use that again for the MN winter rally.

Open light is specified as being required to be AWD.

An STI can enter open light (with turbo crap removed), SP, Open, and PGT (but just try finding rally tires for 17" wheels because you cant change your brakes in pgt, though paul eklund did run his 08 sti with cooper weathermasters in pgt before the creation of sp.)

Only awd/4wd forced induction vehicles are required to run a restrictor, even in open. So g5 srt4 in open would need no restrictor. But remember my trick for being allowed to run a awd turbo monster with no restrictor? ;)

[carl]

You're close, Ben. What was your finnish name again? Bjen Slocumaki? We'll need to use that again for the MN winter rally.

Open light is specified as being required to be AWD.

An STI can enter open light (with turbo crap removed), SP, Open, and PGT (but just try finding rally tires for 17" wheels because you cant change your brakes in pgt, though paul eklund did run his 08 sti with cooper weathermasters in pgt before the creation of sp.)

Only awd/4wd forced induction vehicles are required to run a restrictor, even in open. So g5 srt4 in open would need no restrictor. But remember my trick for being allowed to run a awd turbo monster with no restrictor? ;)

everytime I see you post on SS I get confused because my forum names are either carl or carl s. depending on what's taken lol

[RS MN]

thank you for clearing this up!
planning on doing a build to run in stages when i get out of college, and this makes it alot easier to make a baseline for my build :D
thanks Lebe!

[Carl S]

everytime I see you post on SS I get confused because my forum names are either carl or carl s. depending on what's taken lol

Its ok as long as you dont try to hop in my car at a rally!

[carl]

thank you for clearing this up!
planning on doing a build to run in stages when i get out of college, and this makes it alot easier to make a baseline for my build :D
thanks Lebe!
by then the rules and classes may have changed (for example open light was a brand new class this year - prior to that a novice license holder could not run an awd car without a waiver). You should always go to the current rulebook and become familiar with its entire contents before putting too much time/money into it

[carl]

Its ok as long as you dont try to hop in my car at a rally!
back at ya ;-)

[RS MN]

that is very true.
how far in advance was the open light class announced before it was ran?
i was just wondering the possibility of running AWD vs. FWD for other classes,
like if there was AWD/FWD specific classes, and what other restrictions were in those classes.
theyre bound to change, but i think its possibly a good baseline for the drivetrain options for the build.

thanks for the reminder Carl.

[BenSlocum]

You're close, Ben. What was your finnish name again? Bjen Slocumaki? We'll need to use that again for the MN winter rally.

Open light is specified as being required to be AWD.

An STI can enter open light (with turbo crap removed), SP, Open, and PGT (but just try finding rally tires for 17" wheels because you cant change your brakes in pgt, though paul eklund did run his 08 sti with cooper weathermasters in pgt before the creation of sp.)

Only awd/4wd forced induction vehicles are required to run a restrictor, even in open. So g5 srt4 in open would need no restrictor. But remember my trick for being allowed to run a awd turbo monster with no restrictor? ;)

Carl-

1. You made the name up, dig back in your mind. We should enter with Swedish names since we'll be in a Volvo.

2. I haven't ridden in OL yet, so I haven't read the rules too closely. Good for them, no up classing from 2wd.

3. The turbo/no turbo for an Open entry could be argued at the event, but I remember a few conversations where it would still be required, I may be wrong though. I think that part of the rule book could contradict itself like "2wd entries do not need a restricter"/"Open class entries must use a resctricter" type thing. Just quote what you want to get what you want even if something is contrary, it's not like I haven't done that before.

by then the rules and classes may have changed (for example open light was a brand new class this year - prior to that a novice license holder could not run an awd car without a waiver). You should always go to the current rulebook and become familiar with its entire contents before putting too much time/money into it

"P is limited to vehicles under 2650 cc, so you have always been allowed to rally an AWD vehicle with Rally America. If you started with a 1.8L AWD Toyota Matrix you would have a displacement of 2.34L (1.8x1.3), while a 2.0L WRX would be 4.42L (2.0x1.7x1.3)."

Again, you've always been allowed to rally AWD as a novice, even before Open Lite.

[carl]

Carl-

1. You made the name up, dig back in your mind. We should enter with Swedish names since we'll be in a Volvo.

2. I haven't ridden in OL yet, so I haven't read the rules too closely. Good for them, no up classing from 2wd.

3. The turbo/no turbo for an Open entry could be argued at the event, but I remember a few conversations where it would still be required, I may be wrong though. I think that part of the rule book could contradict itself like "2wd entries do not need a restricter"/"Open class entries must use a resctricter" type thing. Just quote what you want to get what you want even if something is contrary, it's not like I haven't done that before.



"P is limited to vehicles under 2650 cc, so you have always been allowed to rally an AWD vehicle with Rally America. If you started with a 1.8L AWD Toyota Matrix you would have a displacement of 2.34L (1.8x1.3), while a 2.0L WRX would be 4.42L (2.0x1.7x1.3)."

Again, you've always been allowed to rally AWD as a novice, even before Open Lite.
whoops, forgot about production awd since there weren't many awd cars that met the class

[BenSlocum]

whoops, forgot about production awd since there weren't many awd cars that met the class

Exactly, and who would want to rally an AWD Toyota Matrix anyway? It would be extremely heavy and underpowered.

Now turbo one of those and I'd hop in the right seat...

[Lebe Frei]

thank you for clearing this up!
planning on doing a build to run in stages when i get out of college, and this makes it alot easier to make a baseline for my build :D
thanks Lebe!

Not a problem dude. It gave me something to do when I couldn't sleep :mrgreen:
Definitely make sure you check the current rulebook before you build though.


Thanks to everyone else contributing useful info. It helps clear things up. Keep it up and we could get a pretty informative thread going here!

[boomer]

Exactly, and who would want to rally an AWD Toyota Matrix anyway? It would be extremely heavy and underpowered.

Now turbo one of those and I'd hop in the right seat...

Just like the slowTI was not long ago.:tongue:

[BenSlocum]

Just like the slowTI was not long ago.:tongue:

They're faster when they stay on their wheels, HIYO!

[carl]

They're faster when they stay on their wheels, HIYO!
or when they aren't dropping flaming piles of brake pad all over the forest road :eek:

I wish our in-car camera had been on for that stage - it was pretty amusing to see the steady trail of smoldering brake poo

[BenSlocum]

or when they aren't dropping flaming piles of brake pad all over the forest road :eek:

I wish our in-car camera had been on for that stage - it was pretty amusing to see the steady trail of smoldering brake poo

That definitely explained a lot of our issues over the season. They must go out quick when we stop, because I could never actually catch them on fire, nor could the workers.

[Anders Green]

Again, you've always been allowed to rally AWD as a novice, even before Open Lite.

Good to know.

[BenSlocum]

Good to know.

In RA you have, in NASA there aren't class based novice restrictions, so you could of course run AWD at any point in your career.

Still haven't learned to keep your mouth shut?

Oh, I want to hit the Anders trifecta this year- Sandblast, Tennessee and BRS. Know anyone in need of a navigator?

[Anders Green]

Don't know anyone off-hand, but I'll file you as "available", as people do ask me now and then. :)

Anders

[Jaynen]

So is your standard turbodiesel VW golf or Jetta only qualify for G5 then because of the turbo on the motor? and does it get a x1.7 for the turbo but then a .8 for being diesel?

[BenSlocum]

So is your standard turbodiesel VW golf or Jetta only qualify for G5 then because of the turbo on the motor? and does it get a x1.7 for the turbo but then a .8 for being diesel?

Correct on the multipliers. You could "up class" and run it in Open or SP, but I doubt you would be competitive.

A 1.8L TDI would then be a 2.569L (1.8L x 1.7Turbo x 0.8 Diesel), while a 1.8L GTI would be a 3.06L (1.8L x 1.7 Turbo).

As for a novice restriction due to the turbo, RA says they aren't doing them anymore, but for a diesel it wouldn't hurt to ask. For a petrol, I doubt they'd allow it.

[Jaynen]

I just can't even think of a car that is diesel that doesn't have a turbo. And even if I could I couldn't imagine a non turbo diesel car that was remotely competitive vs a gas engine. Heck I dont even know if really a TDI car could be competitive in g5 etc vs turbo'd gas engines. The only real advantage you get is boat loads of torque

[Carl S]

I just can't even think of a car that is diesel that doesn't have a turbo. And even if I could I couldn't imagine a non turbo diesel car that was remotely competitive vs a gas engine. Heck I dont even know if really a TDI car could be competitive in g5 etc vs turbo'd gas engines. The only real advantage you get is boat loads of torque

So much of 2wd comes down to the driver, plain and simple.
Take, for example, Chris Duplessis and Jeremy Wimpey in their 140hp golfs. They can hang with the high powered srt4's, v8 monsters, and embarass the majority of awd entrants at any given rally. What is important in a 2wd car is strength, cost, reliability, and support.

The goal of the classes isnt to play to the lowest common denominator and make every car competitive. There will always be the cars that fit the class and perform exceptionally, and other cars that are absolutely horrible choices. Thats why you dont see people racing 40hp diesel rabbits against 140hp golfs, or awd aerostars in open class.

There is one mk4 golf tdi thats been runs in G5. I think its been out at a few events recently with its most recent owners.

[BenSlocum]

There is one mk4 golf tdi thats been runs in G5. I think its been out at a few events recently with its most recent owners.

Yep, Michael Hordjik. He can pedal that thing quick, even though it's heavy. He has loads of torque to help pull out of corners and up hills, but a majority of it is his commitment in the twisties.