Group RGT
| Group R-GT | |
|---|---|
| Motor racing formula | |
| Category | Rally cars |
| Country or region | International |
| Championships | Various |
| Inaugural season | 2011 |
| Status | Active |
Group R-GT (or sometimes Group RGT), is a FIA specification for GT cars in rallying. The R-GT regulations were introduced in 2011, and since 2014 technical passports for individual vehicles can be obtained. Thus a homologation for specific car models is no longer required.
Internationally, R-GT cars compete in the FIA R-GT Cup, which is contested on tarmac rounds of the ERC and WRC.
The technical regulations are described in Appendix J, article 256 of the FIA sporting regulations. The category is for series production GT cars, that must be two-wheel driven. A car with four-wheel drive cars can be used as basis, but must be transformed into a 2WD version. All cars must be fitted with a restrictor whose diameter is determined by the FIA in order to achieve a weight/power ratio of 3.4 kg/hp (4.6 kg/kw).
Lotus presented an R-GT version of the Exige S at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, but it wasn't until July 2012 before they finally got the FIA homologation for this first car to compete in the R-GT category. The competition debut took place at the end of July at Rally Vinho da Madeira, with Portuguese driver Bernardo Sousa. After posting stage times in the top ten for the first two special stages, they had to retire in the third stage because of an accident caused by an electronics glitch. After that, there were no further appearances of the Exige R-GT in international rallies.
Since 2014, the FIA issues technical passports for individual cars that are prepared to comply with the R-GT regulations. The first such appearance was Marc Duez who entered a Porsche 996 GT3 for the 2014 Monte Carlo Rally. He achieved some respectable stage times, but was forced to retire on the last day. At the 2014 Rallye Deutschland, Richard Tuthill entered with a modified Porsche 997 and finished as 27th (of 63 classified), thus realising the first finish of a Porsche at a WRC event since 1986.
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