Super 2000 | |
---|---|
Motor racing formula | |
Category |
Touring cars Rally cars |
Country or region | International |
Championships | Various |
Inaugural season | 2000 |
Status | Active |
Super 2000 is an FIA specification and classification for production-based racing cars covering both rally and touring car racing. The goal of the Super 2000 classification is to allow more manufacturers and privateers to race by reducing the cost of a competitive car.
In order to cut costs and shorten development time, the Super 2000 rally cars originally used a common control gearbox and drivetrain made by a French company, Sadev. The FIA has since announced that Xtrac and Ricardo Consulting Engineers will be allowed to also manufacture S2000 gearboxes to FIA specification. This is to further cut costs by introducing competition into gearbox supply.
In effect these new rules allowed Ford to build from scratch their S2000 Fiesta vehicles in Australia, in as little as 14 weeks, starting out with a Super 1600 chassis and rollcage.
The World Rally Championship currently has five manufacturers fielding teams, while private teams rely on older cars from current manufacturers or from "works" teams that have left the WRC, such as Subaru, Škoda, or Mitsubishi. As of 2015, the World Touring Car Championship, which is open to Super 2000 cars, has four makes of vehicles competing, these being Citroën, Honda, Lada and Chevrolet, with independent teams generally using older cars from previous seasons.
Until 2011, FIA specifications for Super 2000 engines were as follows:
In 2011 the specifications were revised, allowing 1600 cc turbocharged engines, and the use of 2000 cc normally-aspirated engines rapidly stopped as a result.
For the 2014 WTCC season, the TC1 regulations were introduced for touring cars. For the engine this included a larger air intake restrictor allowing power outputs of 380 bhp and more.