Group N
Encyclopedia
In relation to motorsport
governed by the FIA
, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class".
This contrasts with the Group A
all-out competition production-derived vehicles. Group N cars are limited in terms of modifications made from standard specification. Group N was introduced by the FIA in 1982 to replace the outgoing Group 1
as "standard touring cars".
To qualify for homologation
, a minimum of 2500 cars of the competing model have to be built in one year, out of 25,000 for the entire range of the model (e.g.: 2500 Subaru Impreza WRX
, out of 25,000 Subaru Impreza
).
, Group N found a home as a more economic class in national touring car racing. In many countries, there would often be two touring car championships, one for Group A and one for Group N. The category had some brief success with the demise of the Supertouring
class in the late 1990s, when a few national regulations were relaxed to allow a greater number of modifications, in the guise of Super Production.
, the class of cars currently run in the World Touring Car Championship
.
In Rallying
, the Production World Rally Championship
is run under Group N rules. The cars used were modified road cars, often based on turbocharged, four wheel drive
versions of standard small cars such as the Subaru Impreza WRX
and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
, although a wide range of vehicles is homologated by the FIA for use in Group N. Apart from FIA sanctioned events, a lot of rallies at national levels are run under Group N.
is free, and this can liberate some extra power itself, and most of the modifications allowed are to promote longevity rather than increased performance, although the boundaries of these two areas are blurring. Furthermore, cars with forced induction
engines are fitted with a restrictor in front of the charger to limit power.
Originally, Group N meant that all the interior trim had to be present (including the rear seat), whereas this has now changed to allow removal of the trim aside from the dashboard and replacement of the door trim. The springs and dampers are free, as are the internals of the gearbox and the final-drive ratio, providing that the homologated gear ratios and gearchange pattern are respected. This allows the use of 'Dog Leg' engagement gearboxes, providing quicker gearchanges and longer gearbox life. There is provision for strengthening of the suspension components and bodyshell, providing this doesn't alter the operating principle.
The FIA and many national motorsport associations are moving towards making rallying championships based in Group N, in an attempt to reduce costs, reinforce the link between motorsport and the car that the member of the public drives, and to reduce the environmental impact of motorsport. The GpN 4WD Turbo rally car category is currently undergoing the process of being renamed as R4 for 2011. The key areas being standard road car bodywork and driven wheels to be retained as the road car that can be bought from the showroom.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
governed by the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class".
This contrasts with the Group A
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
all-out competition production-derived vehicles. Group N cars are limited in terms of modifications made from standard specification. Group N was introduced by the FIA in 1982 to replace the outgoing Group 1
Group 1 (racing)
The Group 1 racing class referred to regulations for cars in touring car racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. The Group 1 class was replaced by Group N in the 1980s....
as "standard touring cars".
To qualify for homologation
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
, a minimum of 2500 cars of the competing model have to be built in one year, out of 25,000 for the entire range of the model (e.g.: 2500 Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
The Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza, an all-wheel drive, four-door passenger vehicle. It is available as a sedan or wagon....
, out of 25,000 Subaru Impreza
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
).
Road racing
While Group A became the standard category for international touring car racingTouring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, Group N found a home as a more economic class in national touring car racing. In many countries, there would often be two touring car championships, one for Group A and one for Group N. The category had some brief success with the demise of the Supertouring
Supertouring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990...
class in the late 1990s, when a few national regulations were relaxed to allow a greater number of modifications, in the guise of Super Production.
Endurance racing
The category is still used in circuit racing all over the world, notably in Japan who has the long running , as well as in the Italian ETCS endurance series run by Peroni Promotion, but was once again relegated to a secondary status with the introduction of Super 2000Super 2000
Super 2000, also known as S2000, is an FIA specification and classification for production based race cars. The specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing. Super 2000 rally cars are also permitted to compete in Super 2000 World Rally Championship events...
, the class of cars currently run in the World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
.
Rally racing
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
, the Production World Rally Championship
Production World Rally Championship
The FIA Production World Rally Championship, or PWRC, is a companion rally series to the World Rally Championship, and is driven on the same stages. PWRC is limited to production-based cars homologated under the Group N. The series began in 2002, replacing the FIA Group N Rally Championship...
is run under Group N rules. The cars used were modified road cars, often based on turbocharged, four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
versions of standard small cars such as the Subaru Impreza WRX
Subaru Impreza WRX
The Subaru Impreza WRX is a turbocharged version of the Subaru Impreza, an all-wheel drive, four-door passenger vehicle. It is available as a sedan or wagon....
and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo or Evo, is a high-performance sedan manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral...
, although a wide range of vehicles is homologated by the FIA for use in Group N. Apart from FIA sanctioned events, a lot of rallies at national levels are run under Group N.
Allowed modifications
The range of modifications allowed is quite narrow - few mechanical engine modifications are allowed (save for lightening within set limits and baffled sumps) although the choice of ECUEngine Control Unit
An engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
is free, and this can liberate some extra power itself, and most of the modifications allowed are to promote longevity rather than increased performance, although the boundaries of these two areas are blurring. Furthermore, cars with forced induction
Forced induction
Forced induction is the process of compressing air on the intake of an internal combustion engine . A forced induction engine uses a gas compressor to increase the pressure, temperature and density of the air...
engines are fitted with a restrictor in front of the charger to limit power.
Originally, Group N meant that all the interior trim had to be present (including the rear seat), whereas this has now changed to allow removal of the trim aside from the dashboard and replacement of the door trim. The springs and dampers are free, as are the internals of the gearbox and the final-drive ratio, providing that the homologated gear ratios and gearchange pattern are respected. This allows the use of 'Dog Leg' engagement gearboxes, providing quicker gearchanges and longer gearbox life. There is provision for strengthening of the suspension components and bodyshell, providing this doesn't alter the operating principle.
The FIA and many national motorsport associations are moving towards making rallying championships based in Group N, in an attempt to reduce costs, reinforce the link between motorsport and the car that the member of the public drives, and to reduce the environmental impact of motorsport. The GpN 4WD Turbo rally car category is currently undergoing the process of being renamed as R4 for 2011. The key areas being standard road car bodywork and driven wheels to be retained as the road car that can be bought from the showroom.