Group 4 (motorsport)

Group 4 referred to regulations for sportscars and grand touring (GT) cars used in racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. The group was introduced in 1954 and was replaced by Group B for the 1982 season.

BMW M1 Procar, used in the M1 Procar Championship. These cars were designed and built to FIA Group 4 racing specifications.
A Ford GT40 contesting the Group 4 Sports Car category at the 1969 1000 km Nürburgring
A Group 4 Porsche 906
A Group 4 Alpine A110 1800
A Group 4 De Tomaso Pantera GTS

Production requirements

Prior to 1966, the FIA's Group 4 classification applied to Sports Cars which were in compliance with FIA Appendix C regulations. It also included recognised Series Touring Cars, Improved Touring Cars and Grand Touring Cars which had been modified beyond the respective Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 regulations under which they had been homologated.[1][2] In 1966, an overhaul of FIA categories saw Group 4 Sports Cars redefined such that they were now subject to a minimum production requirement of 50 units in 12 consecutive months and had to be fitted with all equipment necessary for use on public roads. A 5000cc engine capacity limit was applied for 1968 and the minimum production requirement was reduced to 25 units for the 1969 season.[3]

For 1969, Appendix J of the FIA International Sporting Code defined groups for Touring cars, Grand Touring cars and Sports cars as follows: (numbers between brackets are required minimum production in 12 consecutive months).[4]

  • Group 1: series-production touring cars (5,000)
  • Group 2: touring cars (1,000)
  • Group 3: grand touring cars (500)
  • Group 4: sports cars (25)
  • Group 5: special touring cars
  • Group 6: prototype-sports cars

For 1970, the limited production sports car category was renamed from Group 4 to Group 5[5] and, in the same year,[6] Group 4 became the class for special grand touring cars with minimum production of 500 in 12 consecutive months [7]

For 1971, the relevant FIA classifications were as follows:[7]

  • Group 1: series-production touring cars (5,000)
  • Group 2: touring cars (1,000)
  • Group 3: series-production grand touring cars (1,000)
  • Group 4: special grand touring cars (500)
  • Group 5: sports cars (25)
  • Group 6: prototype-sports cars

In 1976, the Group 4 production requirement was reduced to 400 in 24 months.[8]

Sports car racing
A Porsche 911 competing in the Group 4 Special Grand Touring Car category at the 1970 1000 km Nürburgring

In 1966 and 1967 the Group 4 Sports Cars played a supporting role to the Group 6 prototypes. While prototypes like the 7.0L Ford GT40 Mk II and the Mk IV raced for outright victories, the 4.7L GT40 Mk I entries were competing for Group 4 class wins.[9] Indeed, competitors in the two categories were competing for two different championships, the Group 6 cars for the International Championship for Sports-Prototypes and the Group 4 cars for the International Championship for Sports Cars. In 1968, the rules were changed, so that prototypes were limited to 3.0L, but Sports cars of up to 5.0L could still be entered. It was also announced that the minimum production figure for the Group 4 sports cars would be reduced to 25 cars for 1969. With larger engines than the prototypes, the Group 4 cars were now in contention for outright race wins. The Ford GT40 was the winner at Le Mans in both 1968 and 1969. Porsche began work on a production run of 25 cars for the Porsche 917. Ferrari, with some financial help from Fiat, produced the similar Ferrari 512.[10]

For the 1970 season, the Group 4 Sports car category was renamed and became Group 5 Sports Cars and Group 4 designation was applied to a new Special Grand Touring category. The new Group 4 was contested by production based cars such as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Porsche 911 Carrera RS and the De Tomaso Pantera.

The Group 4 GT category was replaced by a new Group B GT class for 1983.[11]

Rallying
Roberto Cambiaghi and Emanuele Sanfront on a Fiat 124 Abarth Rally at the Rally delle Regioni 1975 (valid for European Rally Championship)
Fiat Abarth 124 rally
A Group 4 De Tomaso Pantera and Lancia Stratos, pictured in 1973
Group 4 Lancia Stratos HF. The Stratos helped Lancia win the World Rally Championship in 1974, 1975 and 1976.
Fiat 131 Abarth Group 4 rally (1982)

The Group 4 regulations were also used as the basis for the World Rally Championships until they were replaced by the Group B regulations. In mid 1970s to early 1980s rallying, it was necessary to produce 400 identical cars for homologation as a Group 4 rally car. Notable cars included the Ford Escort RS1800, Fiat 131 Abarth, Lancia Stratos HF and the Audi Quattro.

List of FIA Group 4 homologated cars
No.MarqueModelTypeStartEnd
220United States ShelbyCobraRoadster 427January 2, 1966January 2, 1966
221France MatraDjet5S MB 8SJanuary 1, 1965January 1, 1965
222France AlpineA1101300February 1, 1966February 1, 1966
223France Panhard24BAFebruary 1, 1966February 1, 1966
224United Kingdom FordGT40February 2, 1966February 2, 1966
225Italy Ferrari250 LMBerlinettaFebruary 1, 1966February 1, 1966
227Germany FordTaunusP5 HardtopApril 15, 1966April 15, 1966
228United Kingdom TunexDivaGTApril 16, 1966April 16, 1966
229Italy Abarth1300OTApril 15, 1966April 15, 1966
230Italy Abarth1000OTR CoupéApril 30, 1966April 30, 1966
231Sweden SaabSonettII
234Italy Ferrari275GTB 4April 1, 1967April 1, 1967
235Italy Lamborghini350GTApril 1, 1967April 1, 1967
236Italy Lamborghini400GT 2+2April 1, 1967April 1, 1967
237United Kingdom TVRMkIV1800SJuly 1, 1967July 1, 1967
238United Kingdom LotusMark 47January 1, 1969January 1, 1969
239Italy Ferrari308GTB 4April 1, 1967April 1, 1967
240United Kingdom LolaT70Mk IIIFebruary 1, 1968February 1, 1968
241Italy Abarth1000SPMarch 1, 1969March 1, 1969
242United Kingdom Marcos1300 GTMarch 1, 1968March 1, 1968
242Italy LamborghiniUrraco P250July 1, 1975December 31, 1981
244United Kingdom ChevronGTMay 1, 1968May 1, 1968
245Italy LamborghiniP400MiuraJune 1, 1968June 1, 1968
246Italy Alfa Romeo33SpiderJanuary 1, 1969January 1, 1969
247Italy Ferrari206GTJanuary 1, 1969January 1, 1969
248United Kingdom McLarenM6GTAugust 20, 1968
249Germany Porsche910January 1, 1969January 1, 1969
250Germany Porsche917May 1, 1969May 1, 1969
251Italy De TomasoMangustaApril 1, 1969April 1, 1969
252Italy Abarth2000April 1, 1969April 1, 1969
253Italy Ferrari365GTB 4 DaytonaJune 1, 1969June 1, 1969
254Italy Ferrari512SJuly 1, 1969April 1, 1970
255United Kingdom ChevronB16CosworthJanuary 2, 1970January 2, 1970
624France AlpineA1101600January 1, 1970December 31, 1970
625Italy Alfa RomeoGTASprintJanuary 1, 1970December 31, 1977
626Germany Porsche914/6March 1, 1970October 1, 1971
627Italy Ferrari246GTJanuary 1, 1971February 1, 1973
628France CitroënSMType SBApril 1, 1971July 1, 1971
629United Kingdom Range RoverClassicApril 1, 1971January 1, 1972
630France Renault12Gordini R1173October 1, 1971January 1, 1972
632Italy De TomasoPanteraJanuary 1, 1972July 1, 1972
633Italy Ferrari365GTB 4January 1, 1972December 31, 1979
634United Kingdom LotusEuropaTwin CamApril 1, 1972July 1, 1972
637Germany PorscheCarreraRSMarch 1, 1973July 1, 1973
638France Renault17TSApril 1, 1974October 1, 1974
639Italy MaseratiAM122MerakMay 1, 1974December 31, 1981
646United Kingdom Aston MartinV8April 1, 1976December 31, 1981
631Italy Alfa RomeoMontrealJanuary 1, 1972April 1, 1972
640Italy LanciaStratosHFOctober 1, 1974December 31, 1981
644Germany OpelKadettC GT/EOctober 1, 1975February 1, 1976
645Germany Porsche911TurboJanuary 1, 1976January 1, 1977
647Italy Abarth131RallyApril 1, 1976December 31, 1981
648Italy Ferrari308GTBNovember 1, 1976December 31, 1981
649United Kingdom VauxhallChevetteHS2300November 1, 1976December 31, 1981
650United Kingdom FordEscortRSApril 2, 1977January 1, 1982
651France AlpineA310V6April 1, 1977January 1, 1978
652Sweden Saab99Turbo Combi CoupéJanuary 1, 1978October 1, 1978
653United Kingdom LotusEspritApril 1, 1978December 31, 1981
654United Kingdom B.L. TriumphTR8April 1, 1978December 31, 1981
655United Kingdom PantherLimaOctober 1, 1978December 31, 1981
656Poland FSOPolonez125 PNJanuary 1, 1979April 1, 1980
657Poland FSOPolonezJanuary 1, 1979April 1, 1980
658Sweden Saab99Turbo SedanFebruary 1, 1979April 1, 1979
659Germany Audi801600February 1, 1979December 31, 1981
660Germany Porsche924TurboFebruary 1, 1979April 1, 1979
661Germany Daimler-Benz450SLC 5.0April 1, 1979December 31, 1981
662United Kingdom ChryslerSunbeamLotusApril 1, 1979January 1, 1980
663Japan ToyotaCelica2000GT Rally RA45June 1, 1979December 31, 1981
664Argentina Renault Argentina12AlpineJuly 1, 1979December 31, 1981
665United Kingdom MorganPlus 8July 1, 1979December 31, 1981
666Germany OpelAscona400November 1, 1979December 31, 1981
668Italy Alfa RomeoAlfettaTurbodeltaFebruary 1, 1980December 31, 1981
669France Renault5TurboSeptember 1, 1980April 1, 1981
670Germany BMWM1December 1, 1980December 31, 1981
671Germany AudiQuattro2145January 2, 1981January 1, 1982
672Germany Porsche924Carrera GTJanuary 1, 1981December 31, 1981
673Germany Daimler-Benz500SLJanuary 1, 1980December 31, 1981
674Italy Alfa RomeoAlfettaGT 6 2.5January 1, 1981October 1, 1981
675Japan MitsubishiLancer2000 Turbo A176AApril 1, 1981December 31, 1981
676France Talbot MatraMurena2.2August 1, 1981December 31, 1981
677Germany VolkswagenGolf Mk I16SDecember 1, 1981December 31, 1981

In addition, cars were homologated for Group 4 as variants of Group 3 cars. Before 1976, this was possible using a "100-off rule":[12] clause bb of Art 260 of Appendix J to the FIA's International Sporting Code 1975 (invoked from Art 266). This rule only required production of 100 of a "bolt-on option kit" of parts, not the production of any modified cars as homologation specials, but was deleted after 1975 and approved components banned "Effective from the end of 1977".[13] Such an approval applies to the Group 4 16-valve TR7,[12] the multi-valve head (and other parts) from the Group 1 Dolomite Sprint being approved as "valid for Group 4" on 1 Oct. 1975 in amendment 1/1V to the Group 3 TR7 homologation papers and reapproved (following production of about 60 16-valve TR7 Sprints in 1977) on 1 Feb. 1978 in amendment 10/8v.[14]

Groups 1-9
Categories and Groups of Appendix J 1954 - 1965
Categories 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
I. Touring A. Touring
II. Sports II. Grand Touring B. Grand Touring
- C. Sports
Group 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965
Group 1 Normal series production
Group 2 "Grand Touring" series prod Modified series prod Modified series prod
Group 3 Special series production Grand Touring Cars
Group 4 Series production Normal GT series prod Sports Car
Group 5 International Modified GT series prod -
Group 6 - GT specials -
Source:[15][16]
Categories and Groups of Appendix J 1966 - 1981 (Production requirement)
Categories 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
A. Production
B. Special B. Experimental Competition B. Racing Cars
C. Racing Cars -
Group 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Group 1 Series Touring (5000)
Group 2 Touring (1000) Special Touring (1000)
Group 3 Grand Touring (500) Series Grand Touring (1000)
Group 4 Sportscars (50/25) Special Grand Touring (500) Grand Touring (400)
Group 5 Special Touring Cars Sports cars (50) Sports cars Special cars derived from Groups 1-4
Group 6 Prototype sportscars - Two-seater racecars
Group 7 Two-seater racecars International formula
Group 8 Formula racing cars International formula Formula libre racing cars
Group 9 Formula libre racing cars -
Source:[15][16]
Note: Special may be replaced with Competition in some official documents.

See also

References
  1. Article 252 of the FIA’s Appendix J regulations, 1962 Archived 2006-03-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.fia.com on 11 February 2009
  2. Article 252 of the FIA’s Appendix J regulations, 1965 Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from www.fia.com on 11 February 2009
  3. M.L. Twite, The World's Racing Cars, 1971, page 109
  4. Appendix J 1969, Art. 251, Art. 252 Archived 2006-10-17 at the Wayback Machine on www.fia.com
  5. János L Wimpffen, Time and Two Seats, 1999, page 710
  6. M.L. Twite, The World's Racing Cars, 1971, page 99
  7. Appendix J 1971, Art. 251, Art. 252 Archived 2005-03-02 at the Wayback Machine on www.fia.com
  8. Appendix J 1976, Art. 251, Art. 252 Archived 2006-03-14 at the Wayback Machine on www.fia.com
  9. Ford GT40 MkI 289 Archived 2007-01-02 at the Wayback Machine on QV500.com
  10. 1970 Ferrari 512 S Archived 2006-12-29 at the Wayback Machine on QV500.com
  11. János L Wimpffen, Time and Two Seats, 1999, page 1347
  12. Robson G., The Works Triumphs: 50 Years in Motorsport, 1993, J H Haynes & Co Ltd, ISBN 978-0854299263.
  13. Robson G., "Ford Escort RS1800" Rally Giants, page 16, Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2008, ISBN 1845841409, 9781845841409.
  14. RAC TR7 Homologation papers number 3071.
  15. "Regulations - Period Appendix J | FIA Historic Database". historicdb.fia.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  16. "APPENDIX K TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE" (PDF).
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