Common rule sets that allow cross-pollination between groups are a good thing. Hopefully this is successful enough to help promote more widespread use of this concept.
Photograph Courtesy Ford
The ability to compete in both touring car racing and rally with just one car? As far-fetched as it might sound, that’s exactly the idea behind FIA’s newly created “TC Lite” classes.
Situated just below FIA’s TCR classification, TC Lite is divided into two categories: TC Lite 4 (TCL4) and TC Lite 5 (TCL5).
Image Courtesy FIA
The idea is that cars already meeting the regulations to compete in the Rally4 and Rally5 categories will be eligible to compete in TCL4 and TCL5, respectively, with only minimal modifications.
As FIA Road Sport Director Andrew Wheatley points out, this would not only offer novice drivers additional time behind the wheel but also have the potential “to draw new people to motor sport and–long term–should contribute to increased motor sport participation globally.”
The more the merrier, right?
Adapting a Rally4 or Rally5 car for TC Lite is fairly simple, at least on paper: Pull out the spare wheel, tools and handheld fire extinguisher not needed for circuit racing, then add in a pair of FIA-rated nets and trade in the gravel tires for racing slicks.
Image Courtesy FIA
Similar to Rally4 and Rally5, cars in TCL4 and TCL5 are primally restricted by a set power-to-weight ratio.
More specifically, teams competing in TCL4 have the option to use a naturally aspirated engine with a maximum capacity of 2.0 liters or a turbocharged engine with a max capacity of 1.3 liters. Regardless of engine choice, the power-to-weight ratio is limited to 5.1kg/bhp (approximately 11.2lb/bhp).
TCL5, the more accessible of the two classes, has similar options available to teams. Max engine capacity for the naturally aspirated engine is limited to 1.6 liters and the power-to-weight ratio is limited to 6.0kg/bhp (approximately 2.2lb/bhp). The max capacity for the turbocharged engine is the same as TCL4 at 1.3 liters.
Also allowed to compete in TCL5? Cars built to Rally5-kit specifications–essentially, two-wheel-drive production cars that have been modified to meet Rally5 regulations. (Rally5-kit cars also must abide by the engine capacity and power-to-weight ratio limits of Rally5.)
In theory, according to the FIA, the inclusion of Rally5-kit cars will “broaden the market and create space for local importers to promote certain models of cars offered in their respective domestic markets.”
Racing isn’t cheap, but the “get two for the price of one” attitude of TC Lites sounds like a promising way for drivers and teams to compete more by using less. Factor in the lower rungs the FIA has added to the pro racing ladder with TC Lites, and it’s a recipe that could encourage more amateur racers to make the jump into higher levels of motorsport.
Common rule sets that allow cross-pollination between groups are a good thing. Hopefully this is successful enough to help promote more widespread use of this concept.
In Europe this will make co ownership of cars as a cost splitting device easier. For example four people share a car one does circuit racing in France, one rally in France, one circuit racing in Germany, and one rally in Germany. I know this won't work in North America but it happens outside of North America.
In reply to Rons :
I'm hoping that with recent efforts to bring the WRC back to America, this classing structure will follow and allow American drivers and teams to make use of the new regulations.
I mean, I can hope at least.
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