Group 2 (motorsport)

(Redirected from Group 2 (racing))

The Group 2 racing class referred to regulations for cars in touring car racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. Group 2 was replaced by Group A in 1982.

An Audi Coupe (B2) Group 2 Touring Car
A BMW 3.0 CSL Group 2 Touring Car

The FIA established Appendix J regulations for Touring and GT cars for 1954 and the term Group 2 was in use to define Touring Cars in the Appendix J of 1959.[1] By 1961 Appendix J included specifications for both Group 1 Series Touring Cars and Group 2 Improved Touring Cars with a minimum production of 1,000 units in twelve consecutive months required to allow homologation of a model into either group.[2] Technical modifications beyond those allowed for Group 1 cars were permitted in Group 2.[2]

A Ford Capri 3100 RS Group 2 Touring Car

The British Saloon Car Championship was open to Group 2 cars each year from 1961 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1973.[3]

Group 2 Touring Cars competing at a race at Zandvoort, in 1974

Group 2 was the specified category for the European Touring Car Challenge from 1963 to 1967 [4] and the cars were also eligible alongside Group 5 special touring cars in 1968 and 1969.[5] It was again the premier category when the series was renamed as the European Touring Car Championship for 1970 and continued to be so until it was replaced by Group A for 1982.[6]

Group 2 Touring Car race, at Zandvoort, in 1974

The Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-American Sedan Championship was contested by Group 2 touring cars from its inception in 1966 through to the 1972 season.[7]

Groups 1-9

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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:[8][9]
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:[8][9]
Note: Special may be replaced with Competition in some official documents.

References

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  1. ^ Appendix K - Technical regulations for historic cars, www.fia.com Retrieved 31 August 2016
  2. ^ a b Appendix 'J' to the International Sporting Code of the FIA - 1961, argent.fia.com Retrieved 31 August 2016
  3. ^ British Saloon Car Championship, touringcarracing.net Retrieved 1 September 2016
  4. ^ Part 1: 1963-1967 The early years, touringcarracing.net Retrieved 30 August 2016
  5. ^ Part 2: 1968-1969 Group 5 years, touringcarracing.net Retrieved 30 August 2016
  6. ^ The European Touring Car Championship, touringcarracing.net Retrieved 30 August 2016
  7. ^ Trans-Am, touringcarracing.net Retrieved on 30 August 2016
  8. ^ a b "Regulations - Period Appendix J | FIA Historic Database". historicdb.fia.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  9. ^ a b "APPENDIX K TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE" (PDF).
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