View source for Group A

{{Short description|Motorsport category for race and rally cars}}
{{About|motor racing regulations}}
[[File:2006-03-03 Motorshow Geneva 012.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Lancia Delta Group A|Lancia Delta HF integrale Group A]]]]
[[File:Mitsubishi LancerEvoⅥTME Gr.A.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution|Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI]], [[Tommi Mäkinen]] edition, a Group A rally car]]
'''Group A''' is a set of [[motorsport]] regulations administered by the [[FIA]] covering production derived [[Touring car|touring cars]] for competition, usually in [[touring car racing]] and [[rallying]]. In contrast to the short-lived [[Group B]] and [[Group C]], Group A vehicles were limited in terms of power, weight, allowed technology and overall cost. Group A was aimed at ensuring numerous entries in races of privately owned vehicles.

Group A was introduced by the FIA in 1982 to replace the outgoing [[Group 2 (motorsport)|Group 2]] as "modified touring cars", while [[Group N]] would replace [[Group 1 (motorsport)|Group 1]] as "standard touring cars". During the early years there were no further formula for production based race cars. Cars from multiple Groups could contest the [[World Rally Championship]] for Manufacturers for example until 1997 when the specific [[World Rally Car]] formula was introduced as the only option. In recent years Groups A and N have begun to be phased out in eligibility in championships though they continue to form the homologation basis for most production based race car formulae including the [[Groups Rally]] which must first be homologated in Group A. Both Groups N and A, and the details of their differences are described in the FIAs International Sporting Code and several of its Appendices J articles.<ref name="ISC">{{cite web |title=INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CODE |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/2021_international_sporting_code_fr-en_clean._18.01.2021_0.pdf}}</ref><ref name="J251">{{cite web |title=Classification and Definitions |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/251_2021_wmsc_2021.07.08_corrected_2021.08.09.pdf}}</ref><ref name="J252">{{cite web |title=General Prescriptions for Cars of Group N, A (and Extensions) and R-GT |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/252_2021_wmsc_2020.10.15.pdf}}</ref><ref name="J254">{{cite web |title=Specific Regulations for Production Cars (Group N) |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/254_2019_wmsc_2018.12.05.pdf}}</ref><ref name="J255">{{cite web |title=Specific Regulations for Touring Cars (Group A) |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/255_2019_wmsc_2018_12.05.pdf}}</ref>

==Homologation==
To qualify for FIA approval, 2,500 identical models have to be built in 12 consecutive months.<ref name="J255" /> The homologation period lasts for every subsequent year of production and seven years after the year that less than 10% (250) are produced in one year and the model is considered out of production by the FIA.<ref name="J251" /> Evolutions of the series production model homologated are permitted with a ET (Evolution of the type) extension applied.<ref name="J251" /> Before 1993 the initial production requirement was 5000.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIA Yearbook of Automotive Sport 1982|url=https://historicdb.fia.com/sites/default/files/regulations/1439540890/appendix_j_1982.pdf}}</ref>

However, not all manufacturers who built such models sold them all, some stripped the majority of them to rebuild them as stock models or used them to allow teams to use modified parts. One such example of this was Volvo with the 240 Turbo in 1985, an evolution of a model first homologated in 1982. After they had produced 500 such models, Volvo stripped 477 cars of their competition equipment and sold them as standard 240 turbo roadcars. As a result, after [[Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile|FISA's]] failed attempt at finding an "Evolution" car in any European countries, Volvo were forced to reveal the names of all 500 "evo" owners to be permitted to compete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flathood.saliv8.com/history.php|title = 1983 Volvo 242 Group-A Turbo}}</ref> 

Due to the smaller car markets of Australia and New Zealand, a deal was struck between [[FIA|FISA]] and the [[Confederation of Australian Motorsport]] (CAMS) so that Australian manufacturers only had to produce 1,000 base models of the various cars which they wished to homologate for racing, though the racing models still had to comply with the additional 500 Evolution number. Ultimately [[Holden]] was the only Australian car manufacturer to homologate cars for racing in Group A with their various [[Holden V8 engine|V8]] powered [[Holden Commodore]]'s, the evolution models first coming from [[Peter Brock]]'s [[Holden Dealer Team|HDT Special Vehicles]], and later the [[Tom Walkinshaw]] owned [[Holden Special Vehicles]] (HSV) set up in 1987 to replace the HDT.

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The other example was Ford, after selling off their entire RS500 stocks, they read the rulebooks and found themselves that rather than using either the Sierra Cosworths or the RS500s, they could use the body of the basic 3-door Sierra, which Ford was discontinuing, and use their Evolution equipment on them. Nowadays, these cars are treated as any other model in the range.
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Australian manufacturer [[Holden]] also failed to build the required 500 cars for their [[Holden VN Commodore|VN Commodore SS Group A SV]] in 1991 (though they had no problems producing 5,000 base model [[Holden VN Commodore|VN Commodore]]s). There were in fact only 302 of the Group A SV's built. However, since Group A as a category was to be replaced from 1993 in Australia, and to give Holden's latest flagship model a presence in Australian touring car racing (the previous model [[Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV|VL Commodore SS Group A SV]] which had been designed by [[Tom Walkinshaw Racing|TWR]] had been racing since 1988, though it was actually released after Holden had already launched the VN model), the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] (CAMS) fully homologated the VN Commodore for racing.
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==Touring car racing==
{{Update after|2021|11|23}}
[[File:Ford Sierra RS 500 1.jpg|thumb|[[Ford Sierra RS500]] Group A touring car]]
[[File:BMW E30 M3 1.JPG|thumb|A [[BMW E30 M3|BMW M3 (E30)]] Group A DTM touring car]]
For [[Touring car racing|touring car]] competition, vehicles such as the [[BMW E24|BMW 635 CSi]] and [[E30 M3|M3]], [[Jaguar XJS]], various turbo [[Ford Sierra]], the [[Ford Windsor engine|V8]] [[Third-generation Ford Mustang#1983–1986|Ford Mustang]], the turbo [[Volvo 200 series|Volvo 240T]], [[Rover SD1|Rover Vitesse]], various [[Holden V8 engine|V8]] [[Holden Commodore SS Group A|Holden Commodore]]s, various turbo [[Nissan Skyline]]s, including the [[4WD]], twin turbo [[Nissan Skyline R32|GT-R]], [[Mitsubishi Starion|Mitsubishi Starion Turbo]], [[Alfa Romeo 75]] (turbo) and [[Alfa Romeo Alfetta|GTV6]], various [[Toyota Corolla]]s and the [[Toyota Supra#Turbo A|Toyota Supra Turbo A]] were homologated. In the [[European Touring Car Championship]], Group A consisted of three divisions, Division 3 – for cars over 2500cc, Division 2 – for car engine sizes of 1600–2500cc, Division 1 for cars that are less than 1600cc. These cars competed in standard bodykits, with the production-derived nature required manufactures to release faster vehicles for the roads in order to be competitive on the track. Tyre width was dependent on the car's engine size.

The FIA continued to promulgate regulations for Group A touring cars until at least 1993,<ref name="FIA">Specific regulations for Touring cars (Group A), 1993 FIA yearbook of automobile sport, green section, pages 167–188</ref> however Group A survived in touring car racing in domestic championships until 1993. The German [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft]] (DTM) switched to a 2.5L [[Class 1 Touring Cars|Class 1]] formula in 1993, while in Japan in 1994 the [[Japanese Touring Car Championship]] organisers followed suit and switched classes like most other countries who had adopted the [[British Touring Car Championship]]-derived [[Supertouring]] regulations. Many of the redundant Skylines found a new home in the form of the [[Super GT|JGTC]] (Japanese GT Championship) with modified aerodynamic devices, showing its competitiveness whilst being up against [[Group C]], former race modified roadcars and specially developed racers, like the [[Toyota Supra]]s during the earlier years.

The [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] had originally announced in mid-[[1983 Australian Touring Car season|1983]] that [[Australia]] would adopt Group A from 1 January 1985 to replace the locally developed [[Group C (Australia)|Group C]] (not to be confused with FIA [[Group C]] racing cars) rules that had been in place since 1973. A class for the new Group A cars was included in selected Australian Touring Car endurance races in late 1984, prior to the replacement of Group C for 1985. The category would be officially termed '''Group 3A Touring Cars''' from 1988.<ref>Group 3A - Touring Cars, 1988 CAMS Manual of Motorsport, pages 228 to 233</ref> From [[1993 Australian Touring Car season|1993]], CAMS replaced the existing Group A-based category with a new formula which would also be designated Group 3A Touring Cars.<ref>Group 3A - Touring Cars, 1993 CAMS Manual of Motorsport, pages 205 to 214</ref> This was initially open to five litre [[V8 engine|V8]] powered cars and two litre cars (later to become known as [[V8 Supercars]] and [[Super Touring|Super Touring Cars]] respectively).

[[Hillclimbing|Hillclimb competitions]] still use Group A as a touring car class across Europe, while in [[Australia]] Group A is now a historic class, though only actual cars raced from 1985 to 1992 (complete with log books) are allowed to compete.

==Rallying==
[[File:Peugeot 306 Kit Car. Manuel Senra.jpg|thumb|[[Peugeot 306|Peugeot 306 Maxi]]]]
[[File:Flickr - bjmullan - Colin McRae's 1995 World Championship winning Subaru Impreza.jpg|thumb|Colin McRae's 1995 WRC-winning [[Subaru Impreza]] Group A rally car]]
Under Group A in the [[World Rally Championship]], the cars used were modified road cars, often based on [[turbocharged]], [[four wheel drive]] versions of small cars such as the [[Lancia Delta Integrale]], [[Ford Escort RS Cosworth]], [[Toyota Celica GT-Four]], [[Nissan Pulsar GTI-R]], [[Subaru Impreza WRX]], [[Mazda Familia|Mazda 323 GT-R]] and the [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution]].

The cars are modified for greater power and torque, and fitted with suspension and tyres specifically suited to the conditions of the specific [[Rallying|rally]], which may take place entirely on asphalt roads, different consistencies of gravel and dirt roads and even snow/ice-covered roads on some rallies held in northern Europe.

By 1990, Group A cars exceeded the performance of the defunct Group B cars on many events, because although they had far less power they had better handling and traction. They were also much safer.

Group A is still used as the basis for most rally competitions around the world, but the most competitive cars are limited-production prototypes, known as [[kit car]]s (which competed in the [[FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup]]), [[World Rally Car]]s, [[Super 1600]] and [[Super 2000]].

The last car to use the old Group A homologation requirement in the WRC Manufacturers' championship was the [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI]]. Group A cars could continue to enter WRC rallies until 2018 and can still enter the FIA's regional rally championships today.

==Series that used the Group A formula==
*[[European Touring Car Championship]] 1982–1988
*[[British Touring Car Championship]] 1983–1990
*[[Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft]] 1984–1992
*[[New Zealand Touring Car Championship]] 1984–1992
*Nissan-Mobil 500 Series 1985–1993
*[[AMSCAR Series]] 1985–1992
*[[Australian Manufacturers' Championship]] 1985–1991
*[[Australian Touring Car Championship]] 1985–1992
*[[All Japan Touring Car Championship]] 1985–1993
*[[Australian Endurance Championship]] 1985–1986, 1990–1991
*[[Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship]] 1986–1987
*[[South Pacific Touring Car Championship]] 1986
*[[World Rally Championship]] 1987–1996
*[[World Touring Car Championship]] 1987
*[[Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship]] 1988
*[[Campeonato de España de Turismos]] 1991-1993

==Cars==
{{See|List of Group A cars}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20031203194753/http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/Pages/part5.html Frank de Jong's Group A ETCC section]

{{FIA classes}}
{{Class of Auto racing}}

[[Category:Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]]
[[Category:Group A cars| ]]
[[Category:Motorsport categories in Australia]]
[[Category:Racing car classes]]
[[Category:Rally cars|*Group A]]
[[Category:Rally groups]]
[[Category:Touring car racing]]
[[Category:World Rally Championship]]