WRC2 is the World Rally Championship’s second tier behind the new hybrid-powered Rally1 cars and will be where local rallying star Hayden Paddon battles Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen in Repco Rally New Zealand this weekend.
The category is the home for all Rally2 or R5 specification cars which are bespoke customer racing rally cars built to FIA Rally2 regulations. These four wheel drive cars are extremely popular in Europe with Rally2 regarded as the top class in most national championships.
Rally2 cars produce approximately 280-290 horsepower compared to the 380-500 horsepower produced by their bigger brother Rally1 hybrid machines.
The most popular R5 cars include: Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 N, Skoda Fabia and the Volkswagen Polo GTI.
All five will be represented at Repco Rally New Zealand as Paddon continues his long relationship with Hyundai, while van Gisbergen will return to the Skoda he finished runner in the Australian Rally Championships opening round.
In addition, reigning ARC champion Harry Bates will represent from across the Tasman also in a Skoda, so too Luke Anear, who has already contested many overseas events this year.
Hyundai i20 N Rally2 Car Guide
Engine
Type: 1.6 litre direct injection turbocharged
Power: 280-290 horsepower
Air Restrictor: 32mm*
Transmission
Type: Four-wheel drive
Gearbox: Sequential gearbox. Five forward gears and one reverse
Differential: Mechanical front and rear
Clutch: Cerametallic twin-disc
Chassis – Suspension
Front and Rear: MacPherson struts with three-way adjustable dampers
Steering: Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion.
Braking System: Ventilated brake discs (300mm diameter for gravel, 355mm diameter for tarmac) four-piston calipers.
Handbrake: Hydraulic control
Wheels: 8×18 inch for tarmac, 7×15 for gravel
Chassis – Bodywork
Structure: FIA conformant reinforced steel body with Hyundai Motorsport designed welded multi-point roll cage
Length: 4040mm
Wheelbase: 2560mm
Width: 1820mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 80 litres
Weight: 1,230kg minimum – 1,390kg with driver and co-driver*
Repco Rally New Zealand WRC2 Entry list
#20 Hayden Paddon/John Kennard – Hyundai i20 N Rally2
#21 Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maceij Szczepaniak – Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
#22 Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn – Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
#23 Shane van Gisbergen/Glen Weston – Skoda Fabia R5
#24 Harry Bates/John McCarthy – Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
#25 Raana Horan/Michael Connor – Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
#26 Todd Bawden/Paul Burborough – Ford Fiesta Rally2
#27 Kingsley Jones/Waverley Jones – Skoda Fabia R5
#28 Armin Kemer/Ella Kremer – Citroen C3 Rally2
#29 Luke Anear/Andrew Sarandis – Ford Fiesta Rally2
#30 Andy Martin/Matt Hayward – Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
#31 Miguel Diaz-Aboitiz/Jordi Hereu – Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo