Understanding WRC Rally Cars: Rally1 vs Rally5 Comparison!

The F.I.A. and World Rally Championship have implemented the new Rally Car Pyramid to make the steps from beginner to pro rally driver easier and more clear. The new classes are Rall1, Rally2, Rally3, Rally4, and Rally5. We break down the differences for you!
Rally1 vs. WRC Aero video: • Rally1 vs WRC - In-Dep...
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00:00 Introduction
01:56 Rally5
03:09 Rally4
04:43 Rally3
06:04 Rally2
07:35 Rally1

[@chrisbiewer-rallye-info]

Nice video explaining the classes. As it is often not known to the public how the classes work, especially since the classes changed a few times in recent years. I find it a bit strange that the Rally5 cars also have sequential gearboxes. So the entry level is too far remote from road cars, unlike the former groupN classes, makes it hard for newcomers to find where to start, while the Rally5 cars are too close to the Rally4 cars. But that is how it is. Hopefully the FIA will address this in future.

[@Weerknuffelbeer]

Most (newer) road cars have automatic gearboxes these days. A sequential gearbox is closer to that than a classic H pattern + clutch box.

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

Doesn't Renault sell a pre-made rally car for these specs a while back?

[@rallybeast]

Typically, it’s an outside organization that builds and sells them. For example, Citroën is built, sold and run by Saintéloc. I’m not sure about Renault specifically.

[@chrisbiewer-rallye-info]

@@rallybeast Not quite. But what an interesting subject this has turned out to be. But especially in the Rally5 to Rally2 classes it is usually the manufacturer itself to develop the cars and build the chassis. Rally1 is usually by a more or less independant organisation, though here it is difficult to draw the lines. I.e. Toyota Gazoo Racing builds the rally1 cars in Finland.... Ford is a bit the exception as M-Sport develops all classes for them. Renault develops and builds the Rally5+4 chassis, they were run so far by TokSport in Germany. The Rally3 Clio in 2023 however is run by Motorsport Italia. Escpecially in these lower classes it may well be that the cars arrive as a kit to the teams. In the case of Citroen, development and chassis building is done by Citroen Racing in Versailles. Then the cars are handed to teams that run them. This is often Saintélog indeed. But in the case of Mads Ostberg's recent programs it is TRT from Hungary, in the case of Yohan Rossel's WRC2 campaigns it is PH Sport and in Yoann Bonato's programs it is CHL.

[@chrisbiewer-rallye-info]

@@Weerknuffelbeer This is a very valid point indeed!

[@EpicFatLip]

I witnessed the new Rally 1 cars in the Ypres WRC leg and I dare say, the sounds these cars make are even better than than before

[@rallybeast]

That's a bold but very valid statement. The Rally1 cars sound absolutely bonkers.

[@Allu681]

yeah, they sound really agressive, especially this season

[@darth_autie_117]

even on video they sound ace. they sound like they have GAU-8 cannons from the A10 Warthog for exhaust systems

[@_Vark_]

f1 2013 blown diffuser is so similar ah

[@darth_autie_117]

@@_Vark_ *2011

[@therallydoc]

Very helpful insight! The extra power of Rally1 cars is really something to cheer about but I was a bit disappointed by the lack of central active dif and the aero downgrade that make these cars more prone to understeering. Keep up the good work!

[@rallybeast]

You and me both! The previous generation were so exciting to watch because of the aero. It was just amazing to watch them go through mid- and high-speed corners. It was spectacular!

[@terzo9627]

Let’s hope the FIA will keep the hybrid system until at least 2030, and not make it full electric like RX(they have been thinking that). It will kill the sport, this sound is amazing

[@iyadkamhiyeh527]

It will literally kill the sport if they make it fully electric garbage..

[@rallybeast]

From my understanding, hybrid will be the way forward. Look at F1, they’ve had hybrid for a while and even in 2026, they’re maintaining an ICE. Rally is about 10 years behind them.

[@ondraspendlik9759]

@@rallybeast Not only that, Formula E has exclusivity contract on fully EV and hydrogen powered single seater championship until 2039, so at the very least until that year, F1 is gonna keep ICEs (unless a whole different technology shows up). If rallying stays behind, we can be looking at 20+ more years of ICEs in rallying. Plus, I think the ICE ban in road cars will be shifted forward a few years, if not outright lifted (possibly allowing at the very least hybrids to stay in production for much longer). Either way, I believe the future is in hydrogen. Toyota is already testing it in the hydrogen powered GR Yaris, even taking it to rally stages (for example in the WRC Ypres Rally Belgium). Barely any changes to the standard ICE, more power than the standard ICE, the same sound and zero emissions. That's the way, not fully electric.

[@ry7hym]

yeah I'm good with having a seperate electric championship but the sound that we now have is stellar. but I heard they were testing with carbon neutral fuels

[@donswier]

My daily commuter is electric (i3), but fully agree that rally needs to stay combustion. The sound through the forest is crucial.

[@Franko384]

This is the first video i've found, where someone explained this properly👍

[@rallybeast]

Glad I could help!

[@Franko384]

The understeering in rally 1 cars you mentioned, seems to be a huge challenge for the drivers. Seen a lot of rally retirements because of understeer this year.

[@rallybeast]

Yes, we have! Even at high speeds like Solberg in Finland.

[@zepter00]

Not really. I talked with few drivers and They said It is compansated mostly by set up of axile differentials and suspension geometry and this construction has clutch which disconect 4WD ( rear wheels) when handbrake is pulled by driver. Only active differentials have slight Advantage over stiff 4WD used by Rally 2 and Rally 1 cars. Passive center diferential ads weight and it is still 80-90% blocked all the time so it has sllightly Advantage in tight corners on dry tarmac but it is loosing on slippery and lose surfaces. The only one S2000 car with center differential ( previous class before Rally 2 cars ( it was called R5 cars ( with 2.0 natural aspirated engines or 1,6 Turbocharged engines Fiat Punto S2000 was inferior to he cars with stiff 4WD like Skoda Fabia S2000 and Peugeot 207 S2000. Driver use handbrake in tight corners. No matter what kind of 4WD cars have.

[@iyadkamhiyeh527]

Great video! I always struggled to understand the complex divisions of Rally Cars!

[@rallybeast]

Thanks! It’s been difficult especially since they changed it this year.

[@Miwna]

When the hybrid rules were introduced, they also changed from paddle shift back to a stick again.

[@rallybeast]

Yep! I talked about that in our newest video about the anatomy of a Rally1 car. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqDVpXeAmLuobqc

[@bi5048]

Fantastic video. I learned a lot!

[@rallybeast]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jamfnlol]

Love the vids keep it up!

[@rallybeast]

Thank you! More on the way.

[@christopherkims]

Quite informative and inte8. Thanks ❤

[@rallybeast]

Glad you liked it!

[@markos8400]

Very well put, good job! Just a minor correction at 7:46 and 8:46 - new aero and no center diff was introduced with 2017 class aka WRC+. And 9:21 R1 cars are 1260kg

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

WRC+ had center diff WRC 2nd Generation (2011-16) was without center diff

[@rallybeast]

Here is the F.I.A. document with all of the information on each car: www.fia.com/sites/default/files/fia_rally_car_pyramid_brochure_-_february_2021.pdf

[@jaimeantoniorosello692]

Awesome videos as usual

[@rallybeast]

I appreciate that! What else do you want to see?

[@jaimeantoniorosello692]

@@rallybeast These technical explainer videos are great to see more of. Hope you get more subscribers. So far you're the only channel in youtube to have these types of videos about rallying that I know of.

[@rallybeast]

Great! There are more in the works. Banned exotic materials and the disadvantages of the center diff ban just to name a couple.

[@jyrkikari-koskinen719]

SAW A VIDEO WRC 3 PRODUCTION PLANT/ FACTORY IN POLAND. Operated by M-Sport

[@rallybeast]

Our next video is about the Rally3 car.

[@tiutubanana7506]

A small correction on the formula ladder, there is Formula Regional between F3 and F4

[@rallybeast]

Ah, good to know!

[@danrose9726]

Thanks for this video

[@rallybeast]

No problem! Glad you like it.

[@demarco6967]

love this video

[@rallybeast]

Happy to hear that you enjoyed it! What else do you want to know about?

[@CrazyLeoNet]

Wow, an unexpectedly good rally video from North America! Keep em coming

[@rallybeast]

Glad you liked it! We’ll keep rolling them out.

[@tojiroh]

Technically, kg/hp is a "Weight-to-Power" ratio, not "Power-to-Weight"... Great video! 🤓

[@GoodBalak]

Love FIA's take on hybrid cars for making more power and really nice sounds in Rally 1. Also, if more divisions make it easier to dream of competing some day, I'll take it! Nice explanation, bro. Thanks!

[@rallybeast]

Totally agree with that!

[@stephenmugema2588]

great video.

[@rallybeast]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nmelol]

Good stuff.

[@rallybeast]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mcwopbrother1]

I haven't watched or followed much in around 5 years but started watching some highlights recently. Thought to myself "Why the hell are they plowing all over the place like that?" One of my favorite parts of Rally was watching the drivers/tech in the cars nearly seem to defy physics as they held the nose down and in. That's kind of gone now :/. Not sure how you can take away the center diff but give them more power? Seems counter intuitive.

[@rallybeast]

Agreed! When they started the last generation, those cars had some pretty big problems as well. They were able to figure them out, so I'm sure it will just take some time.

[@rl1.3]

Amazing video...how much cost about rally2 and rally1?

[@rallybeast]

Thank you! Rally2 is about 250000 Euro and the Rally1 is more that 500000 Euro.

[@GreenTheGrape]

Hope they bring back the aero, that was sweet

[@rallybeast]

Completely agree! Those cars were fantastic.

[@dragonborracho6036]

Rally 1 give me a sensation of past (group B horsepower into group A cars platform)... a tasty mixture

[@rallybeast]

It's definitely becoming more exciting!

[@football_broz]

can u explain world rallycross championship,where ken block is participating

[@rallybeast]

Of course! I’ll put that on the list.

[@SheetFiber]

2:55 What if you want to join with other car? Who picked those cars to be homologated in the first place? Why? Can other car being homologated? Or those three are the only option?

[@rallybeast]

Great question. Other cars can be homologated, but there are a lot of requirements.

[@Happymali10]

I think what fans are unhappy with is the end of "production chassis" in favor of a silhouette car.

[@rallybeast]

That's a valid point!

[@barmiiiii]

can someone explain to me why most of the cars in the video are registered in poland? is there some kind of loophole that requires polish registration?

[@rallybeast]

M-Sport has an arm of the company in Poland where they build all of the lower-level cars. M-Sport Poland actually completely developed and built the first Rally3 car.

[@clivewilliams3661]

This misses a fundamental and salient point that the vast majority of rally drivers start in clubman's sport where anyone can purchase a top flight WRC clone and compete at national level with often the opportunity to compete overseas, i.e. WRC without the status. For many rally drivers progressing through the sport using a Rally 3, 4, or 5 car it will be a downgrade especially as they will be run by independent teams that will be no better than what the clubman may be already competing with. In Formula circuit racing the clubman can't really experience the higher echelon cars without moving into the defined category and being on the Formula ladder. It seems to me that FIA are fixing a problem that doesn't exist with the big risk that international rallying will lose more interest through dilution. Who will sponsor a Rally 5 car on international events with little or no coverage? The international sponsors will see the class as not having a high enough profile and the national sponsors will see that it is irrelevant to sponsor a car internationally when they have no presence there. If the system was for progression then the likes of Kalle Rovanpera would not have been the WRC champion in 2022 because he would still be competing in Rally 2 or 3. Oliver Solberg would not have gone straight into a WRC 1 car after competing in national rallycross.

[@massolaracing7482]

SUBSCRIBED :D, really usefull cause I develop rally games

[@rallybeast]

That's amazing! Thanks for the subscribe.

[@las10plagas]

to be honest... the sound is really cool but what should be really appreciated is the insane driving skill... no matter how the car sounds

[@rallybeast]

That's a good point. These cars do have fewer driver aids, so they do showcase the skill of the drivers.

[@wydua2049]

I'm amazed by anmount of polish numberplates on this video

[@rallybeast]

M-Sport has a facility there that build most of the cars aside from the Rally1 and a few Rally2 cars. M-sport Poland built the Rally3 from the ground up.

[@wydua2049]

@@rallybeast nice, so sad that wrc in poland is banned because tracks were considered too dangerous

[@kierenferguson2003]

Not to be un tasteful here but when he mentioned the lack of central differential causing more understeer gotta wonder if it had something to do with the crash in Croatia

[@rallybeast]

That's an interesting observation, and it very well could have contributed to that. I also believe it was a bit of a freak accident since the chances of that happening the way that it did are very low.

[@zepter00]

Rally 3 car ( Ford Fiesta) was fully designed and developed by M-sport Poland, Polish facility of M- Sport.

[@rallybeast]

They did a fantastic job with it!

[@23492727]

Who's driving the violet WRC Ford? That is extremely beautiful !

[@rallybeast]

That was the 2022 car that was driven by Craig Breen. Such a great looking car! This year’s version is blue and still looks fantastic.

[@outtabubblegum7034]

They should make a "Rally 0" with basically no restrictions.

[@rallybeast]

A modern Group B!

[@outtabubblegum7034]

@@rallybeast Exactly! There should be a "Formula 0" too...

[@rallybeast]

Let’s start a petition😜

[@Dinoface96]

For the love of god....... THIS!! Please make it happen #FIA

[@underskillednunderpaid]

Why would they remove the center diff? Wont that make the cars less safe?

[@rallybeast]

That's a legitimate point that I hadn't thought of! It definitely makes them more difficult to drive and requires the drivers to pay a lot more attention.

[@lolschrauber]

I don't like that either. one big point of Rally cars is how incredibly nimble they are. that change really Limits that characteristic, sadly.

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

Rally5 also have SQ gearbox DS3 R1 (old Rally5) in this will lost homologation (or in 2023)

[@rallybeast]

Oh really? I had no idea. I’ve always understood R1/Rally5 to maintain the factory gearbox. Good to know!

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

@@rallybeast R1 had H gearbox and traditional suspension (like group N FWD cars) Rally5 have SQ gearbox and rally suspension (reiger or something like that) but without possible customization of damper sets (compression and rebound) About last thing im not sure ;)

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

I guess on Wikipedia you can find something

[@Mahiro497]

If I wanted to become a rally driver am I forced to use a hatchback car?

[@rallybeast]

Nope! There are people using cars like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, which are really good and a ton of fun!

[@robertocarattini718]

Some day, I will build a rally car

[@abcdefgh-xf2th]

The chassis of a Rally1 car isn't the same as the safety cell. People claim wrongly that the teams just put bodywork around a spec spaceframe. That is wrong, every team builds their own chassis. Only the compact dynamics hybrid box is spec.

[@rallybeast]

The information in this video is directly from the F.I.A.

[@c1stoned]

Rally 1: 3,1kg/hp Group B: less than 2kg/hp the sky was the limit in group B

[@rallybeast]

Group B was the pinnacle. Could you imagine what it would be like with current technology?

[@turbo_marc]

I swear the Rally4 class is a spec class with only Ford Fiestas.

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

In rally4 we have also: Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa (both are same) Renault Clio (only this car have 4 cyl engine)

[@turbo_marc]

@@krzysztofzagorski9632 wrc 10 lied to me

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

@@turbo_marc You mean Junior WRC class? (In game)

[@turbo_marc]

@@krzysztofzagorski9632 yes

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

@@turbo_marc in junior class cars are the same Driver matter not how good is a car From 2017 this class is developed by MSPORT In 2022 and 2023 junior use rally3 cars

[@OpRedDawn]

Rather watch everyone compete in group A

[@pandaman123ful]

Make rally elite class 600k super boosted cars with drivers who have a death wish reaching 300 plus kelometers an hour in flat out sections

[@patrick_albert_golinski]

500bhp for a WRC car? That's insane guys.

[@rallybeast]

It’s really only for short bursts of power when the driver wants to use it. But it needs to recharge before they can use it again. Most use it right off the start.

[@c1stoned]

lancia delta s4: 490hp@890kg rumors said the delta s4 got up to 600hp in his prime that is insane

[@Ismalith]

Are there no rules and setups for electric cars joining the battle? It is a shame especially full vector systems as well as liPo Batteries would make the whole sport far more extreme easily outpacing the old Group B era.

[@rallybeast]

Not currently, and I will probably be a long time before they have them. One of the challenges with rally is that people need to know when the cars are coming, so all the cars would need a siren, which wouldn't be nearly as exciting to watch.

[@itmethang]

Group B : 😈

[@SimsRacingDesign]

Well, full-electric rally cars are already a thing. Opel has one and runs a championship in Germany if I'm not mistaken. However, I don't see that as the way to go for the WRC. I suspect that hydrogen powered rally cars will be the direction they go in which I believe would be the right decision.

[@rallybeast]

There are a small handful of electric rally cars out there, but I agree that WRC will most likely go a different direction. It could even be more efficient and powerful evolutions of hybrids.

[@tyrantfox7801]

Hydrogen ICE is just Garbage. Fuel cell is much better

[@aviseksingh72]

Rally 1

[@hughjainus9686]

Is this an A.I. generated voice?

[@r.b.ratieta6111]

I feel like if electric vehicles enter the rally circuit, they should create a separate league called "Rall-E". I'll see myself out, thanks.

[@rallybeast]

Clever. Very clever.

[@AssassinAgent]

Pretty good TLDR vid, but ruined with music. Even if the music really needs to be there, it was bit too loud

[@rallybeast]

Thanks for the feedback

[@panzer722]

Why there is only ford?

[@rallybeast]

There are plenty more than ford…

[@Paganiproductions84]

I prefur older awd rallycars and older rwd and fwd rallycars

[@cuennicolson8666]

interesting topic, well recorded voice and some good information. However there's lots of room for improvement. It sounds like the narrator is just reading un-enthusiastically off a script and sentences don't flow well into each other. Maybe edited different takes together when tone didn't match. There's a few points that get repeated over and over. a "pseudo McPhearson setup" is mentioned as if it were common knowledge what that is. Lastly, inserting a graphic that tells us the cost, weight, power and other differences alongside the pyramid will help relay the information better.

[@rallybeast]

Thanks for the feedback! We’re always looking to improve.

[@cuennicolson8666]

@@rallybeast i just re-read my comment and honestly didn't mean to sound mean spirited. Best of luck

[@ricchrono5907]

Gr yaris❤

[@rallybeast]

They are pretty amazing!

[@s2korpionic]

AI voice huh.

[@ry7hym]

my man butchered that name xD "sittrowen" edit: but very good and informative video!

[@silverdashhd644]

still gonna call rally 1, WRC

[@rallybeast]

You do you!

[@503redbull]

Puma is new

[@rallybeast]

It sure is!

[@ayzelyasir958]

Correction regarding R4 car; it's 1.6L turbo engine, 5-speed sequential gearbox, 4WD and large suspension travel to be competitive on gravel and tarmac. You qouted it as 2WD

[@rallybeast]

That is Rally3. It's the lowest level 4WD car. All of the information in this video is directly from the F.I.A. breakdown of the different cars.

[@krzysztofzagorski9632]

You mean rally2-kit

[@cybersteel8]

This doesn't sound like a real person, is it an AI or TTS system?

[@salmonhead6668]

Po

[@adamdombrowski193]

I don't know this just kind of seems like a pyramid scheme to me 😂

[@jamiefallon8889]

AI voiceover

[@frostheart32]

Google images...

[@strahinjastevic7480]

The new tubular chasis of the rally1 cars is a complete travesty, might aswel start being like nascar.