Super 2000

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Super 2000, also known as S2000, is an FIA specification and classification for production based race cars. The specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing. Super 2000 rally cars are also permitted to compete in Production World Rally Championship events alongside Group N cars.^[1] The goal of the Super 2000 classification is to allow more manufacturers and privateers to race by reducing the cost of a competitive car. The World Rally Championship currently has two manufacturers fielding teams, while private teams rely on older cars from current manufacturers or from "works" teams that have left the WRC, such as Subaru, Škoda, or Mitsubishi. The World Touring Car Championship currently has four manufacturers competing, these being BMW, SEAT, Chevrolet and Lada with independent teams generally using older cars from previous seasons

In order to cut costs & shorten development time, the Super 2000 rally cars originally used a common control gearbox & drivetrain made by a French company, Sadev. The FIA has since announced that Xtrac^[2] and Ricardo Consulting Engineers will be allowed to also manufacture S2000 gearboxes to FIA specification. This is to further cut costs by introducing competition into gearbox supply.

In effect these new rules allowed Ford to build from scratch their S2000 Fiesta vehicles in Australia, in as little as 14 weeks, starting out with a Super 1600 chassis & rollcage.

[edit] Manufacturers

[edit] Rally car

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000, one of the most popular Super 2000 rally cars.

The following manufacturers have a Super 2000 rally car currently in production, or slated for production in the near future:

• Fiat Grande Punto Abarth S2000
• Ford Fiesta ^[3]
• Peugeot 207 S2000
• Skoda Fabia^[4]
• Toyota Corolla / RunX (South African version of Corolla)
• Toyota Auris
• Volkswagen Polo S2000
• MG ZR
• Opel Corsa
• Proton Satria Neo^[5]

There was development & testing of a Dacia Logan S2000 car in 2005 but it was not brought into competition.^[6]

The new technical regulations for the future World Rally Car will become effective from 2011.^[7] The WRC Car will be based on the current Super 2000 cars, fitted with a supplementary kit, which includes turbo and rear-wing additions.^[7] The kit must be able to be fitted or removed within a defined time limit, to be determined.^[7]

The current World Rally Car regulations will be extended to include the 2010 World Rally Championship, subject to technical controls.^[7] The new World Rally Car will be permitted to compete from 2009 and score points in the Championship from 2010.^[7] A ‘WRC Cup’ for Super 2000 cars will be introduced. Teams must register and contest at least seven nominated rounds, including at least one outside Europe. Conditions for registration will be finalised in due course.^[8]

[edit] Touring car

SEAT León TDI S2000; the León is one of the most popular Super 2000 touring cars and features both petrol and diesel engines.

The following manufacturers currently have S2000 Touring Cars competing in championships:

• BMW 320si
• SEAT León / SEAT León TDI
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Chevrolet Lacetti
• Alfa Romeo 156
• Vauxhall Vectra
• Honda Accord
• Honda Civic Type R
• Peugeot 407
• Peugeot 307
• Volvo C30
• Lexus IS200
• Lada 110
• Lada Priora
• Ford Focus ST

[edit] Specifications

FIA specifications include the following:^{[9] [10]}

• Derived from production model, of which at least 2500 have been produced in the past year
• Maximum of 2 liter (2000 cc) displacement
• Normal Aspiration, 8500 rpm maximum for 4 cylinders, 8750 rpm maximum for 5 cylinders, 9000 rpm maximum for 6 cylinders.
• All wheel drive is permitted in rally cars, but not in touring cars.
• 6-speed sequential gearbox (Control specification), or 5-speed MT gearbox retaining original gear ratios.
• Front and rear McPherson suspension
• No electronic driver aids
• Must be for sale at a maximum price of €168,000.^[11]

[edit] Series

Super 2000 spec cars are currently run in:

• World Touring Car Championship
• British Touring Car Championship
• Intercontinental Rally Challenge
• Australian Rally Championship
• Italian Rally Championship
• Production World Rally Championship
• Swedish Touring Car Championship
• South African Rally Championship
• Danish Touring Car Championship
• ADAC Procar Series

South Africa was the first country in the world to run Super 2000 cars in rallying. Toyota South Africa and Volkswagen South Africa each built 2 cars to compete in the South African Rally Championship in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Super 1600
• The Honda S2000, a sports car unrelated to this rally-car class except for its name.

[edit] References