Thursday 21st April 2016

GT86 CS-R3 and Patrick Snijers: Time for Tea?

All up to date on the current rally classes? Here's how much fun they can be!

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Hopefully Dan's spotter's guide on the current WRC classes will have cleared up the regulations, and piqued a little interest in rallying too. If it hasn't, then this video should do it...

Anyone with some knowledge of tarmac rallying will know Patrick Snijers. If you don't, watch this legendary vid of him on the Manx in an M3 and prepare to accept him as your new rallying hero. He's still at it in fact, driving one of the very exciting new GT86 R3 rally cars.

Here's why rear-wheel drive must feature in rallying! Sure, it doesn't go all that quickly if you're used to 300hp+ rally cars and there's a fair amount of grip, but to see it slipping and sliding around on a stage is great. Snijers has definitely still got it as well...

So sit back and enjoy rear-wheel drive back in rallying. It even sounds pretty good. Can we have a go please Toyota?

Watch the video here.
 

[vz-r_dave]

Love it, now make it 4WD, add a turbo, give it some STI stickers and get it into WRC!

Edit: Or TRD stickers.......

[DM525i]

Don't make it 4WD, that's the whole point. Great to see a modern RWD car rallying.
We need more!

[Tinykin]

That Toyota looks so much more solidly planted than the Irish boys' Escorts. Is it due to better suspension or was he aiming for low times rather entertainment?

[ZX10R NIN]

It's a better chassis lower CoG etc but I'd like to see more of this, M3 C63 RC-F's stripped down RWD 400bhp I'd watch it.

[Angry Paul]

I'd love to love that (big Toyota fan) but it looks very, very, very slow...

[unpc]

I'd go back to watching rallying if they got rid of the 4wd hatchbacks and brought back proper cars like that.

[k-ink]

Slower, but more fun to watch and listen to. The way forward, in many ways.

[Kawasicki]

Low profile tyres. Slammed suspension. Seems to have no problem gripping on roughish roads.

And he isn't at the limit that much, he is also a lot slower than many Irish mk2 escort rally drivers. A lot slower.

[re33]

Tinykin said:

That Toyota looks so much more solidly planted than the Irish boys' Escorts. Is it due to better suspension or was he aiming for low times rather entertainment?

225hp versus 300 and 1200ish kg versus 950 ish. The modern milington mk2 escorts are much faster and some do have independent rear suspension. I am sure driving style does play a part though!

[jimAtr]

So want my GT86 back, sadly too small for a family car, stupid family

They like a bit of mud

[cullenster]

I've been saying it for five years or more. Ban 4wd. Make Junior WRC Front Wheel Drive and full WRC Rear Wheel Drive. That will create a proper step up between the classes and we will get to see more entertaining rallying. It will also not be as fast, particularly on loose surface events.

[vz-r_dave]

DM525i said:

Don't make it 4WD, that's the whole point. Great to see a modern RWD car rallying.
We need more!

I completely agree, I prefer RWD of course but the only way it would be competative in WRC would be if it had 4WD hence why I said that.

If they made a WRC RWD class I would watch it a hell of a lot more that is for sure.

[GravelBen]

I looked up the results from that rally out of curiosity as to how the GT86 had done... turns out Snijers was just running as course car, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it doesn't look like maximum attack driving.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Modern Art. Someone at Toyota cares.

[Kawasicki]

GravelBen said:

I looked up the results from that rally out of curiosity as to how the GT86 had done... turns out Snijers was just running as course car, so it shouldn't be a surprise that it doesn't look like maximum attack driving.

Thanks for posting, the video now makes sense!

[C7 JFW]

cullenster said:

I've been saying it for five years or more. Ban 4wd. Make Junior WRC Front Wheel Drive and full WRC Rear Wheel Drive. That will create a proper step up between the classes and we will get to see more entertaining rallying. It will also not be as fast, particularly on loose surface events.

4WD needs a professional playground to remain current and continually be developed thoroughly.

I agree that RWD rallying would be outstanding, but day to day 4WD is incredible on road cars and that tech always filters through.

[Kawasicki]

C7 JFW said:

cullenster said:

I've been saying it for five years or more. Ban 4wd. Make Junior WRC Front Wheel Drive and full WRC Rear Wheel Drive. That will create a proper step up between the classes and we will get to see more entertaining rallying. It will also not be as fast, particularly on loose surface events.

4WD needs a professional playground to remain current and continually be developed thoroughly.

I agree that RWD rallying would be outstanding, but day to day 4WD is incredible on road cars and that tech always filters through.

Except that current road cars are more developed and advanced than their Motorsport equivalents.

[Alex Langheck]

Kawasicki said:

C7 JFW said:

cullenster said:

I've been saying it for five years or more. Ban 4wd. Make Junior WRC Front Wheel Drive and full WRC Rear Wheel Drive. That will create a proper step up between the classes and we will get to see more entertaining rallying. It will also not be as fast, particularly on loose surface events.

4WD needs a professional playground to remain current and continually be developed thoroughly.

I agree that RWD rallying would be outstanding, but day to day 4WD is incredible on road cars and that tech always filters through.

Except that current road cars are more developed and advanced than their Motorsport equivalents.

And the WRCars are based on road cars which are all FWD..........

The WRC needs revolution, not evolution; 350-400BHP through the rear wheels would surely be a spectacle - something the WRC currently isn't.

[Evil.soup]

To be honest that video was not as exciting as the write up suggested.

I do love 4WD rally cars though, they were exciting just 15 to 20 years ago. Its not about the driven wheels, its the development i aero and suspension that has made for more stable and quicker cars, unfortunately all that means they are a little less dramatic.