Why do Rally cars have 4 doors?

[adamk24]

I have been curious why most rally cars are still 4 door vehicles. I cannot think of any good reason, other than ease of production, that they would be sedans.
I mean I know that alot of rally cars are hatchbacks like the focus and the golf, but why do cars like the Evo and the WRX remain sedans? If anyone could shed some light on this, it would be appreciated. Thank!

[T-Bird]

Well after getting up close and inside a real WRC car I would understand the 4 door idea because they keep alot of tools and equipment in the back for easy access since they don't have hatchbacks. also the Subaru atleast has the spare tire right there aswell.

[antonioledesma]

As I know, and of course could not be the whole truth, is that rally cars must be "replicas" of the actual production cars, or the same cars, even when rally cars cost more than one mil bucks
so, supposedly the wrc peugeot 307 cc has to carry many of the roof's mechanisms of the production car, and ppl at peugeot tell you that.

another example: if the new focus wrc will be based on the 5 door sedan, it will have 5 doors, instead of 3.

geek and/or ford capri must know the answer, they're hardcore rally

[23790554]

the older 22B STI had two doors and it was great

[bmwmpower]

because they are based on production cars, like fabia and impreza are not 2 doors in serie,

[mindgam3]

yeah, rally cars have to be based on 4/5 seat production models and it just so happens decent 4 seaters are 4 door, plus the stuff t bird said

[Evo]

I think it got to do with weight distribution.. and the fact that the car got to be a production car in order for it to compete in rally events.. Maybe this is just some of the things.. I am sure someone will provide better info

[bmwmpower]

The 307CC have 4 doors? And the Focus? And the 206WRC

believe, when will be Fabia 2 D will be in rallye, same in impreza

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

Simply the rallying cars are based on road versions since each brand has to produce a minimum number of units of the road cars(among other FIA requirements) in order to be homologated for rallying

and naturally the road versions have two or four doors depending on the market that each road car is aimed to (strategy of each brand at the end of the day)....for instance the first ford sierras versions had 2 doors (the RS), afterwords, the sierra cosworth became only the 4 door car version for the same type of client, some years after ford became to the 3 door concept with the Escort (the same type of segment as well)....Lancia has even had four door for its every Delta version although every Delta version has been always a crispy and dymanic car, as the Alfa Romeo 33 which has been always alongside the Delta two of the crispiest cars ever

That the 4 door versions mean more or less rigid than its equivalent two door version is a difficult question to answer...as well as any technical question...the only thing that remains certain is that according to the WRC stages (the overall speed is quite high, and since 80% of the stages are on gravel), the ideal size of the car is supposed to be about 4,35m and its equivalent wheelbase, since a shorter wheelbase makes a car nervous and difficult to drive (the pug 206 WRC, and the Fabia) although their agility in slow bends is superb, whereas the excess of lenght (such as the ancient Mitsubishi Galant, Subaru Legacy, the Skoda Octavia, the Ford Sierra 4 door) meant the car too difficult to enter in almost every bend

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

BTW antonioledesma thanks a million to the compliments although i could do better in every action

[bmwmpower]

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas ^^^ Fabia 2-doors? Impreza 2-doors? Do these cars exist?

no they doesnt exist, but when they will be, they will be rallye cars,

Im not good as you in english, forgot that

[Akmon]

It's obvious.Every wrc has to have a series replica,and actually,Impreza's are made with 4 doors

[Wutputt]

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas ^^^ Fabia 2-doors? Impreza 2-doors? Do these cars exist?

A 2 door Scooby has existed, like 23790554 pointed out. But a 2 door Fabia not of course.

[bmwmpower]

but i have some informations that Fabia 2 D maybe will be,

[Wutputt]

2 door means it will be a coupe and won't have a hatchback. The Fabia only exists as 3, 4 or 5 door (if my memory serves me right). So there won't be a 2 door WRC version, since they have to be based on an existing model (or they have to produce loads of units of their WRC car), like Ford Capri explained.

Originally Posted by antonioledesma another example: if the new focus wrc will be based on the 5 door sedan, it will have 5 doors, instead of 3.

I'm pretty sure it will again be a 3 door hatchback:
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btw, over here sedan means 4 door, a 5 door means it's a hatchback with also rear doors. I didn't know sedan was also used for 5 doors elsewhere.