In relation to motorsport, Group T3 is a set of technical specifications for lightweight prototype cross-country vehicles used in
off-road
Off-roading is the act of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, or other natural terrain. Off-roading ranges from casual drives with regular vehicles to competitive events w ...
Cross-Country Rallying (also called Rally Raid). The group is governed by the
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; ) is an international organisation with two primary functions surrounding use of the automobile. Its mobility division advocacy, advocates the interests of motoring organisations, the automot ...
(FIA) and defined in appendix J, article 286 of its
International Sporting Code The International Sporting Code (ISC) is a set of rules applicable to all four-wheel motorsport as governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It was first implemented in 1926.
The ISC consists of 20 articles and several Adde ...
. The vehicles are generally single unit builds for competition purposes, and differ from 'cars' defined in
Group T1 by not needing to be
road-legal (except for lighting), and have a much lower minimum weight. The T3 vehicles also do not need parts such as a windscreen or an engine manufactured by series production car companies. The vehicles must be powered by one engine and without driving aids such as
traction control or
ABS. Although not specifically defined as such by the FIA, the group may be called prototype
side-by-side vehicles, like their series production relatives of
Group T4
In relation to motorsport, Group T4 is a set of technical specifications for modified production cross-country Side-by-side (vehicle), side-by-side vehicles used in Off-roading, off-road Rally raid, Cross-Country Rallying (also called Rally Raid) ...
. Indeed, T3 permits such modified and competition prepared vehicles where T4 prohibits them.
History
Group T3 was first introduced in 1990 when the generic Group T, introduced the year before, was divided into four specific groups. Until 2002, T3 was for prototype cross-country competition cars, with no provision made by the FIA for the modern "lightweight vehicle". No Group T3 existed between 2003 and 2009, but improved cross-country cars were installed as T3 from 2010 until 2018.
In 2019, T3 became the category for lightweight vehicles with two categories; T3-Prototype and T3-Series which became the modern T3 and T4 respectively in 2020, with the Trucks of T4 being moved to
Group T5.
Whether as cars or lightweight, T3 vehicles have been competing in Baja Cross Country Rallies, Rally Raids and Marathon Rallies, including in the
FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.
Classes
When competing in the
FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, which includes the long established
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally () or simply "The Dakar" (), formerly known as the Paris–Dakar Rally (), is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It is an off-road endurance event traversing terrain much tougher than convent ...
, there are no sporting classes within the group.
Vehicles
Example T3 lightweight vehicles include:
*
Can-Am
The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am, was an SCCA/ CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974, and again from 1977 to 1987.
The Can-Am rules were deliberately simple and placed few limits on the entries. This led to a wide variet ...
Maverick X3
* G-Force T3GF
*
PH-Sport
PH Sport is a motorsport services company based in Langres, France, established in 1990. The company has a history of entering national and international Rallying, rallies and championships such as the World Rally Championship, often in close co ...
Zephyr
*
Red Bull
Red Bull is a brand of energy drinks created and owned by the Austrian company Red Bull GmbH. With a market share of 43%, it is the most popular energy drink brand as of 2020, and the third most valuable soft drink brand, behind Coca-Cola and ...
OT3
* Taurus T3 Max
*
Yamaha YXZ 1000R Rally Edition
*
X-raid 1000R Turbo
See also
*Cross-Country Cars
**
Group T1 - prototype
**
Group T2 - series production
*Lightweight Cross-Country Vehicles
** Group T3 - prototype
**
Group T4
In relation to motorsport, Group T4 is a set of technical specifications for modified production cross-country Side-by-side (vehicle), side-by-side vehicles used in Off-roading, off-road Rally raid, Cross-Country Rallying (also called Rally Raid) ...
- series production
side-by-side vehicles
*Cross-Country Trucks
**
Group T5 - prototype and series production
References
External links
FIA World Rally Raid ChampionshipFIA Cross Country Rallies Regulations
{{Authority control
Off-road racing
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
Racing car classes
Rally raids
Dakar Rally