Group B

In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A and Group B referred to two sets of regulations for competition vehicles in touring car and rally racing. Group B was introduced by the FIA in 1982 as replacement for both Group 4 (modified grand touring) and Group 5 (touring prototypes) cars.

Group S

As well as the cancellation of Group B, the tragedies of 1986 also brought about the scrapping of Group B's proposed replacement: Group S.

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Group S rules would have limited car engine power to 300 hp (225 kW). To encourage innovative designs, only ten examples of a car would have been required for homologation, rather than 200. By the time of its cancellation, at least two Group S prototypes had been built: The Lancia ECV and the Toyota MR2. The cancellation of Group S angered many rally insiders who considered the new specification to be safer than Group B and more exciting than Group A.

Related Topics:
Homologation - Lancia ECV - Toyota MR2

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The Group S concept was revived by the FIA in 1997 as the World Rally Car specification which, as of 2005, is still in use. WRC cars are limited to 300 hp and require 20 examples of a model but, unlike Group S, are required to share certain parts with production cars.

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