In relation to motorsport, Group T4 is a set of technical specifications for modified production cross-country side-by-side vehicles used in off-roadCross-Country Rallying (also called Rally Raid). The group is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and defined in appendix J, article 286a of its International Sporting Code.[1] The vehicles are modified for competition purposes from vehicles manufactured in numbers greater than 250 in a 12 month period. They must be road legal, but typically differ from the 'cars' defined in Group T1 and Group T2 by a much lower minimum weight (900 kg)and no requirement for parts such as a windscreen or windows. The vehicles must be powered by one engine and without driving aids such as traction control or ABS. Though the vehicles do not need to be homologated, a reference vehicle needs to be provided to the FIA for approval.[2]
History
Group T4 was first introduced in 1990 when the generic Group T, introduced the year before, was divided into four specific categories. At first, T4 was for cross-country trucks with no provision made for the modern "lightweight vehicle" until 2019 when two categories of Group T3 were established.[3] In 2020, T3-Prototypes became Group T3, and T3-Series became the Group T4 of today, with Trucks moved to Group T5. The side-by-side T4 vehicles have been competing in FIA Baja Cross Country Rallies, Rally Raids and Marathon Rallies since then, 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, there are no sporting classes within the group.[4] Vehicles complying with the 2021 ASO regulations are eligible, although the 2022 ASO regulations refer to the FIA regulations signifying the FIA's authority.
