Group 2 (motorsport)

For the designation in thoroughbred racing, see Group races.

The Group 2 racing class referred to regulations for cars in touring car racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. Group 2 was replaced by Group A in 1982.

An Audi Coupe (B2) Group 2 Touring Car

A BMW 3.0 CSL Group 2 Touring Car

The FIA established Appendix J regulations for Touring and GT cars for 1954 and the term Group 2 was in use to define Touring Cars in the Appendix J of 1959. By 1961 Appendix J included specifications for both Group 1 Series Touring Cars and Group 2 Improved Touring Cars with a minimum production of 1,000 units in twelve consecutive months required to allow homologation of a model into either group. Technical modifications beyond those allowed for Group 1 cars were permitted in Group 2.

A Ford Capri 3100 RS Group 2 Touring Car

The British Saloon Car Championship was open to Group 2 cars each year from 1961 to 1965 and from 1970 to 1973.

Group 2 Touring Cars competing at a race at Zandvoort, in 1974

Group 2 was the specified category for the European Touring Car Challenge from 1963 to 1967 and the cars were also eligible alongside Group 5 special touring cars in 1968 and 1969. It was again the premier category when the series was renamed as the European Touring Car Championship for 1970 and continued to be so until it was replaced by Group A for 1982.

Group 2 Touring Car race, at Zandvoort, in 1974

The Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-American Sedan Championship was contested by Group 2 touring cars from its inception in 1966 through to the 1972 season.

Groups 1-9

Categories and Groups of Appendix J 1954 - 1965

Categories	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
	I. Touring						A. Touring
	II. Sports				II. Grand Touring		B. Grand Touring
	-						C. Sports
Group	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
Group 1	Normal series production
Group 2	"Grand Touring" series prod				Modified series prod		Modified series prod
Group 3	Special series production						Grand Touring Cars
Group 4	Series production				Normal GT series prod		Sports Car
Group 5	International				Modified GT series prod		-
Group 6	-				GT specials		-
Source:

Categories and Groups of Appendix J 1966 - 1981 (Production requirement)

Categories	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
	A. Production
	B. Special				B. Experimental Competition						B. Racing Cars
	C. Racing Cars										-
Group	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981
Group 1	Series Touring (5000)
Group 2	Touring (1000)				Special Touring (1000)
Group 3	Grand Touring (500)				Series Grand Touring (1000)
Group 4	Sportscars (50/25)				Special Grand Touring (500)						Grand Touring (400)
Group 5	Special Touring Cars				Sports cars (50)		Sports cars				Special cars derived from Groups 1-4
Group 6	Prototype sportscars						-				Two-seater racecars
Group 7	Two-seater racecars										International formula
Group 8	Formula racing cars						International formula				Formula libre racing cars
Group 9	Formula libre racing cars										-
Source: Note: Special may be replaced with Competition in some official documents.

External links

• Historic Appendices J - of the Period, argent.fia.com