SPECIAL TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR THE FINNISH NATIONAL GROUP F (Year 2004)

Note!: All technical regulations of Finnish AKK Motorsport (the national motorsport authority of Finland) can be found from the web page http://www.akk-motorsport.fi/saannot/Tekniikka.htm in Finnish. You can find the pictures etc. mentioned here from those web pages either under group A (V ERITYISMÄÄRÄYKSET RYHMÄLLE A (art. 255) ) or Group F (VI ERITYISMÄÄRÄYKSET RYHMÄLLE F) rules. It is recommended that you should look at those pages and the pictures and compare those with the ones your country’s regulations in order to find differences. The group A regulations comply with the FIA group A regulations. National amendments are identified with a placeholder “Kansallinen lisäys”. See clause 4 of this text.

This translation might have mistakes, since it is not verified by the AKK-Motorsport and the English translation might have some faults and deficiencies.

1. Definition

Only group 1,2 or A homologated cars are allowed. Group A homologated cars are allowed, if the homologation has been internationally expired. In special cases AKK-Motorsport can allow cars even if their group A homologation is still internationally valid and give national homologations.

2. Classes and minimum weight

max cc	max. 2 valves / cylinder	over 2 valves / cylinder
max cc	max. 2 valves / cylinder	over 2 valves / cylinder
1000	670 kg	720 kg
1400	800 kg	840 kg
1600	850 kg	920 kg
2000	930 kg	1000 kg
2200	970 kg	1030 kg
2500	1030 kg	1080 kg
3000	1110 kg	1150 kg

3. MODIFICATIONS AND ADJUNCTIONS ALLOWED OR OBLIGATORY

In addition to the modifications and adjunctions of group A the following applies. (Modifications that the regulative party; Ministry Of Transport and Communications, Finland; has declared to be under modification inspection of vehicle, has to appear in the registration book in the rally competition)

3.1 Engine

3.1.1 Cylinder block shall be original; another externally similar cylinder block can be used. This is allowed only if the original cylinder block can be modified with machining and/or with sleeving in order to produce a similar block. The amount of mounting points to the chassis can be increased.

3.1.2 Original cylinder capacity can freely be modified by boring, sleeving, resleeving, and by decreasing cylinder stroke.

3.1.3 Original cylinder stroke must not be increased but otherwise crankshaft is free. Connecting rods are free.

3.1.4 Type and amount of crankshaft bearings must be maintained, otherwise they are free.

3.1.5 Cylinder head is free except as follows:

A) Only 2 valves per cylinder are allowed except with those group A cars that are homologated with a multi-valve engine. Max amount of valves is 4 valves/cylinder or as homologated. Valve size and shape is free.

B) Multi-valve cylinder head can be replaced with a cylinder head that has max. 2 valves/cylinder.

C) Cylinder head (heads) must be from a series production car

D) Whenever a multi-valve cylinder head(even the homologated one) or a cylinder head not homologated for that particular car is used, adding material to cylinder head is prohibited.

E) If 2 valves/cylinder cylinder head is used, adding material only to inlet and exhaust channels (to the area between the valve seat insert and the manifold port level in that particular channel including the seat insert), combustion chamber, water channels and possible cam brackets is allowed

F) Intake manifold connection level to the cylinder head must be according to the original level but channel ports on that particular level can be changed according to regulations above. Intake manifold joint to cylinder head and possible manifold gasket must be planar (no inside – or outside measures in the joint) or original according to the cylinder head. Resurfacing is allowed.

G) When using cylinder head that is not homologated to this car model, the competitor must be able to show the car model and make where the cylinder head originates from. If so asked, the competitor must be able to prove (authenticate) the original mounting described in clause F

3.1.6 Charging of inlet air is forbidden and a charger can be removed. Intake system is free.

3.1.7 The connection between throttle pedal and the throttle valves must be mechanical.

3.1.8 Exhaust manifold is free, exhaust system must comply with road use legislation and article 252.3.3 (AKK-Motorsport technical regulations).

3.1.9 Lubricating system is free. Oil cooler can be mounted outside the coachwork only when it is located under the horizontal level that is located through wheel hubs. Oil cooler must not be outside the car outline when it is looked at from top-view. Oil cooler is not allowed to be installed into the cockpit.

3.1.10 Camshaft(s) and valve gear are free except as follows:

- Camshaft with variable-timing is allowed only if it is homologated

- Variable rocker arms and tappets are allowed only if they are homologated

- Valve spring type and working method must be kept as original

3.1.11 Cooling of the engine; fan, water pump and radiator are free but they must not be installed into the cockpit

3.1.12 Flywheel is free

3.2 Transmission

All transmission data logging methods are forbidden.

3.2.1 Clutch is free except as follows

- The homologated amount of disks must be maintained

- Clutch operation shall be controlled only by drivers foot unless other type of control system is homologated

- The clutch of automatic transmission must be homologated

3.2.2 Gearbox is free except as follows

- Original place must be kept (Note! bodywork changes are not allowed)

- Only mechanical transmission that the driver controls mechanically, is allowed

- Gear pattern must be traditional H –pattern

- Only max. 5 gears forward is allowed. If more gears are homologated, those must be removed.

- Reverse gear must be functional

- Necessary bodywork changes in order to install gear shift lever are allowed

3.2.3 Only one drive shaft is allowed. 4-wheel drive can be changed into 2-wheel drive

3.2.4 Transmission shafts are free.

3.2.5 Drive gear with axle casing and differential gear are free. Differential gear is compulsory (100% slip limitation is forbidden).

3.2.6 Rear axle is free. Axel type must be maintained.

3.2.7 All types of traction controls are forbidden.

3.3 Suspension

3.3.1 Suspension parts are free except as follows

- Suspension type must be maintained

- Only factory-made suspension links designed for that particular model can be used with the car

- Wheelbase can be changed max 30mm, as well as hub position in car’s longitudinal direction

3.3.2 The mounting points of suspension parts are free

3.3.3 Additional links are allowed and only necessary body changes are allowed

3.3.4 Supplementary springs are allowed if the type and operation of the main spring is kept original (the car must be supported by the original springs without the supplementary springs)

3.3.5 Active suspension and dynamic suspension are forbidden; otherwise shock absorbers are free.

3.3.6 Stabilizers are free, even if they would be part of the suspension

3.3.7 Steering ratio is free, but the housing of steering ratio must be kept as original. Power steering can be either added or removed.

3.3.8 Four-wheel-steering that differs from the homologated version, is forbidden

3.3.9 Wheels and tires must comply with the group A and the supplementary regulations of the event. Rim size is free (Note! Diameter max 18 inches and the complete wheel (tyre + rim) max 650 mm)

3.4 Bodywork

3.4.1 Bodywork must be made of steel. 2 and 4 door versions are allowed. Lightening or modifications of the bodywork are forbidden unless allowed by these rules. Reinforcing the car body is allowed, even if reinforcing material would not follow the original form.

3.4.2 The door sound-proofing material must be replaced with 1 mm aluminum if original sound-proofing material is not used. All other sound-proofing and insulating material can be removed. Glove compartment can be removed.

3.4.3 If needed, modifications to the dashboard can be done in order to install electronical switches or other instrumentation.

3.4.4 Spoilers that are located under hubs are free. Spoilers can be removed. Spoilers that are not homologated, can be installed with the following restrictions:

- From top and front view the spoilers are not allowed to cross the car body lines

- Spoiler must fit into a box of 20cm x20cm square when it is looked at from the side

3.4.5 Widening the wheel houses is allowed by hammering. Also additional wheel arches are allowed. The material of arches is free. The car must not widen anywhere more than 10 cm. The original wheel house material can be removed underneath the additional arch. Fender liner can be modified in order to get more wheel space. The fender must cover the wheel minimum of 50o backwards and 30o forward measured from the hub vertical pane

3.4.6 Bumbers can be removed or changed if they are not integral parts of the car bodywork. If bumbers are removed, also the mounting points (keepers) must be removed. Safety bumbers must be maintained.

3.4.7 Front grill (grate, mask) can be changed or modified but it must not be removed.

3.4.8 Spare wheel well can be removed and the opening must be covered with structure that is of the same strength. Same opening can also be used for installing fuel tank so, that the opening can be changed so that fuel tank fits. Tank can be embedded so that the bottom of the tank is on the same level as the spare wheel well bottom. The form must not create aerodynamical structures.

3.4.9 A hole for exhaust pipe is allowed to be done to rear end plate of the car.

3.5 Brakes

3.5.1 Unhomologated anti-lock brake system is forbidden

3.5.2 Handbrake is compulsory

3.5.3 If the original system is not used, min. dual circuit brakes are compulsory.

3.5.4 The amount of brake cylinder per wheel is max 4. Otherwise brakes are free

3.6 Other equipment

3.6.1 Cable and wire arrangement, placement and material can be changed (this concerns air, water, fuel, etc. pipes, suspension system and electronic wires). Fluid pipes can go through cockpit, but there must not be any joints in the cockpit. All pipes that have hot fluids in them must not be mounted into the cockpit, unless they exist there also in series production cars; if such exist, they must be efficiently protected.

3.6.2 The removing of the heating system is allowed if alternative defrosting to the windscreen and to the front side glasses is assured.

3.6.3 Fuel tank can be changed to another tank that is meant to be used in car-racing (it does not need to be FIA homologated). The tank can be embedded to the spare wheel compartment if done according to 3.4.8

Fuel tank can also be changed to another fuel tank from a different car, but this is allowed only to cars that have been registered before 01.01.1981

The place of the tank can be changed, but it is forbidden to be inside the cockpit.

3.6.4 Filler hole for the tank must be outside the car unless FIA/FT3/FT5 safety tank is used.

3.6.5 Electronic system: the location of the car battery charger is free

3.7 Special regulations

3.7.1 Car aerodynamics must not be changeable during driving, unless this type of system is homologated and the whole homologated system is used.

3.7.2 Unhomologated ceramic mechanical parts shall not be used

3.7.3 Unhomologated titanium, Kevlar or carbon fiber reinforced mechanical parts shall not be used (does not apply to valves, valve guides, valve seats or valve spring caps)

4. Finnish National amendments to FIA group A regulations

These exceptions are national and they are made above the FIA international group A regulations so they also have an effect to the group F regulations.

4.1 General

Whenever fire resisting material is required, plastic is not allowed

4.2 Brakes

In those group F cars, that have had single circuit brakes when imported, the original brake system can be maintained

4.3 Safety fasteners

All additional and required safety fasteners must be able to be opened without tools.

4.4 Safety belts

6 – point safety belts are required. In national events also internationally homologated belts can be used. If safety belts have a date when they expire (not valid after), this cannot be extended even in national events.

Damaged safety belts are marked with white paint. The marking is done with 1 cm wide marking besides the lock. Belts marked as this must not be used.

4.5 Fire extinguishers

The safety pin of the release button/device of a hand extinguisher must be sealed in closed position.

The hand extinguisher must have a service tag that tells when the extinguisher has been maintained and checked. The minimum requirement in national rally and race events is AB- or ABE –class extinguisher.

4.6 Safety roll cage

Diagonal bar is not compulsory in national rally events except in group F

The longitudinal bar on driver’s door is compulsory in speed competitions (meaning rallysprint, track). In rally events it is recommended to install the bar as low as possible.

In group F cars longitudal bars on both sides of the car and diagonal bar are compulsory. Also the main roll bar must be mounted to the door and window pillars from top and bottom by welding or by min. 8 mm bolts. This mounting procedure is also allowed when mounting homologated roll cages (collar mounting is recommended). When historic-homologated car is attending to a group F event, these mountings are not required.

Clamp bolt head in taper connection showed in picture 253-29 does not need to be embedded.

In order to measure wall thickness in roll cage, a 6 mm hole must be drilled on the height of 5 mm from the floor on the driver’s side. This rule applies also to the homologated roll cages where the international homologation has expired.

4.7 Windows

Films (also colored films) are allowed on the rear side windows and on the rear window in rally events. It is recommended to use the safety films according to the international regulations.