Oreca sells its first R4 kit in Spain

The RMC Motorsport team, based in Spain, is the first structure to officially purchase the R4 kit sold by Oreca. From next season, the Iberian team will hire a Renault Clio R4 in the Spanish Rally Championship.

At the start of the year, the FIA ​​appointed Oreca as sole supplier of the R4 category nationally and internationally for the next three years. The French company developed the R4 kit from a development model, Toyota Etios R4, in the hands of Stéphane Sarrazin (Oreca test pilot) then Julien Maurin (French rally champion in 2013 and 2014).

RMC Motorsport will adapt the R4 kit to the Renault Clio, a vehicle which currently runs in class N5 in Spain. “With the end of the traditional 4-wheel drive Group N, we know that the R4 completes a missing pattern between the R2, the R3 and the R5”, explains Roberto Mendez, the boss of RMC Motorsport. “The R4 kit is becoming an international success, it will allow drivers to race at a lower cost with 4-wheel drive. » The R4 kit is also distinguished by a 1.6 liter turbo engine, and can be adapted to production cars as long as they exceed 2 copies over a year. The purchase price of a kit, for asphalt or dirt rallies, is 500 euros, excluding taxes.

At Oreca, we are satisfied to open the order book. “We have an existing, reliable kit that fits well between the R3 and the R5”, rejoices Matthieu Bassou, project manager of the R4 kit. “ The teams have understood that with the R4 kit, they can position themselves as a car manufacturer in their own right. At the design office, we can't wait to start work to support them in the construction of this new R4 model. »