The T3 class for Gentle Prototypes, or purpose-built racing side-by-side autos, is usually used as a last stepping stone for drivers hoping to maneuver as much as the premier T1 class for prototype 4×4 automobiles. Guillaume de Mévius, who completed third in T3 on the 2023 Dakar Rally, thinks the hole between T3 and T1 could possibly be narrowed to make such a transition simpler however shouldn’t be utterly positive how.
In addition to the plain gear benefit that T1 possesses, the disparity additionally stems from the variations in races that embody cross-country rally. De Mévius oversees the T3 outfit GRallyTeam that races within the FIA European Cup for Cross-Nation Bajas, which consists of comparatively brief rounds that final two to a few days and first race on slender forest and nation roads. Conversely, the Dakar Rally and bigger World Rally-Raid Championship conduct their occasions in vast open deserts throughout one to 2 weeks. For the reason that latter permits autos to showcase their energy, T1 automobiles are capable of draw back from the sphere there a lot simpler than they do in Bajas, the place there may be way more parity throughout the courses. For instance, T1+ entries—a better subcategory of T1 for upgraded prototype automobiles—swept the rostrum on the European Cup’s newest spherical Baja TT Sharish Gin whereas the T3 of João Dias simply missed the highest three by lower than a minute.
Nonetheless, this can be a double-edged sword as Baja success in a T3 automotive won’t correctly translate to the W2RC. To bridge the divide, de Mévius urged elevating the facility for T3 automobiles, arguing that drivers eyeing a commencement to T1 should be in automobiles with extra comparable capabilities.
“It’s difficult, for positive,” de Mévius instructed Cross-Nation Rally Information following the Baja TT Sharish Gin. “The T3 class within the World and European Cups of Baja, Rally-Raid Championship, Dakar, and different huge races, particularly within the open desert, is completely different. In my view, within the open desert, we might even enable extra energy or capabilities for T3 to shut the hole between T1 and T3. When you’ve got drivers who aspire to hitch T1+, they should be taught the pace of T1+.
“Presently, I discover the hole within the desert to be a bit too giant. Nonetheless, whenever you come right here, in Europe or in Baja, the hole is way smaller between T1+ and T3 as a result of the phases are narrower. T1+ is likely to be too near T3, making it difficult to search out a perfect resolution.
“In my opinion, we must always push T3 a bit extra, however we additionally have to discover a resolution for T1. I don’t have the right resolution, so I’m unsure what would work finest. However within the open desert, we must always intention to shut the hole between T3 and T1 in order that younger drivers who wish to transfer as much as T1 can be taught the required pace and expertise. Maybe pace limits might range between races; that’s one potential method, however I’m unsure.”
His sentiment echoed these of reigning Dakar Rally winner and W2RC factors chief Nasser Al-Attiyah, who examined an MCE-5 Taurus T3 Max in July. The session came about the day after profitable the Baja España Aragón in his Toyota Hilux T1+, and he described the T3 as a “very nice machine” whereas stressing that rally raid newcomers ought to contemplate it earlier than tackling stronger automobiles.
“I believe for younger drivers and new era, [a T3 would] be significantly better for them,” mentioned Al-Attiyah following his check. “I do know everybody’s dream is to be in T1+; that is mistaken to leap instantly. I believe it’s good to win and it’s good to compete in T3 after which you may (transfer up), step-by-step, however this can be a good machine to start out.”
The T3 and T4 courses are for SSVs, the latter being manufacturing automobiles. Whereas there isn’t a set ladder of development, drivers sometimes start in T4 earlier than shifting up; for instance, then-eighteen-year-old Eryk Goczał received the T4 class on the Dakar Rally in January and is about to maneuver as much as T3 in 2024. Rokas Baciuška, who has clinched his second consecutive T4 championship, raced a T1+ on the Baja Aragón however has reiterated it was simply to realize extra racing expertise whereas T3 stays his subsequent goal.
De Mévius’ feedback come as a part of a broader interview discussing his ideas concerning the European Cup. Whereas he enjoys the collection, he feels the present rule of counting simply the three finest finishes for the championship is insufficient for a five-race season and expressed curiosity in having trophies for various age teams.
