FR6 FFSA Trophy: info and prices

Rallying, an exciting yet costly sport, remains difficult for amateurs to access. To help address this issue, the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) has announced the creation of the Trophée FR6, which will be part of the Coupe de France des Rallyes starting in 2025. The goal is clear: make rallying more accessible and attract a broader audience.

Creation of the F-RC6 Group and FR6 Class

The FR6 Trophy represents a major advancement in amateur rallying in France. Its objective? Facilitate access to competition by lowering costs and offering easy-to-drive and easy-to-maintain cars 👍

With this new class, the FFSA aims to give amateurs the opportunity to start without breaking their budget, with the goal of qualifying for the prestigious Finale of the Coupe de France des Rallyes, which will be held in Lisieux, Normandy, in 2025 🎉

Also see: "Getting Started in Rallying: Buying Your First Race Car"

Introducing the FR6 Trophy

The FR6 Trophy will be contested with safe, economical cars, equipped with standard parts and tires, representing a sort of entry-level option in rally competitions.

The Peugeot 208 Racing is the first car homologated in this class. It is equipped with a 1.2-liter PureTech turbo engine, delivering around 145 horsepower. This engine choice ensures controlled power suitable for beginners while remaining competitive for more experienced drivers.

The RC4 homologated roll cage, essential for rally safety, reinforces the original structure of the 208 and offers complete protection for the cabin in case of impact.

Currently, the Peugeot 208 Racing is the only car homologated for this new class. However, the FFSA has stated that the FR6 class remains open to other vehicles that comply with its regulations, allowing other manufacturers to propose models suited to this category.

Technical Specifications of the Peugeot 208 Racing FR6

• Chassis: Original 208 body, reinforced with a welded multi-point roll cage (Rally4 type).
• Engine: EB2 turbo running on E85 superethanol, 1,199 cc, delivering 145 hp at 4,500 rpm and 240 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm.
• Transmission: Front-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual gearbox featuring a shortened throw.
• Brakes: 302 mm ventilated discs at the front and 249 mm solid discs at the rear.
• Suspension: McPherson type at the front and original deformable crossbar at the rear, with shock absorbers developed by Peugeot Sport.
• Wheels: 7Jx17-inch steel wheels, fitted with standard 205/45 ZR17 tires (Michelin Pilot Sport PS5).
• Dimensions and Weight: Length of 4,055 mm, width of 1,745 mm, wheelbase of 2,540 mm, 45-liter fuel tank, minimum empty weight of 1,050 kg.

Inside, the Peugeot 208 Racing is equipped with a dashboard designed to minimize glare, custom instrumentation with multiple display screens, a cutoff switch, and a central console grouping rally-specific controls. It also benefits from a competition-specific electronic architecture, incorporating a dedicated ECU and wiring harness. This setup simplifies data acquisition and analysis, which are essential for optimizing driver performance today 💪

What is the Price of a New 208 Racing FR6?

One of the key objectives of the FR6 class is to make entry costs in rallying more accessible. The price for a fully equipped, ready-to-race new Peugeot 208 Racing is announced at €38,900 excluding tax, totaling €46,680 including tax.

Since it is a competition car, it is not homologated for open road driving outside of rally events. Orders have been open since October 17, 2024, with deliveries expected from February 2025.

For comparison, a new asphalt version of the Clio RC5 is priced at €47,000 excluding tax but includes a sequential gearbox and a 180 hp engine 😉

Objective: Reduced Running and Maintenance Costs

The FR6 class aims to reduce maintenance costs by using standard components. The use of standard parts and tires keeps per-kilometer costs low, which is a significant advantage for amateurs. Indeed, beyond the vehicle purchase, it is primarily the servicing and maintenance that weigh down budgets.

Notably, using E85 superethanol fuel also allows a substantial reduction in fuel expenses (by around 40% compared to SP98).

Prizes: A Rally4 Seat to Win

Competition isn’t the only motivation for participants. The FR6 Trophy offers attractive rewards for winners in two categories: Hopeful (under 25) and Expert (26 and older).

• Hopeful Category: The winner of this category will be awarded a Rally4 seat, allowing them to participate in at least four rallies in the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup France in 2026. This prize can be estimated at around €60,000, as renting a Rally4 for a single CFR event costs approximately €15,000.
• Expert Category: For older drivers, the prize is slightly less enticing. The winner will be able to participate in only one round of the French Rally Championship in 2026 with a Rally4 car.

Also see: "How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Rally Car?"

An Inclusive Qualification Path

The qualification path for the Coupe de France des Rallyes Finale will take place from April to September 2025, with rallies distributed across France in specific geographic zones to facilitate access to competitions and avoid long travel distances for participants.

Drivers will need to participate in six rallies offered in each zone, and the best five results will be counted. This system ensures that every participant has an equal chance to qualify, regardless of their residence location.

The zones are defined as follows:

• North-East: Hauts-de-France, Grand Est, Bourgogne Franche-Comté
• North-West: Brittany Pays de Loire, Normandy, Île-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire
• South-East: Rhône-Alpes, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, Occitanie Méditerranée
• South-West: Occitanie Pyrénées, Nouvelle Aquitaine Sud, Nouvelle Aquitaine Nord, Auvergne
• Corsica and DROM-COM: with specific provisions for qualifications.

The Finale will bring together the top five drivers from each zone (two from Corsica and the top from DROM-COM) for a final showdown at the Coupe de France des Rallyes. Here, no advance calculations: all drivers will start with a clean slate! 😈

Mixed Reactions on Social Media

The announcement of the FFSA FR6 Trophy on social media has received mixed reactions. While the FFSA’s initiative is praised for its potential to open access to competition, many amateurs express concerns about the entry budget, which is seen as too high. 😢

The majority of comments criticize the initial purchase cost of the Peugeot 208 Racing, which makes the trophy inaccessible to many young drivers without financial backing. Some compare the FR6 to past trophies like N2S or more affordable brand cups like the Twingo R1 and Sandero Cup, which were perceived as better suited to limited budgets. Other criticisms focus on the choice of the 1.2L PureTech engine, which is seen as insufficient to meet the expectations of motorsport enthusiasts.

Overall, the reception of this new category is mixed, with fans hoping that adjustments will be made to fulfill the promised accessibility.

My Opinion on This New FR6 Trophy

I'm going to share my personal opinion. I think this trophy is a great initiative and it is going in the right direction: attracting a new audience, reducing costs, and lowering tire budgets. However, the main drawback remains the car purchase price.

Remember: a car in the R1 class, like the Twingo that competed in the Twingo R1 Trophy, was sold for €30,000 including tax in 2012. With a price over €46,000 including tax, the 208 Racing cannot be considered affordable. Furthermore, the technical specifications don’t exactly inspire enthusiasts, who may look towards more appealing and high-performance used cars outside the trophy.

I believe that a cup similar to the Sandero Eco Cup in Spain or the Cupa Dacia in Romania would have been more suited if the goal was truly accessibility.

Despite these concerns, I’m convinced that rental companies will be encouraged to order this new model, as it is perfectly suited for beginners, easy to maintain, and very safe. This makes it an ideal product for rentals. 🥳

If rental rates are competitive, many young drivers should turn towards this trophy with the goal of winning the finale in 2025. Stay tuned! 😉

Ready to take the plunge into the world of rallying? Check out our rally car listings here and find the perfect vehicle to start your adventure.