Super 2000, also known as S2000, is an FIA specification and classification for production based race cars. The specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing. Super 2000 rally cars are also permitted to compete in Super 2000 World Rally Championship events. The goal of the Super 2000 classification is to allow more manufacturers and privateers to race by reducing the cost of a competitive car. The World Rally Championship currently has two manufacturers fielding teams, while private teams rely on older cars from current manufacturers or from "works" teams that have left the WRC, such as Subaru, Škoda, Proton, or Mitsubishi. The World Touring Car Championship, which is open to both Super 2000 and Diesel 2000 cars, currently has six manufacturers competing, these being BMW, SEAT, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Volvo, with independent teams generally using older cars from previous seasons.
In order to cut costs and shorten development time, the Super 2000 rally cars originally used a common control gearbox and drivetrain made by a French company, Sadev. The FIA has since announced that Xtrac and Ricardo Consulting Engineers will be allowed to also manufacture S2000 gearboxes to FIA specification. This is to further cut costs by introducing competition into gearbox supply.
In effect these new rules allowed Ford to build from scratch their S2000 Fiesta vehicles in Australia, in as little as 14 weeks, starting out with a Super 1600 chassis and rollcage.
Read more about Super 2000: Specifications, Series, See Also