Group 4 referred to regulations forsportscars andgrand touring (GT) cars used inracing andrallying, as regulated by theFIA. The group was introduced in 1954 and was replaced byGroup B for the 1982 season.

Prior to 1966, the FIA's Group 4 classification applied to Sports Cars which were in compliance with FIA Appendix C regulations. It also included recognised Series Touring Cars, Improved Touring Cars and Grand Touring Cars which had been modified beyond the respective Group 1, Group 2 or Group 3 regulations under which they had beenhomologated.^[1][2] In 1966, an overhaul of FIA categories saw Group 4 Sports Cars redefined such that they were now subject to a minimum production requirement of 50 units in 12 consecutive months and had to be fitted with all equipment necessary for use on public roads. A 5000cc engine capacity limit was applied for 1968 and the minimum production requirement was reduced to 25 units for the 1969 season.^[3]

For 1969,Appendix J of the FIA International Sporting Code defined groups forTouring cars,Grand Touring cars andSports cars as follows: (numbers between brackets are required minimum production in 12 consecutive months).^[4]

• Group 1: series-production touring cars (5,000)
• Group 2: touring cars (1,000)
• Group 3: grand touring cars (500)
• Group 4: sports cars (25)
• Group 5: special touring cars
• Group 6: prototype-sports cars

For 1970, the limited production sports car category was renamed from Group 4 toGroup 5^[5] and, in the same year,^[6] Group 4 became the class for special grand touring cars with minimum production of 500 in 12 consecutive months^[7]

For 1971, the relevant FIA classifications were as follows:^[7]

• Group 1: series-production touring cars (5,000)
• Group 2: touring cars (1,000)
• Group 3: series-production grand touring cars (1,000)
• Group 4: special grand touring cars (500)
• Group 5: sports cars (25)
• Group 6: prototype-sports cars

In 1976, the Group 4 production requirement was reduced to 400 in 24 months.^[8]

In 1966 and 1967 the Group 4 Sports Cars played a supporting role to theGroup 6 prototypes. While prototypes like the 7.0LFord GT40 Mk II and the Mk IV raced for outright victories, the 4.7L GT40 Mk I entries were competing for Group 4 class wins.^[9] Indeed, competitors in the two categories were competing for two different championships, the Group 6 cars for the International Championship for Sports-Prototypes and the Group 4 cars for the International Championship for Sports Cars.In 1968, the rules were changed, so that prototypes were limited to 3.0L, but Sports cars of up to 5.0L could still be entered. It was also announced that the minimum production figure for the Group 4 sports cars would be reduced to 25 cars for 1969. With larger engines than the prototypes, the Group 4 cars were now in contention for outright race wins. The Ford GT40 was the winner atLe Mans in both1968 and1969.Porsche began work on a production run of 25 cars for thePorsche 917.Ferrari, with some financial help fromFiat, produced the similarFerrari 512.^[10]

For the 1970 season, the Group 4 Sports car category was renamed and became Group 5 Sports Cars and Group 4 designation was applied to a new Special Grand Touring category. The new Group 4 was contested by production based cars such as theFerrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona,Porsche 911 Carrera RS and theDe Tomaso Pantera.

The Group 4 GT category was replaced by a new Group B GT class for 1983.^[11]

The Group 4 regulations were also used as the basis for theWorld Rally Championships until they were replaced by the Group B regulations. In mid 1970s to early 1980s rallying, it was necessary to produce 400 identical cars for homologation as a Group 4 rally car. Notable cars included theFord Escort RS1800,Fiat 131 Abarth,Lancia Stratos HF and theAudi Quattro.

In addition, cars were homologated for Group 4 as variants ofGroup 3 cars. Before 1976, this was possible using a "100-off rule":^[12] clause bb of Art 260 ofAppendix J to the FIA's International Sporting Code 1975 (invoked from Art 266). This rule only required production of 100 of a "bolt-on option kit" of parts, not the production of any modified cars as homologation specials, but was deleted after 1975 and approved components banned "Effective from the end of 1977".^[13] Such an approval applies to the Group 4 16-valveTR7,^[12] the multi-valve head (and other parts) from theGroup 1Dolomite Sprint being approved as "valid for Group 4" on 1 Oct. 1975 in amendment 1/1V to the Group 3 TR7 homologation papers and reapproved (following production of about 60 16-valveTR7 Sprints in 1977) on 1 Feb. 1978 in amendment 10/8v.^[14]

• World Sportscar Championship

• FIA Historic Racing Regulations
• Historic Appendix J Regulations
• FIA 1969 Appendix J