Rally outfit Mellors Elliot Motorsport
(MEM) had previously stated that there has been plenty of interest in the Iriz
R5 rally car that it has been developing, and now the firm has released pricing
details for its rally car that is homologated for competition in both left- and
right-hand-drive layouts. The sales brochure released by MEM on its Facebook
page states that the Iriz R5 is priced from GBP 140,000 in base specification,
and it includes costs for an options pack, a gravel kit and a tarmac kit, as
well as a parts list and estimated running costs.
A base car starts in ‘ready to race’
tarmac trim, where it comes painted and is outfitted with aluminium wheels
measuring 18 x 8 inches, tarmac comptetition tyres that are eligible for
rallies, front and rear brake master cylinder, brake calipers including
spacers, 355 mm front brake discs and 300 mm rear brake discs including bells
and fixing rings. The tarmac kit costs GBP 23,500 when purchased
separately. Also included are driver and co-driver competition seats, six-point
HANS-compatible harnesses, a competition steering wheel, FIA-approved fire
extinguisher system, and front and rear underbody protection.
An options pack is available for GBP 45,000, and this buys you a Cosworth co-driver’s display, a data handling
kit including a laptop with Cosworth software, data key and download cable,
full United Kingdom registration, a central guard for exhaust and propshaft
protection, a differential guard, front side stone guards and larger-diameter
355 mm rear brake discs including bells. Also part of the options kit are
Winmax tarmac brake pads developed for the Iriz R5, and FIA fuel sample kit,
Michelin competition tyres, map light including loom, driver’s footrest,
navigator’s footrest including buttons, a roof vent kit, a helmet net, a spare
wheel kit including wheel, tyre, wheel tray and strap, wheel brace and a
digital Stilo intercom.
In addition to the options package, there
are more components that can be purchased separately, such as a heated
windscreen (GBP 400), brake balance adjuster (GBP 120), lighting
kit including a six-light bonnet lamp assembly, left- and right-hand-side
corner light assemblies (GBP 4,850), anti-glare dashboard coating
(GBP 120) and more. Also available are quick-release drybreak hydraulic
connector kits for brakes, clutch, gearbox, rear differential, handbrake
release and steering, as well as carbon-fibre mirrors and a mudflap kit.
For customers who are planning to enter
their Iriz R5 into gravel rally events, the available gravel kit is priced at
GBP 19,900, and this is comprised of a gravel-spec damper assembly,
steering arm, outer TCA pin, pin nut and retainer, outer gravel track rod
mount, gravel brake discs, disc retaining rings, gravel-spec compound Winmax
brake pads, rear wheel scraper assembly, rear wheel stone guard, gravel track
rod spacers, gravel brake caliper mounting pins and a set of 15×7-inch
Speedline gravel wheels. The brochure also includes estimated running costs for
the Iriz R5 – click on the document pages to see them in detail. Among these is
an engine rebuild every 2,000 km, which costs GBP 8,000 for each
interval. The brochure also lists the components by category (engine,
transmission, steering and so forth), part cost, action required and mileage.
Mellors Elliot Motorsport began developing
the Iriz R5 rally car in 2016, and it is powered by a 4B11T engine from the
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, albeit in reduced capacity from 2.0 litres to 1.6
litres to comply with R5 rally regulations. Also in order to comply with R5
regulations is the fitment of a 32 mm intake restrictor, which limits outputs
to around 350 hp and 450 Nm of torque.
Transmission comes courtesy of a
five-speed Xtrac sequential manual gearbox and all-wheel-drive with Xtrac front
and rear differentials, and suspension is by Reiger three-way adjustable units
with external reservoir dampers and hydraulic bump stops. Braking employs Brembo
components, and Cosworth provides the electronics suite. Fuel is contained in
an 80-litre Advanced Fuel Systems fuel cell. The R5 category replaced the PWRC
category in 2012, along with the S2000 and WRC2 categories of the time. The
governing body, FIA aimed for R5 to be a more accessible category for more
entrants by placing a cost cap for key components and the overall vehicle, and
required constructors to create a customer racing support programme.
The R5 category rally cars are versatile
too, as they are also eligible for the European Rally Championship (ERC) and
WRC qualifying rounds such as the British Rally Championship (BRC).
R5-specification cars may also compete in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship
(APRC) in the AP4 category.
