Super1600

Super1600, often written S1600, is a motorsport category centered on small-displacement, production-based cars powered by 1.6-liter engines. The class originated in the FIA framework during the late 1990s as a cost-conscious entry point for young drivers and as a standardized platform for front-wheel-drive rally cars. Its primary aim has been to combine reliability, affordability, and close competition within a formal homologation system.

In rallying, S1600 cars are typically two-wheel-drive hatchbacks with 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, built to FIA homologation rules that regulate performance and safety while allowing a degree of practicality and accessibility. The class has been featured in national championships and, in various periods, in the FIA European Rally Championship as a junior or contemporary category. Well-known examples of S1600 competition include vehicles such as the Peugeot 206 S1600 and the Renault Clio S1600, which helped popularize the format among entrants and spectators.

In rallycross, S1600 also exists as a dedicated class in several championships, including the FIA-affiliated European series. These cars are lightweight, purpose-built or heavily modified production-based hatchbacks driven on short, fast circuits that mix surfaces, emphasizing speed, skill, and competitive parity within a cost-controlled framework.

Over its history, the S1600 category has served as a launchpad for drivers progressing to higher-level categories and professional careers in rallying and rallycross.