Memories of Africa

As Škoda Auto celebrates its 130th anniversary, the Škoda Storyboard revisits key moments in the brand's history through unique objects from its archives and museum collections. This time, you'll learn about the device that helped put the Octavia WRC onto the podium in the World Rally Championship.

29. 7. 2025 Lifestyle

Škoda is a brand for champions. Competition specials piloted by talented drivers won numerous prestigious trophies to Mladá Boleslav, including the most valuable ones.

Visitors can see a unique example of the Octavia WRC (World Rally Championship) in the Škoda Museum's depository, specially prepared for the Kenya Safari Rally. It tells the story of the greatest successes achieved in this category. Inside the car, mounted on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat, is a device equipped with buttons and displays.”

Tripmaster in the Škoda Octavia WRC

The Tripmaster is an integral part of the competition specials. It provides the crew with a range of essential data to assist with navigation between stages. Depending on the specification, the Tripmaster uses a wheel-mounted sensor or satellite navigation. It can be used to read off the distance between the route points listed in the roadbook (such as junctions or turn-offs), as well as the total distance or the exact current speed.

The co-driver can also set a countdown to the next time check before the start of a new stage. During special stages, the Tripmaster can be used for better navigation.
It also helps the co-driver monitor progress and maintain the correct pace. To the right of the device sits a small bag used to store items such as a stopwatch, writing instruments, or small tools – essentials for any rally co-driver.

Coralba C-giant

The Octavia WRC used the C-giant Tripmaster from Swedish manufacturer Coralba. Founded in 1978, the company remains an industry leader today, with the C-giant still maintaining its iconic design after more than twenty years. Installed on the navigator's side of the dashboard, the instrument features seventeen buttons and three displays. When properly calibrated, it delivers accuracy within 0.03%. In addition to its standard functions, it can also serve as a fuel gauge, and an additional compact remote display can be installed to mirror selected values from the main unit.

Debut in Monte Carlo, podium in Africa

The first modern Škoda Octavia hit the roads in 1996, and the Škoda Motorsport team decided to build a competition special built on the production model of the Octavia bringing a Czech presence into the top class of the World Rally Championship. The Octavia WRC made its debut at the famous Monte Carlo Rally in 1999. Built to WRC specifications, the car had a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 221 kW (300 hp), a sequential gearbox, and was the first Škoda competition car with all-wheel drive.

During its four years of official service, the Octavia WRC underwent two evolutionary upgrades. It was adjusted individually for every event, as rival cars were - different set-ups are required for competitions on tarmac, gravel and ice. African rallies, in particular, demand highly specific configurations, pushing both machine and driver to their limits.

Škoda fielded three crews for the 2001 Kenyan Safari Rally. The Octavia WRC was specially prepared to withstand the tough African conditions – for example, it featured a roof-mounted air intake to minimize the entry of dust and water into the engine. Due to the high risk of animal collisions, the front end was reinforced with a protective tubular frame.

Škoda Octavia WRC and its drivers

The Škoda brand has been accompanied by the best in their field on its journey to the top of the WRC category. During the Octavia WRC's debut season, Belgian driver Bruno Thiry took fourth place in Rally GB behind the wheel of the Octavia. Armin Schwarz followed up with fifth place in Rally Great Britain in 2001, alongside his third-place finish in Rally Kenya. He then unfortunately missed out on another podium finish by less than 21 seconds in the season opener at the demanding Monte Carlo.

The drivers Toni Gardemeister from Finland and Didier Auriol from France also achieved numerous successes. Let´s not forget the Czech drivers, either. Jan Kopecký, Emil Triner, Pavel Sibera and Roman Kresta, who were piloting the Octavia WRC and who all played key roles in the car´s competitive legacy.

After 2003, the Octavia WRC passed the baton to the more compact Fabia WRC, which quickly became a fan favourite on the world rally stage. The later successes of the Fabia S2000 and R5 (now called Rally2) began an era of unparalleled successes for Škoda. Between 2015 and 2019, the Fabia Rally2/Rally2 evo dominated the field, resulting in a total of five consecutive team world championship titles. Today, the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 builds on the success of its predecessors. It already has a built-in Tripmaster, and the data is displayed on the central display.