11 Steps to Victory

Rally Monte Carlo

Andreas Mikkelsen wins WRC 2, Jan Kopecký takes 2nd, 40-year anniversary of Václav Blahna’s victory

“Monte Carlo was a remarkable event for two reasons: First, our factory cars had the same design in white, blue and red as Blahna's ŠKODA 130 RS had when he won 40 years ago in his category. Second, Andreas Mikkelsen made a welcome return to ŠKODA Motorsport, dominating the WRC 2 competition right from the start and winning in a convincing way. Jan Kopecký delivered a strong performance, as well, and finished second. In the overall standings, Mikkelsen finished seventh, Kopecký eighth. What a fantastic start for the new season! It is really a highlight of my motorsport career to date to achieve such a great result in this legendary rally.”

Rally Sweden

Pontus Tidemand wins WRC 2

“To win the Rally Sweden – our home competition – was a truly fabulous experience for me and for my co -driver Jonas Andersson. That gave me the first of 5 victories in the season, and this was the cornerstone for our overall triumph in winning the WRC 2 championship. ”

Rally Guanajuato Mexico

Pontus Tidemand wins WRC 2

“We had a fierce battle with M- Sport Ford driver Eric Camilli. The lead position changed several times, but, with a final attack, we were able to beat him and achieve the season’s second win.”

Tour de Corse – Rally France

Andreas Mikkelsen win WRC 2, Jan Kopecký places ninth in WRC 2

“On Corsica, Andreas Mikkelsen and co- driver Anders Jæger-Synnevaag drove their second time in 2017 for ŠKODA Motorsport and were again in a class of their own. They led from start to finish with their ŠKODA FABIA R5 to score a convincing victory that never looked to be at risk in the WRC 2 category at the Tour de Corse. Jan Kopecký and co- driver Pavel Dresler put in an impressive performance in the second ŠKODA FABIA R5 after having had steering problems on the first day. The fight back – including two fastest stage times – put them in seventh place in the WRC 2 rankings, thereby scoring important championship points.“

Rally Argentina

Pontus Tidemand wins WRC 2

“It was very tough for me and Jonas to find the right rhythm on the tough gravel stages. Our competitors were facing all kind of problems, so our lead was never in danger. All we had to do was to stay focused and to avoid any stupid mistakes. At the end, we won with a margin of more than ten minutes. All top five positions in the WRC 2 category were taken by ŠKODA teams. The ŠKODA FABIA R5 proved to be rock solid on the tough gravel stages in Argentina, even as all the other R5 crews struggled with the reliability of their rally cars.“

Rally de Portugal

Pontus Tidemand wins WRC 2

“Our teammate Andreas Mikkelsen crashed out in the very last stage of the rally while leading comfortably. We also had our big moment in the final kilometres, but we were lucky to finish. We managed to beat our Ford rival, Teemu Suninen. One of the reasons for this victory was that, in addition to our fast times in the special stages, we managed to change the flat tire quicker than our rivals after we both had a puncture in the same stage.”

Rally Italia Sardegna

Jan Kopecký wins WRC 2

“Sardegna was a wonderful experience. Finally we won a WRC 2 rally on gravel and could prove that I’m quick on tarmac and on gravel as well! Our ŠKODA FABIA R5 worked perfectly, and we made no mistakes in the challenging special stages on the island.”

Rally Poland

Pontus Tidemand 2nd in WRC 2, near to the title

“Although he finished second behind O. C. Veiby, who drove a private ŠKODA FABIA R5, Pontus proved his cleverness and showed the class of a true champion. Instead of risking too much, he collected valuable championship points and put himself in the best position to be the early winner of the WRC 2 championship.”

ADAC Rallye Deutschland

Jan Kopecký 2nd in WRC 2 due to defect, titles for ŠKODA Motorsport and Pontus Tidemand

“I could definitively have won this event, but I suffered a puncture in Baumholder on my ŠKODA FABIA R5 even though I hadn’t hit anything. What a shame! But we were nevertheless happy at the finish, because Pontus had achieved an early win of the championship. ŠKODA took the Team Championship, and we were able to celebrate with our Board Member, Christian Strube, Head of ŠKODA Technical Development."

RallyRACC Catalunya – Rallye de España

 1st start with ŠKODA Motorsport, 4th in WRC 2

“It was the first time that I’d had a chance to drive the ŠKODA FABIA R5 on tarmac roads. I’m happy with the rally and the progress I was able to make throughout the event, especially on the second passages of the stages. I have to thank the whole ŠKODA Motorsport team, that they put so much faith in me and gave me such a fantastic rally car.”

Wales Rally GB

Pontus Tidemand wins WRC 2

“Having achieved an early win in the WRC 2 Championship, we could drive without any tactical considerations and really enjoyed the nice gravel stages of the Wales Rally GB. On the second to last evening stage of the Saturday leg, we defeated our competitors in the thick fog by more than half a minute! This showed the perfect teamwork between Jonas and me. We more than doubled our lead and could celebrate our fifth season win. At the finish of the rally I was told that with eight WRC 2 wins in total I am now the most successful driver in this category. What a nice way to finish such a wonderful season!”

*All results are subject to official publication of the tone results by the FIA