ŠKODA MOTORSPORT
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200 ŠKODA FABIA R5 sold to customers worldwide,
ŠKODA crews successful around the globe
› ŠKODA FABIA R5 is the most successful motorsport car in the history of ŠKODA AUTO
› Car number 200 delivered to ŠKODA customer team SRT from Latvia
› 89 private ŠKODA teams of 30 countries achieved 414 victories and won 14 national titles
in 2017 alone with the ŠKODA FABIA R5
› During the 2018 season ŠKODA factory crews already won four out of five rounds of the
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)
Mladá Boleslav, 16 May 2018 – The success story of the ŠKODA FABIA R5 continues,
recently car number 200 was delivered to a customer. At the workshop of ŠKODA
Motorsport in Mladá Boleslav Marcis Kenavs, Team Manager of ŠKODA customer team
Sports Racing Technologies (SRT), symbolically received the keys for the team’s sixth
ŠKODA FABIA R5. Homologated on 1 April 2015, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 started its unique
success story.
Customers like SRT successfully compete with the ŠKODA FABIA R5 in rallies around the globe.
But the Czech rally car not only is a commercial success, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 also is racing-wise
the benchmark in its category. In 2017 ŠKODA crews were nearly unbeatable in the FIA World
Rally Championship (WRC 2) as well as in regional and national championships. Five months into
the 2018 season, ŠKODA factory crews already won four out of five rounds of the FIA World Rally
Championship (WRC 2) and are leading the Championship.
Since then 2017 was the most successful year for ŠKODA Motorsport: Pontus Tideland and co-
driver Jonas Andersson became WRC 2 Champions, ŠKODA Motorsport also won the WRC 2
Team Championship. Czech Champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler were the spearhead of in total
14 crews winning their country’s national titles. Furthermore, the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally
Championship (APRC), the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), the FIA South American
Rally Championship (CODASUR) and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) were won by
teams competing in a ŠKODA FABIA R5.
Up to now, 200 ŠKODA FABIA R5 have been delivered to 89 customers in 30 countries. Until now
they achieved 414 victories, participating in rallies in 57 countries. Beside this success story, the
rally car from Mladá Boleslav is as well a true ambassador for the brand worldwide. Although
ŠKODA is officially not yet present on the Japanese car market, the Cusco Team of rally driver
Yuya Sumiyama imported a ŠKODA FABIA R5 to Japan and is currently leading the FIA Asia-
Pacific Rally Championship.
In 2018, ŠKODA Motorsport is even more focused on its customer services. As a result, the new
motorsport season started very promising for ŠKODA customers. In the FIA European Rally
Championship’s U 28 category, with Fabian Kreim (ŠKODA Auto Deutschland), Nikolay Gryazin
(Sports Racing Technolgies/SRT) and Chris Ingram (Toksport WRT) currently no less than three
drivers of ŠKODA FABIA R5 hold the top three spots of the overall standings.
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ŠKODA MOTORSPORT
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In 14 European countries, the current championship leaders compete with a ŠKODA FABIA R5, but
the success of the Czech rally car is even global. In the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship as
well as in South America (Paraguay), the Middle East (Lebanon) and Africa (Mauritius) currently
ŠKODA crews are holding the top positions of their national championships.
To maintain the global success of the ŠKODA FABIA R5, ŠKODA Motorsport is continuously
improving the competitiveness of its R5 rally car. ŠKODA Head of Motorsport Michal Hrabánek
emphasizes: “In the past, our work on the ŠKODA FABIA R5 focused on reliability. As a result,
during the 2017 WRC season none of the factory cars had to retire due to technical issues. Thanks
to the presence of our works team in the FIA World Rally Championship, we got the experience to
further develop the car, making the ŠKODA FABIA R5 the best car in its category. In 2018 the
competition is even more intense. We are facing new R5 cars from our competitors, but we are well
prepared. For example, we are now offering an engine upgrade to our customer teams, which
improves torque, power output and drivability of the ŠKODA FABIA R5’s power plant.”
Further information:
Zbyněk Straškraba, Communications Motorsport
P +420 605 293 168
zbynek.straskraba@skoda-auto.cz
http://skoda-motorsport.com
ŠKODA Motorsport:
YouTube
Media images:
ŠKODA FABIA R5 number 200 delivered to customer
Marcis Kenavs, Service Manager of ŠKODA customer
team Sports Racing Technologies (SRT), symbolically
receives the keys of the 200
th
ŠKODA FABIA R5 delivered
to a customer from Šárka Králová, responsible for the
customer program at ŠKODA Motorsport
Download Source: ŠKODA AUTO
ŠKODA FABIA R5 – a global success story
ŠKODA FABIA R5 driver Gustavo Saba (PRY), winner of
the 2017 FIA South American Rally Championship
(CODASUR), is currently leading the national
championship of Paraguay
Download Source: ŠKODA AUTO
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ŠKODA MOTORSPORT
PRESS RELEASE
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ŠKODA Motorsport Overview
ŠKODA has been successful on the motorsport scene since 1901. Be it on the circuit or in rallies, ŠKODA has
celebrated victories and won titles all around the world. Historical highlights include winning the title in the FIA World
Rally Championship (WRC 2) for the first time in 2016, numerous title wins in the FIA European Rally Championship
(ERC), the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), as well as the
victory in the European Touring Car Championship in 1981. ŠKODA teams have also triumphed in the world’s oldest
and most famous rally, taking several class victories in the legendary Monte Carlo, which was first held in 1911.
The ŠKODA FABIA R5, a high-tech 4×4, was homologated by the International Automobile Federation FIA on 1 April
2015. ŠKODA’s new FABIA R5 is successfully continuing the long tradition of ŠKODA Motorsport. Its predecessor, the
FABIA SUPER 2000, won 50 national and international titles around the world. In the FIA World Rally Championship
(WRC 2) 2016, Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) won the title for the Czech car maker. In total, ten of the 2016
season’s races in the World Rally Championship were won by a ŠKODA FABIA R5. ŠKODA drivers Gustavo Saba
(PRY) and Gaurav Gill (IND) also won the continental championships in South America and the Asia-Pacific region at
the wheel of the successful ŠKODA FABIA R5. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) was unbeatable in the Middle East Rally
Championship (MERC), while a further ten national titles also went the way of ŠKODA drivers.
2017 was the most successful year in the history of ŠKODA Motorsport. Works duo Pontus Tidemand/Jonas
Andersson (S/S) became WRC 2 Champions, ŠKODA Motorsport won the Team Championship. Jan Kopecký/Pavel
Dresler (CZ/CZ) won the Czech Rally Championship (MČR) for the third time in a row and are the spearhead of in total
14 crews winning their country’s national titles. Furthermore the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the FIA
South American Rally Championship (CODASUR) and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) have been won by
teams competing in a ŠKODA FABIA R5.
ŠKODA AUTO
› is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1895 – during the
pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company’s headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav.
› currently offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, KAROQ, KODIAQ and
SUPERB.
› in 2017 delivered more than 1.2 million vehicles to customers worldwide.
› has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle
manufacturers in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops
vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions.
› operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia, Algeria and India mainly
through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
› employs over 35,000 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.
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