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Rally Argentina: Rovanperä conquers first place
Double lead for ŠKODA with Tidemand second
› On day three of the FIA World Rally Championship’s fifth round 17 years old ŠKODA junior
Kalle Rovanperä stormed into WRC 2 lead with a string of stage wins
› Reigning WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Jonas Andersson, driving
another ŠKODA FABIA R5, hold second after thrilling fight with their teammates
› ŠKODA crews continue to dominate WRC 2 category by winning every single of the rough
and rocky stages in the Andes foothills
› ŠKODA juniors Ole Christian Veiby and co-driver Stig Rune Skjaermœn, in Argentina not
nominated to score WRC 2 points, hold fourth position in RC 2 class
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek said: “What an incredible fight between Kalle
and Pontus! Hats off to them, that they drove at that speed without doing any mistakes.”
Villa Carlos Paz, 28 April 2018 – ŠKODA still dominates the WRC 2 category at Rally
Argentina, fifth round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Factory crews
Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE) and Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen
(FIN/FIN) continued their fierce battle for victory on day three. This time ŠKODA junior
Rovanperä took the upper hand by winning six of the day’s seven gravel stages. The 17
years old Finn ended the day 23.2 seconds ahead of reigning WRC 2 champion Tidemand.
Norwegians Ole Christian Veiby and Stig Rune Skjaermœn, another duo of ŠKODA juniors,
hold fourth position in RC 2 class, which includes the WRC 2 category.
On the third day of Rally Argentina, the fight for the lead in the WRC 2 category was getting more
and more intense. Hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans witnessed the fierce battle between
ŠKODA Motorsport factory crews Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE) and Kalle
Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (FIN/FIN).
On Saturday, around 150 kilometres of tough special stages on Argentinian gravel roads in the
Cordoba area were waiting for the crews. 17 years old Finnish ŠKODA youngster Kalle Rovanperä
had a perfect start into the day. Although some fog was hovering over the mountain roads, he won
the first two stages of the leg and at that point reduced the gap to teammate and reigning WRC 2
Champion Tidemand to 5.4 seconds. “For sure it wasn’t easy in the fog, but on the other hand not
bad. I was careful and it was okay for us,” was Rovanperä’s modest comment. Pontus Tidemand
was already looking forward to the next stage: “It’s going to be tough.”
One stage later, the more than 40 kilometres between Cuchilla Nevada and Rio Pintos, Rovanperä
powered his ŠKODA FABIA R5 to a dominant fastest time – 15.8 seconds faster than the second
ŠKODA youngster, O.C. Veiby, who in Argentina is running outside the WRC 2 classification, being
listed in RC 2 class instead. At the midday break in Villa Carlos Paz, Rovanperä was leading the
WRC 2 category 23 seconds ahead of Tidemand.
After the midday service break the duel between the two ŠKODA factory crews continued.
Rovanperä won another two stages, while Tidemand took some seconds back by scoring the last
stage win of the day. At the end of the Saturday leg, Kalle Rovanperä led teammate Pontus
Tidemand by 23.2 seconds. “We are going quite well, but we had to really push, because Pontus
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was doing well. I just played it safe, I didn’t want to get a puncture”, he said. Pontus Tidemand
confessed: “We want to get to the finish without problems.”
ŠKODA junior O.C. Veiby had another strong day, although the young Norwegian suffered two
punctures his ŠKODA FABIA R5. As a consequence he lost roughly two minutes in total, dropping
him back into fourth in RC 2 class. ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek commented: “What
an incredible fight between Kalle and Pontus! Hats off to them, that they drove at that speed without
doing any mistakes. I’m especially proud, that our ŠKODA FABIA R5 mastered the very rough and
rocky Argentinian stages without any problems.”
Rally Argentina concludes on Sunday with another three stages, including two runs over the iconic
“El Condor”.
Standings Rally Argentina after Day 3 (WRC 2)
1. Rovanperä/Halttunen (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA FABIA R5, 3:09:24.1 h
2. Tidemand/Andersson (SWE/SWE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, +23.2 sec.
3. Greensmith/Parry (GBR/GBR), Ford Fiesta R5, +2:27.7 min.
4. Heller/Olmos (CHL/ARG), Ford Fiesta R5, +7:36.2 min.
5. Dominguez/Galindo (MEX/MEX), Hyundai i20 R5, + 12:57.8 min.
Number of the day: 17
ŠKODA junior Kalle Rovanperä is only 17 years old – the youngest driver not only in WRC 2
category but in Rally Argentina as well.
The calendar of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)
Event Date
Monte-Carlo 24/01/–28/01/2018
Sweden 15/02/–18/02/2018
Mexico 08/03/–11/03/2018
France 05/04/–08/04/2018
Argentina 26/04/–29/04/2018
Portugal 17/05/–20/05/2018
Italy 07/06/–10/06/2018
Finland 26/07/–29/07/2018
Germany 16/08/–19/08/2018
Turkey 13/09/–16/09/2018
Great Britain 04/10/–07/10/2018
Spain 25/10/–28/10/2018
Australia 15/11/–18/11/2018
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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 at Rally Argentina 2018
Finnish ŠKODA juniors Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne
Halttunen took the WRC 2 category lead after the third day
of Rally Argentina
Download Source: ŠKODA AUTO
ŠKODA at Rally Argentina 2018
Reigning champions Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson
(SWE/SWE), competing in a ŠKODA FABIA R5, hold
second going into the last leg on Sunday
Download Source: ŠKODA AUTO
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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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Rally Argentina: Rovanperä conquers first place
Double lead for ŠKODA with Tidemand second
› On day three of the FIA World Rally Championship’s fifth round 17 years old ŠKODA junior Kalle Rovanperä stormed into WRC 2 lead with a string of stage wins
› Reigning WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Jonas Andersson, driving another ŠKODA FABIA R5, hold second after thrilling fight with their teammates
› ŠKODA crews continue to dominate WRC 2 category by winning every single of the rough and rocky stages in the Andes foothills
› ŠKODA juniors Ole Christian Veiby and co-driver Stig Rune Skjaermœn, in Argentina not nominated to score WRC 2 points, hold fourth position in RC 2 class
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek said: “What an incredible fight between Kalle and Pontus! Hats off to them, that they drove at that speed without doing any mistakes.”
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 (…
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 …
› 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, engine…
› 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.
ŠKODA at Rally Argentina 2018
ŠKODA at Rally Argentina 2018
