Driven by passion. Škoda celebrates 125 years of motorsport

Motorsport has been part of Škoda’s history for 125 years. From the very beginning, it has helped push boundaries and create ever-better vehicles. Integral to this history are not only the pioneers, engineers, and drivers, but also the fans.

23. 2. 2026 Škoda World

For 125 years, vehicles from Mladá Boleslav have inspired passion and enthusiasm in people. This is how long the Škoda brand’s motorsport tradition has lasted. It is founded on passion and the desire to move things forward, to exceed the limits of what is possible, and it is coupled with great enthusiasm.

After all, what else but enthusiasm and the desire to achieve what no one had achieved before could have driven Narcis Podsedníček during his participation in the 1,200-kilometre Paris–Berlin motorcycle race in 1901 on a Laurin & Klement Slavia B? That was the figurative first drop in a bottomless cup of successes. Yet it has never been only about laurels: defeat always provided the strength to come back even stronger. What´s more, motorsport involvement has always had a strong impact on Škoda’s series production vehicles – and that remains true today.

The legend lives on

Early in its history, Škoda demonstrated that it could leverage motorsport successes not only technically, but also as a means of attracting and thanking its customers and fans.

Following the legendary result of the Pohl–Hausmann crew at the 1936 Rallye Monte-Carlo, Škoda produced one of the most beautiful cars of the era, the Škoda Popular Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo designation continues to be used on Škoda’s motorsport-inspired everyday use models to this day.

“Monte” has indeed been the scene of many of the brand’s famous moments. In 1961 and 1962, for example, Finnish driver Esko Kainänen won his category in this rally with the Octavia TS. His participation also laid the foundation for Škoda Motorsport’s customer programme. Equally legendary was the “double” victory in the Škoda 130 RS class in 1977.

Pohl–Hausmann crew at the 1936 Rallye Monte-Carlo

Pohl–Hausmann crew at the 1936 Rally Monte-Carlo

Finnish driver Esko Kainänen won his category in this rally with the Octavia TS - 1961 & 1962

“Double” victory of the Škoda 130 RS class in 1977.

Experience and youth

By that time, motorsport had become very popular among fans, and Škoda cars delighted them at competitions worldwide. In 1994, thanks in part to their support, Škoda claimed its first world rally title in the category for cars with engines up to two litres and front-wheel drive. The lightweight Favorit managed to do so with a significantly smaller engine.

Indeed, Škoda cars have always been able to surprise in competition with ingenious solutions and determination, often enabling them to beat ostensibly more powerful rivals. Notable examples include Stig Blomqvist driving the Felicia to third overall at the frozen Welsh rally in 1996. The Octavia WRC achieved third place in the demanding Kenyan rally in 2001, and the legendary Colin McRae almost repeated the feat four years later in Australia with the Fabia WRC.

The greatest success for this model came in 2006, when young Jan Kopecký achieved fifth place overall at the Rally Catalunya, among the world’s elite.

From 2011 onwards, the Fabia began to establish itself in categories accessible to a broad range of drivers, initially S2000 and later Rally2. World titles in WRC2 were celebrated both by Kopecký and twice by Andreas Mikkelsen, with his most recent triumph delivered by the current Fabia RS Rally2.

Stig Blomqvist driving the Felicia to third overall at the frozen Welsh rally in 1996.

Octavia WRC achieved third place in the demanding Kenyan rally in 2001.

The Fabia WRC achieved fifth place overall at the Rally Catalunya. 2006

Unique position

Thanks to its successes in the Rally2 category, the Fabia is one of the most successful competition cars of all time. In 2025 alone, drivers collected 4,566 starts in 1,283 events worldwide – from world, continental, and national championships to other competitions and events. These starts were turned into 1,200 podium finishes, of which 459 were victories at the top step for Škoda drivers.

Thanks to their reach, Škoda Motorsport's racing specials bring joy to fans around the world. "You are what drives us forward. Not the trophies on the shelf, but the passion born from everything we have achieved together," the carmaker tells its fans.

And it rewards them not only with performance on the track, but also with cars they can for everyday driving. The motorsport tradition has given rise not only to the Monte Carlo models, but also to the RS sports models (the abbreviation comes from “rally-sport”) and the fun Fabia 130, which last year celebrated another milestone for the carmaker: 130 years of its very existence.

Škoda Fabia 130