Škoda Octavia WRC
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| Full name | Škoda Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Base |
 Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
|
| Team principal(s) | Michal Hrabánek |
| Technical director | Aleš Rada |
| Drivers |
Jan Kopecký Esapekka Lappi
|
| Co-drivers |
Pavel Dresler Janne Ferm
|
| Chassis | Škoda Fabia S2000, Škoda Fabia WRC, Škoda Octavia WRC |
| Tyres | Michelin |
| World Rally Championship career | |
| Debut | 1999 |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
| Rally wins | 0 |
Škoda Motorsport is the division of Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto responsible for motorsport activities. The team competes in the European Rally Championship and had competed as a manufacturer in the World Rally Championship between 1999 and 2005.
Škoda began rallying in the 1960s with the Octavia and 1000MB models, before progressing on to the 110, 120 and 130 series. Most of these were fairly lightly modified versions of the production cars, and with their small engines they competed in the lower power classes. On two occasions Škoda produced more specialised rally cars, the 130RS model in the 1970s, and then the 130LR in 1985-6. This latter car took advantage of the greater freedom allowed by the Group B regulations to run with considerably more power and lighter bodywork, among several other improvements on the standard cars.
Škoda Motorsport, a small outfit by works rally team standards, was at the time run as a department of the main Škoda factory. Among the staff there, working on the rally team was regarded as a highly desirable job, and even many of the drivers were selected from among company staff, although foreign professionals did drive for the team as well. Most notable among these was the Norwegian John Haugland, who appeared for the team on European and World Rallies in the 1970s and 1980s.
Alongside western cars in the same classes, the Škodas were increasingly dated in technological terms. However, they were very reliable, the team was experienced and many of the works drivers were very talented. Consequently, Škoda Motorsport was very successful, especially on long rallies where reliability mattered. Škodas frequently won their classes on world events, and were notably successful on the RAC Rally in Great Britain, in which they took the under-1300cc trophy for seventeen years running. They also scored some high placings overall, among them eighth on the Acropolis Rally in 1973 and 1979, and sixth in San Remo, in 1986. On European Championship events they frequently finished in the top ten, and on events behind the Iron Curtain they were often contenders for outright victory, although against relatively limited opposition.
The rear-engined cars were finally pensioned off in 1989, in favour of the new, front-drive Favorit model, which the team used until 1994. Like its predecessors it was sturdy but, with its 1300cc, 110 bhp engine, fairly slow. It continued the team's record of class and category wins, and the introduction for the ‘Formula 2’ category to world rallying in 1993 gave it a chance to chase bigger prizes. Škoda won the Formula 2 World Championship outright in 1994. Škoda was the only works team to contest the entire championship, but equally, on most events it was up against far more advanced and faster cars with a degree of works support, such as the Opel Astra and Nissan Sunny. Drivers Pavel Sibera and Emil Triner finished ninth and tenth overall on that year's Acropolis Rally.
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