ENG: Škoda Official MotorSport news

[Karlheinz]

APRC Rally of India: Gill wins and defends title Double victory for MRF ŠKODA with Veiby second

› ŠKODA driver Gaurav Gill from India unbeatable at his home round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), clinching his third title after 2013 and 2016
› Teammate Ole Christian Veiby from Norway, also driving a ŠKODA FABIA R5, suffered gearbox issues, with a stunning drive fought back to second overall
› ŠKODA achieving APRC Manufacturers Cup and APRC Team Award, ŠKODA crews winning both drivers and co-drivers title
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: “Congratulations to Gaurav for winning his third title, every single one by driving a ŠKODA FABIA.”

​Chikmagalur/India, 26 November 2017 – After a tense season in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) ŠKODA finally managed to win all titles. APRC Manufacturers Cup and APRC Team Award was already achieved on the last but one round. By winning the season’s finale at Rally of India ŠKODA FABIA R5 driver Gaurav Gill (IND) and co-driver Stéphane Prévot (BEL) also won the drivers and co-drivers titles. MRF ŠKODA teammates Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR) suffered gearbox issues on the first leg, but fought back in impressive style to second overall, finishing as championship runner-ups as well. Gill won the APRC for the third time already. In 2013 he was successful with a ŠKODA FABIA S2000, in 2016 and 2017 he competed with a ŠKODA FABIA R5.“Last April I competed at the world championship rally Tour de Corse, nicknamed the ‘Rally of the Ten Thousand Corners’. But Rally of India is even more exhausting, it should be named the ‘Rally of the Million Corners’ at least”, laughed India newbie Ole Christian Veiby after the recce of the final round of the 2017 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). His challenge was clear already before the start: He had to score seven points more than his MRF ŠKODA teammate Gaurav Gill, who came as championship leader to his home rally. “This rally is really difficult. If you brake a little bit too late before any corner, game could be over”, admitted the reigning APRC Champion. In front of more than ten thousand enthusiastic rally fans on the first show stage at the Amber Valley Residential School, the battle for victory and championship honours started. Gill was faster than Veiby by the little margin of 0.2 seconds, all seemed to be set for a tense fight in the Indian forests.


​Unfortunately all hopes for an epic fight between the two MRF ŠKODA teammates were gone as soon as the rally turned to the coffee plantations around Chikmagalur in the Southwest of India. During the second special stage Ole Christian Veiby and co-driver Stig Rune Skjærmoen were slowed down by a gearbox issue. Coffee tasted bitter for Veiby, who had to complete six more stages with a gearbox finally providing only third gear. “On the second stage, I suddenly heard a strange noise and lost front wheel drive. A little later the gearbox was stuck in third gear, my co-driver Stig had to use the handbrake while I kept the gear lever in position. We spun several times and because we had no reverse gear left, we could only go on with the help of the spectators pushing us back into the right direction,” recalled an exhausted Veiby.

Thanks to the robustness of his ŠKODA FABIA R5, he could make it to the midday service in Chikmagalur. The mechanics of Team MRF ŠKODA demonstrated their class by changing the gearbox and the clutch in around 20 minutes, keeping Veiby in the rally. “What a great teamwork, what fantastic mechanics. Now I am on a mission,” said a motivated Veiby. Keeping his word he set eight fastest times in the remaining nine stages, until the finish moving up to second overall.

After his teammates bad luck Gaurav Gill built up a clear lead already after the Saturday leg. The local hero drove faultlessly on Sunday as well, winning Rally of India and the APRC title for himself and co-driver Stéphane Prévot. “I feel very sorry for Ole Christian, I didn’t want to win like this. But it was a very difficult and long rally, I had to bring the car home in one peace,” concluded Gill on the podium in Chikmagalur, cheered by enthusiastic fans. “I really would have liked to fight for the title right to the finish line. But at least I could set some fastest time on the special stages and learnt a lot during the year,” commented Ole Christian Veiby, who finally finished his first APRC season as championship runner-up.

In the prestigious Asian-Pacific regional championship ŠKODA can look back on unparalleled success. Since 2012 each title winner has competed in a ŠKODA. Winning the first three championships with the normally aspirated ŠKODA FABIA S2000, the Czech brand now achieved the hat trick with the most successful rally car in its category, the turbo-powered ŠKODA FABIA R5.

ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek commented, delighted: “Congratulations to Gaurav for winning all three titles driving a ŠKODA FABIA. His routine and speed makes him a benchmark in this championship. Ole Christian showed his speed and his driving talent throughout the season. Without his bad luck in Japan and India, he could have been the champion as well.”

Final Result APRC Rally of India Round 6 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)

1. Gill/Prévot (IND/BEL), ŠKODA FABIA R5, 3:20:19.8 h.
2. Veiby/ Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR), ŠKODA FABIA R5, + 17:38.4 min.
3. Sharfaz/Akhry, (SRL/SRL), VW Polo, +49:57.6 min.
4. Sumit/Nitin (USA/IND), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII, +1:01:42.8 h.

Number of the day: 20
During Saturday midday service the mechanics of Team MRF ŠKODA changed gearbox and clutch on O.C. Veiby’s FABIA R5 in roughly 20 minutes.

Calendar of the 2017 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)

Event/ Date               
Rally of Whangarei – New Zealand; 28/04–30/04/2017
Rally Canberra - Australia; 26/05–28/05/2017
China Rally (cancelled); 07/07–09/07/2017
Malaysian Rally; 11/08–13/08/2017
Rally Hokkaido - Japan; 15/09–17/09/2017
Rally of India; 24/11–26/11/2017

[Karlheinz]

Three ŠKODA Motorsport crews at Rally Monte Carlo - Jan Kopecký aiming for victory in WRC 2
18.1.2018 | category: Motorsport

​› Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler compete in the opening round of the 2018 World Rally Championship (WRC 2) with a ŠKODA FABIA R5 carrying the tricolour of the Czech flag
› ŠKODA juniors Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjaermœn and Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen will be focused on gaining experience
› 17 years old ŠKODA junior Kalle Rovanperä is the youngest driver on the entry list
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: “A great result from Jan Kopecký at Rally Monte Carlo would continue our success story from last year’s WRC 2 championship”

​Mladá Boleslav, 18 January 2018 – ŠKODA Motorsport will compete at the upcoming Rally Monte Carlo (25/01/–28/01/2018) with three ŠKODA FABIA R5 crews. Czech Champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE) fight for the victory in WRC 2 category. Their car is carrying the tricolour of the Czech flag, paying tribute to the 100th birthday of the founding date of Czechoslovakia. Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjaermœn (NOR/NOR) and Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (FIN/FIN) are this time not nominated to score championship points for WRC 2 classification. In order to get more experience on one of the most challenging World Championship rallies, they are competing in the RC2 class.

​“Rally Monte Carlo 2017 for me was a very special moment in my career. Andreas Mikkelsen and Jan Kopecký not only secured a double win in WRC 2 category. They also achieved seventh and eighth position overall amongst much more powerful WRC cars. I am really looking forward to see whether Jan can repeat his fantastic result from last year”, explains ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek.

Paying tribute to the founding date of Czechoslovakia back in 1918, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 of Jan Kopecký will carry the tricolour of the Czech flag. “I feel honoured that I can represent my home country at Rally Monte Carlo already with this very special design. I´m dying to start the season”, admits the reigning Czech Champion. According to Kopecký, due to the changing weather conditions with dry and wet tarmac, icy patches and snow the tyre choice is key to success. The 35-year old veteran is competing for the seventh time at Rally Monte Carlo. In contrast, 17 years old ŠKODA junior Kalle Rovanperä is a newcomer to the WRC’s most prestigious event and is the youngest driver on the enty list. His teammate, the 21 years old O.C. Veiby, makes his third attempt at Rally Monte Carlo, albeit for the first time in a four-wheel driven car.

“Each driver can nominate only seven out of 13 World Championship rounds for his points score. That means six rallies do not have an impact on the final standings. This is what we take advantage of at Rally Monte Carlo. Without any pressure our youngsters Kalle and O.C. can gain experience under the most difficult conditions”, explains ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek.

The start into the new season is a very busy one for ŠKODA Motorsport: While the Rally Monte Carlo is running the brand’s motorsport department is moving into new facilities close to ŠKODA’s Mladá Boleslav factory.

In total, 17 stages will be waiting for the competitors, covering a distance of approximately 395 kilometres. The first leg of the Rally Monte Carlo will start on Thursday (25 January) at 18h00 in front of the principality’s famous Casino. Two demanding stages in the dark will follow, before the teams will arrive around midnight for the rest halt in Gap in the French Alps. On Friday and Saturday, the crews are facing eleven more stages, before on Saturday evening the rally returns to the service park set up in the harbour of Monte Carlo. Sunday (28 January) features four more stages, among them two runs over the famous Col de Turini.

Did you know...

...that Rally Monte Carlo, first run in 1911, is the oldest event of today’s WRC calendar?

…that it was originally designed in order to promote Monte Carlo as a tourist destination

…that until 1997 competitors were starting from different corners of Europe in a so-called “concentration run” before the competitors were reunited and the real action started?

…that in 2018 the famous 37 kilometres long “Sisteron” stage is run in reverse direction in the dark as the first test on the opening Thursday?

…that the tyre choice is extremely difficult and crucial at Rally Monte Carlo? The teams have to tackle between two and three stages with the four tyres mounted on the car plus maximum two spare wheels. Therefore tyre decision is mostly a compromise

…that therefore crews often fit their car for example with a mixture of studded winter tyres and slick tyres in all kind of combinations in order to somehow meet the changing road conditions?

…that on Sunday the price-giving ceremony will be held in front of the Palace in Monaco with His Highness Prince Albert presenting the awards?

 
The 2018 calendar of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)

Event                      Date                
Monte Carlo           25/01/–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

[Karlheinz]

Rally Monte-Carlo: ŠKODA FABIA R5 driver
Jan Kopecký wins WRC 2 category on his birthday

› ŠKODA factory team Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler achieved a dominant win in WRC 2
category at the opening round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
› 17 years old ŠKODA youngster Kalle Rovanperä claimed second position in RC 2 class
after a remarkable performance with his ŠKODA FABIA R5
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: “What a fantastic start to the new season! Jan
scored a dominant win on his birthday, Kalle delivered a perfect debut in Monte-Carlo.”

Monte-Carlo, 28 January 2018 – ŠKODA’s Jan Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler
(CZE/CZE) convincingly won the WRC 2 category at the season opener of the 2018 FIA
World Rally Championship (WRC), the famous Rally Monte-Carlo. They took top spot after
the fourth of 17 special stages and defended their lead up to the finish in Monte-Carlo
despite very challenging road and weather conditions. On his birthday, Kopecký rewarded
himself with the gift of not only winning the WRC 2 category, but also taking victory in RC 2
class and finishing 10th overall. While ŠKODA junior Ole Christian Veiby had to retire on
Saturday due to a driver’s error, teammate Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen
(FIN/FIN) brought home their ŠKODA FABIA R5 on second place in RC 2 class after a fast
and controlled drive under difficult conditions.

Night stages, bright sunshine, rain, dry roads, so-called black ice, slushy snow and fog: The
opening round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), the famous Rally Monte-Carlo,
offered all kinds of road and weather conditions. On the last four stages on Sunday – including two
passages over the legendary Col de Turini – again sheets of black ice and gravel on the asphalt
roads made life difficult for the crews.

But on Sunday afternoon in front of the Royal Palace in Monte-Carlo, all the difficulties and
challenges were forgotten. The sun was smiling from the azure blue sky – and so was Jan Kopecký
(CZE). After four tough and challenging rally days, he received royal gifts on his 36th birthday: the
trophies for winning WRC 2 category and RC 2 class. “During the last stages, it was really a
challenge to stay focussed, find the right speed and to avoid any mistake. I had nothing more to
gain but so much to lose. Now, a dream came true. On my seventh participation I could finally win.
Many thanks to my co-driver Pavel Dresler and as well to the whole ŠKODA team for giving me
such a fantastic car. The special design of my fantastic ŠKODA FABIA R5, which carries the
tricolour of the Czech flag, brought me the luck you need to win this very special event,” beamed a
happy Jan Kopecký.

ŠKODA factory team Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler headed WRC 2 category already after the
fourth stage of Rally Monte-Carlo, defending the lead both in WRC 2 and RC 2 class during four
challenging days up to the finish in Monte-Carlo. They survived a hairy moment in the slushy snow
of the ninth stage when Kopecký lost control of his ŠKODA FABIA R5 for a moment. After a lucky
escape, he continued conservatively to the stage finish and up to the end of the rally. In the end
Kopecký/Dresler won WRC 2 category by nearly 15 minutes, being first in RC 2 class as well with a
margin of more than five minutes.

In the wake of the Czech Champions the youngest driver of the event, 17 years old ŠKODA
youngster Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), and co-driver Jonne Halttunen (FIN) delivered a stunning
performance, cheered by thousands of fans alongside the special stages. They were not entered in
WRC 2 category, thus not fighting for championship points on this occasion. “I was here to learn.
This was a very challenging event, I really enjoyed driving here with my fantastic ŠKODA FABIA
R5. On the last stages, I was really cautious to bring home this result,” said a delighted Rovanperä
at the finish.

ŠKODA juniors Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjaermœn (NOR/NOR) had to retire on Saturday
afternoon. With a spin-caused contact with a barrier their ŠKODA FABIA R5 suffered damages too
extensive to continue.

ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek was totally happy at the finish in Monte Carlo. “After he
was second on last year’s RalIy Monte-Carlo, Jan took a well deserved win this year. With all his
routine and speed, he was simply unbeatable! Kalle’s performance was incredible! This guy has
what it takes to be a future champion. He showed pure speed combined with cleverness under the
most difficult road conditions you can imagine,” commented Hrabánek.

Final result Rally Monte-Carlo (WRC 2)
1. Kopecký/Dresler (CZE/CZE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, 4:35:38.5 h.
2. De Mevius/Louka (BEL/BEL), Peugeot 208, +14:46.1 min.
3. Sciessere/Zanella (ITA/ITA), Citroën DS3, +22:47.7 min.
4. Sunninen/Markkula (FIN/FIN), Ford Fiesta R5, +33:31.1 min.

Number of the day: 28
January 28th is the birthday of ŠKODA factory driver Jan Kopecký – incidentally also the day he
won WRC 2 category and RC 2 class at Rally Monte-Carlo.

[Karlheinz]

Rally Sweden: ŠKODA Motorsport aiming to repeat last year’s success

​› In total 15 ŠKODA FABIA R5 are on the entry list
› ŠKODA factory team fields WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Jonas Andersson
› Reigning FIA World Rally Cross Champion Johan Kristoffersson to compete in a privately entered ŠKODA FABIA R5

​Mladá Boleslav, 14 February 2018 – ŠKODA Motorsport is aiming to continue its string of success in Sweden. Therefor the factory team has entered WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE), who won the WRC 2 category already last year. Their young teammates Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR) are targeting a podium position in WRC 2.  Among the 15 entries in the WRC 2 category, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 was chosen by nine crews. Six more FABIA R5 are entered in RC 2 class. FIA World Rally Cross Champion Johan Kristoffersson as well trusts the rally expertise of ŠKODA.

​“With Jan Kopecký’s victory at Rally Monte-Carlo we experienced a perfect start to the 2018 season,” emphasizes ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek. “I’m expecting an even closer fight in the WRC 2 category than last year. The fact, that in total 15 ŠKODA FABIA R5 are on the entry list, perfectly underlines the convincing reliability of this car even under extreme conditions,” Hrabánek adds. 

Last year Swedish WRC 2 champion Pontus Tidemand laid the foundation of his 2017 WRC 2 title win on his home event. “Rally Sweden is a very special event for me each year. I hope, I can celebrate again, together with our fans,” Tidemand looks ahead. Victory will be all but easy, Tidemand reckons. He is expecting tough opposition. “Competition in WRC 2 category is really tight. To win I have to drive absolutely on the limit. I cannot afford one single mistake,” the 27 years old Swede knows all too well.

Last year already, youngster Ole Christian “O.C.” Veiby proved his talent by finishing third in WRC 2 category with a privately entered ŠKODA FABIA R5. “My main target is to score my first WRC 2 championship points in 2018. I’m fully concentrated to end up on the podium again, as I did in 2017,” Veiby explains his target.

Special interest for the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship 2018 is created by a guest appearance of Johan Kristoffersson. The reigning FIA World Rally Cross Champion will compete together with co-driver Patrick Barth in a privately entered ŠKODA FABIA R5 in RC 2 class. Kristoffersson is not competing for WRC 2 championship points, but nevertheless hopes to score some top three class results on a couple of stages. Rally Sweden is a home game for Kristoffersson as well. In 2016, he finished 11th in WRC 2 with a ŠKODA FABIA S2000. “I am looking forward to competing here again” says Kristoffersson before the event.

Rally Sweden will start on Thursday (15 February) at 20h08 on the trotting course in Karlstad in the southwest of Sweden. After the 1.9 kilometres long spectacular show stage, the real rally will commence on Friday (16 February). The crews leave the service park in Torsby early in the morning to head for additional 18 special stages which are covering in total around 314 kilometres on stages in the remote forests of Sweden and Norway. The rally finishes on Sunday (18 February) with the final power stage close to the service park in Torsby, the winners will be on the podium around 13h00.

Did you know...

...that Rally Sweden was first run in 1950 and was held in summer, before it became a winter event in 1965?

…that the extremely narrow snow tyres are fitted with 384 studs?

…that in 1973 only tyres without studs were allowed and national hero Stig Blomqvist won the event in a Saab despite having lost ten minutes with a fuel pump issue early on?

…that Rally Sweden was dominated by Scandinavian drivers until 2004 when WRC record champion Sébastien Loeb from France broke their dominance?

…that Pavel Sibera/Petr Gross won the A5 class at the 1993 Rally Sweden with a ŠKODA FAVORIT 136L?

…that each rally crew has to carry a snow shovel on board in order to be able to dig the car out of snow in case of an off-road excursion?

The 2018 calendar of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)

Event/ Date               
Monte-Carlo; 25/01/–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

[Karlheinz]

Rally Sweden: ŠKODA Motorsport’s Tidemand and Veiby both on podium after thrilling battle

​› WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand and co-driver Jonas Andersson (ŠKODA FABIA R5) took second place in WRC 2 with only 4,5 seconds behind the winner
› Teammates Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjærmoen finished third in WRC 2 after a tense competition on snow and ice at the second round of FIA World Rally Championship
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: “After Jan Kopecký drove a ŠKODA FABIA R5 to victory at Rally Monte-Carlo, our good start into the 2018 season continues.”

​Torsby/Sweden, 18 February 2018 – The two ŠKODA Motorsport crews Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE) and Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR) climbed onto Rally Sweden’s WRC 2 podium with second and third position after a thrilling battle in the category.  After the victory of Jan Kopecký at Rally Monte-Carlo, the good start of ŠKODA Motorsport into the 2018 motorsport season continues at the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

​The fight for victory in the highly competitive WRC 2 category at Rally Sweden turned into a threeway battle right from the start. Reigning WRC 2 Champions Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (SWE/SWE), driving a ŠKODA FABIA R5, set the fastest time on the opening stage of the rally. Being the first car of the WRC 2 category, they had to set the tracks in the snow for the R5 cars and lost some time. Nevertheless, at the end of Friday they held second in the WRC 2 category only four seconds behind category leader Takamoto Katsuta (Ford). Tidemand’s young ŠKODA teammate O.C. Veiby followed, a further 3.2 seconds behind the reigning WRC Champions.

On Saturday morning, both ŠKODA crews had a perfect start. Tidemand set the fastest time, followed by Veiby, both passing Katsuta into the category lead. But in the very next stage, the Japanese Ford driver fought back and regained the lead. Hundred thousands of excited rally fans witnessed the tense fight between these three. “We have to set him under pressure, but we need as well avoid unnecessary risks, keeping in mind the WRC 2 overall standings”, said Pontus Tidemand. After 16 stages, at the Saturday rest halt in Torsby, the WRC 2 champion trailed his rival by 12.2 seconds. O.C. Veiby concluded the day for ŠKODA Motorsport as he had begun: He drove the fastest time, finishing Saturday a further 8.6 seconds behind his teammate. Veiby commented: “We should be happy with the day. We were struggling a bit throughout the second loop, but the last stage was okay.”

On Sunday, the final day of the rally, the crews were facing three more stages, totalling around 52 kilometres. The two ŠKODA Motorsport crews Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson and Ole Christian Veiby/Stig Rune Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR) completed a faultless drive right to the finish in Torsby in the southwest of Sweden. With Tidemand second and Veiby third both gained their first championship points of the 2018 WRC 2 season. The Swedish Champion finished second in WRC 2 with only 4,5 seconds behind the winner!

At the end of Rally Sweden, ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek was satisfied with the result: “On one hand we tried everything to repeat our last year’s victory, but I clearly told the drivers to avoid unnecessary risks. There is a long way to go in the WRC 2 championship, the points we got in Sweden are really valuable, After Jan Kopecký drove a ŠKODA FABIA R5 to victory at Rally Monte-Carlo, our good start into the 2018 motorsport season continues. Congratulations to Takamoto Katsuta, he really deserves this victory.” With 15 entries, the ŠKODA FABIA was the most popular R5 car in Sweden. Among the privateers, reigning FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson, together with co-driver Patrick Barth driving a private entered ŠKODA FABIA R5, proved his rally talent by finishing sixth in RC 2-class.

Final Result Rally Sweden (WRC 2)

1. Katsuta/Salminen (JAP/FIN), Ford Fiesta R5, 3:01.27.5 h
2. Tidemand/Andersson (SWE/SWE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, + 4.5 sec.
3. Veiby/Skjærmoen (NOR/NOR), ŠKODA FABIA R5, + 30.5 sec.
4. Adielsson/Johansson (SWE/SWE), ŠKODA FABIA R5, +1:49.3 min.
5. Touhino/Hämäläinen (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA FABIA R5, + 2:29.9 min.

Current standings WRC 2 (after 2 of 13 rounds)

1. Kopecký (ŠKODA) and Katsuta (Ford), 25 points
3. Tidemand (ŠKODA) and Sciessere (Citroën), 18 points
5 Veiby (ŠKODA) and Suninen (Ford), 15 points

Number of the day: 14
15 ŠKODA FABIA R5 were on the entry list of Rally Sweden, 14 made it to the finish in Torsby!

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

[Karlheinz]

Najave, rezultati i celokupan sadržaj zvaničnih vesti iz Škoda Motorsport-a na engleskom jeziku mogu pratiti na sajtu:
https://www.skoda-motorsport.com/en/

[Karlheinz]

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/jan-kopecky-skoda-dominant-wrc-2-win-rally-france-tour-de-corse/

[Peja]

http://www.vrelegume.rs/vesti1/tanak-blizu-pobede-17-godisnji-rovanpera-odusevio-wrc-2018--rally-argentina/

[Karlheinz]

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/rally-argentina-skodas-pontus-tidemand-wins-takes-lead-wrc-2-championship/

[Karlheinz]

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/rally-portugal-pontus-tidemand-achieved-hat-trick-win-for-skoda-increasing-championship-lead/

[Karlheinz]

https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-releases/rally-italia-sardegna-double-for-skoda-in-wrc-2-jan-kopecky-wins-ahead-of-teammate-o-c-veiby/

[Karlheinz]

Škoda Motorsport, na WRC2 pro, raspored za 2019:

Monte-Carlo 24/01/–27/01/2019
Sweden 14/02/–17/02/2019
Mexico 07/03/–10/03/2019
France 28/03/–31/03/2019
Argentina 25/04/–28/04/2019
Chile 09/05/–12/05/2019
Portugal 30/05/–02/06/2019
Italy 13/06/–16/06/2019
Finland 01/08/–04/08/2019
Germany 22/08/–25/08/2019
Turkey 12/09/–15/09/2019
Great Britain 03/10/–06/10/2019
Spain 24/10/–27/10/2019
Australia 14/11/–17/11/2019

[Karlheinz]

Škoda (ŠKODA Motorsport) je šampion WRC2 pro i WRC2 za 2019.
https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/press-kits/skoda-wins-all-2019-wrc-2-pro-and-wrc-2-titles/