ENG: Škoda Official MotorSport news

[Karlheinz]

Malaysian Rally: ŠKODA drivers ready for Asian leg of the APRC

› ŠKODA tops the overall standings in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)
› Championship leader Kopecký goes into tour of Asia on back of hat-trick of wins
› Rally on muddy plantation roads puts man and machine to the ultimate test

Mladá Boleslav, 11 August 2014 – ŠKODA works driver Jan Kopecký (CZ) embarks on his Malaysian adventure full of confidence following his home win at the Rally Bohemia. 10,000 kilometres from his last outing, an extremely demanding route awaits championship leader Kopecký and his team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND) at the fourth round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). The works-assisted ŠKODA MRF team holds a commanding lead at the top of the APRC Championship, courtesy of three wins in three rallies, and has set its sights on continuing this run of success at the Malaysian Rally from Friday to Sunday.

“Repeating last year’s victory at the Rally Bohemia, on the doorstep of ŠKODA’s headquarters in Mladá Boleslav, was a very special moment for me and my co-driver Pavel Dresler. That obviously also gives us a boost ahead of the second half of the APRC season too,” said Kopecký. The 32-year-old Czech crowned a one-two-three for ŠKODA at the Rally Bohemia on 12 July 2014, as the Czech automobile manufacturer dominated the event, which also marked the 40th anniversary of the ŠKODA RS. Kopecký’s works Fabia Super 2000 was given a special red and white livery as a tribute to the iconic cars of the 1970s.

Kopecký will line up in exactly the same colours when he climbs behind the wheel of the ŠKODA MRF team’s high-tech, four-wheel drive powerhouse at this weekend’s Malaysian Rally. However, that is about the only thing the two rallies in Europe and Asia have in common. “I will have to change my driving style from the fast asphalt roads in the Czech Republic to the muddy tracks through the banana and coconut plantations in Malaysia,” said Kopecký.
“The tropical temperatures in Malaysia represent a real challenge,” Kopecký continued. “We have to prepare specially them. That is why we have been in the sauna – with our racing overalls on – on numerous occasions in recent weeks! That is what the conditions will be like in the cockpit of our Fabia Super 2000 when we are pushing ourselves to the limit on the rally. This way we are doing everything in our power to ensure we are as well prepared as possible for this adventure.”

Kopecký’s ŠKODA team-mates Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall (IND/NZ) experienced at first hand just how tricky the Malaysian Rally can be at last year’s event. Heavy rainfall caused the route to soften up, and the duo skidded from the road on the opening day,

thus bidding farewell to any hopes of victory. “We obviously want to do better than in
2013, and preferably to win. However, the top priority at this difficult rally is to reach the
finish and score valuable points in the Manufacturers’ Championship,” said Gill. “One
thing is certain: if I want to successfully defend my title in the APRC Drivers’
Championship, I will have to put my foot down in Malaysia.”

With 66 points to his name, the defending champion finds himself well behind leader
Kopecký (105) at the halfway point of the season. Having finished runner-up behind Gill
at the first rally of his rookie APRC season, the Czech then won the events in New
Caledonia and Australia. Tropical temperatures await the ŠKODA drivers at the Malaysian
Rally, which forms the opening Asian leg of the 2014 APRC, when they take on 217.40
kilometres spread over 14 special stages from Friday to Sunday.

The starts in the APRC are of great importance to the Czech automobile manufacturer.
The goal is to further raise the awareness of the brand in international markets –
particularly ŠKODA’s largest market, China, where the finale of the APRC season takes
place in November. ŠKODA has set its sights on increasing its global sales to at least 1.5
million units per year over the coming years, with particular emphasis on the growth
markets in Asia.

Did you know that …

... the Malaysian Rally was first held in the mid-1970s? In the past, it has also been
known as the Rally Malaysia and Rally of Malaysia. As well as the Asia-Pacific Rally
Championship, the iconic event has also formed part of the Malaysian Rally
Championship for many years.
... the list of winners at the Malaysian Rally features such prominent names as former
World Rally Champion Colin McRae (GB)? His brother Alister McRae (GB) also triumphed
in Malaysia in 2012. Australians Ross Dunkerton (1989 to 1992) and Cody Crocker (2006
to 2009) both won the event four times in a row.
… the Malaysian Rally is held at the south end of Malaysia, to the north of Singapore? The
rally centre, Johor Bahru, is connected to the city state by a causeway.
... the rally takes place in a fantastic holiday area? The sandy beaches, isolated islands,
tropical rainforests and impressive waterfalls are just as popular with tourists as the
fireflies that come out at night. The region also boasts more than 20 golf courses.
… the temperatures in the rally region are usually between at least 27 and 30 degrees
Celsius?

[Karlheinz]

APRC in Malaysia: Gaurav Gill celebrates fourth ŠKODA win in four races

› APRC defending champion takes victory for the ŠKODA MRF team
› Kopecký still leads the overall standings with victory in daily classification
› ŠKODA extend their lead in the manufacturers' standings
› China's Jun Xu third in a private Fabia 2000 despite difficult conditions

Johur Bahru, 17 August 2014 – Defending champion Gaurav Gill (IND) has given the works-supported ŠKODA MRF team a fourth victory in the fourth race at the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). European champion Jan Kopecký also defended his lead in the overall standings with victory in the daily classification on Sunday despite difficult course conditions at the Malaysian Rally. ŠKODA also extended their lead in the manufacturer's classification and are right on track for successful championship title defence.

“Malaysia is always the most difficult rally of the year, the conditions are extremely complicated due to the tropical temperatures and rainfall. But we will go away from here happy with a victory and a one-two championship lead,” commented Pavel Hortek, Team Principal of the ŠKODA MRF team. Rally winner Gaurav Gill was particularly pleased after his comfortable victory in the successful ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

He and co-driver Glenn Macneall (NZ) held a clear lead over Australian Mark Pedder after the 14 Special Stages. Third place went to Jun Xu racing a private ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. “We missed out on victory last year, which is why we are even happier with this result. This was an especially important win in the title race, it will still be a hard slog with Jan but it keeps the championship alive until the last moment,” commented the Indian driver.

As a result Gill claims his second win of the season as the Asian segment of the APRC got under way. His other victory was at the opening race of the season in New Zealand. The two other APRC races in New Caledonia and Australia were won by Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler for ŠKODA. This time the duo were unfortunate during the first day of competition on the muddy tracks through the banana and coconut plantations in the southern part of Malaysia. The rear suspension was damaged on landing after a very long jump whilst the pair were still in the lead. However, the championship leaders came back into the rally on Sunday and secured the points needed for victory in the daily classification with wins in five of the day's six Special Stages.

Consequently ŠKODA enjoy a one-two lead in the overall standings as Kopecký sits narrowly ahead of Gill after four of this season's six rallies. “We were in first on Saturday until we damaged the car. Naturally this is hard to take. But in the end I was able to get the most out of Sunday with first place in the daily classification. By thanks go to the ŠKODA MRF team,” said Kopecký. His special preparation for the arduous conditions in
Malaysia was to practice sitting in the sauna with full racing overalls on.

The Czech carmaker is taking the performances in the APRC very seriously. The objective
is to continue to increase brand presence in international markets – particularly in
ŠKODA's largest market China, where the finale of the APRC season will be held in
November. ŠKODA is aiming to expand its global sales to at least 1.5 million units per
year in the coming years and is particularly keen to increase sales in the Asian growth
markets. The next APRC race takes places from 26 – 28 September in Japan.

The number for the Malaysian Rally: 14
The two ŠKODA MRF pilots recorded the fastest times in all 14 Special Stages at the
Malaysia Rally among the APRC drivers. Jan Kopecký went fastest on eight stages and
defending champion Gaurav Gill topped list of fastest times on six occasions.

The 2014 APRC calendar:
11–13 April: Rally of Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rallye de Nouvelle-Calédonie – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally of Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Malaysian Rally – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: China Rally – China

[Karlheinz]

Home race at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín: ŠKODA looking forward to highlight of the season

› Lappi and Wiegand first and second overall in the ERC
› Works ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 back in red and white retro RS livery
› European champion Kopecký to test turbo engine for the new ŠKODA Fabia R 5
› Titles in Portugal and Austria with the successful Fabia Super 2000
› Action and entertainment for fans at the ŠKODA Motorsport Park in Zlín

Mladá Boleslav, 25 August 2014 – The ŠKODA drivers line up in first and second place in the championship, the two works Fabia Super 2000s will once again boast their stylish retro RS look, and action is guaranteed at the ŠKODA Motorsport Park: ŠKODA is looking forward to its home event at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. Among those in action from Friday to Sunday at the highlight of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season is defending champion Jan Kopecký (CZ), who will test the new turbo engine for the future Fabia R 5 rally car in competitive conditions.
“As at the Rally Bohemia, the ŠKODA works team’s current car will take to the route in a livery based on the look of the 1974 RS. The enthusiastic reactions around our headquarters in Mladá Boleslav convinced us to once again recognise the 40th anniversary of this classy car, which was full of verve, with this special livery,” says ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek.

The ŠKODA 180 RS and ŠKODA 200 RS are regarded as the fathers of ŠKODA’s successful RS history, which, from a motorsport perspective, was largely shaped by the legendary ŠKODA 130 RS in the 1970s and 1980s. Since 2000, the Czech manufacturer has continued this tradition with RS versions of production models. The highlight so far is the new ŠKODA Octavia RS – the fastest and most powerful production Octavia ever. The acronym RS stands for “Rally Sport”.
A good 40 years after the RS made its first appearance, ŠKODA drivers Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) and Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) now line up with the latest Fabia Super 2000 in the 1974 livery. Lappi comes into the eighth of eleven rounds of the continental rally championship leading the overall standings in the ERC with 118 points, followed by Wiegand (78).

“The Barum Rally is one of the most difficult on the calendar, with fast sections through the forests on narrow roads, and on the unique Czech asphalt. This demands 100 percent concentration every second,” says Lappi. The Finn has already tasted success in the Fabia Super 2000 this year, winning the ERC events in Latvia and Northern Ireland.
His team-mate Sepp Wiegand has made two appearances on the ERC podium in 2014, finishing runner-up in Northern Ireland and third in Belgium. The German also has fond memories of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín, having finished fourth there last year on his first appearance for the works team. “It would be nice to repeat this success. However,
the Barum is an extremely tricky rally, at which the local heroes traditionally play a
major role. That doesn’t scare us though.” As well as Lappi and Wiegand, British driver
Neil Simpson will also line up in a Fabia Super 2000, supported by ŠKODA UK.
The Barum Czech Rally Zlín gets underway on Friday morning with the 4.44-kilometre
qualifying stage. This is followed on Friday evening by the opening stage through the
centre of Zlín, which is traditionally watched by thousands of spectators. In total,
ŠKODA’s home rally consists of 15 special stages between Friday and Sunday, with
237.33 kilometres against the clock.

Away from the rally action, fans at the ŠKODA Motorsport Park in the centre of Zlín are
also in for a treat. Entry is free from Friday to Sunday, and visitors can look forward to
an exciting mix of sporting activities, entertainment, concerts and things to amuse the
kids. The ŠKODA drivers will also be on hand to sign autographs from 16:00 on Friday,
giving fans the opportunity to meet their idols in person.
They include European champion Jan Kopecký, who won ŠKODA’s home rally for the third
time last year in the Fabia Super 2000. This year, Kopecký is focussing on the Asia-
Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). He is sitting pretty at the top of the overall standings
after the fourth of six races, the “Malaysian Rally. He and co-driver Pavel Dresler (CZ)
will test the turbo engine for the Fabia R 5 in the Fabia Super 2000 chassis at the Barum
Rally. “I will not be competing officially, but the procedures will be the same as at any
normal rally,” says Kopecký.
Michal Hrabánek is looking forward to the next stage in the development of the new
Fabia R 5. “We tested the R 5 engine successfully at the Rally Bohemia, and would like to
thank the ERC and the organisers of the Barum Rally for giving us the opportunity to test
the new engine again in competitive conditions.” The homologation of ŠKODA’s new rally
car is planned for mid-2015 at the latest.

In the meantime, the current model, the Fabia Super 2000, has added another two
chapters to its spectacular success story. Pedro Meireles/Mario Castro, who are supported
by ŠKODA Portugal, have already secured their first title in the Portuguese Rally
Championship with two rounds still to come. The experienced Raimund Baumschlager has
also wrapped up his twelfth rally title in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. Hrabánek:
“Congratulations to the drivers and colleagues from Portugal and Austria. It is great to
see that the successful Fabia Super 2000 project is continuing to bear fruit with its first
two titles of 2014. We hope we can enjoy even more celebrations this year.”

Did you know …

... the Barum Czech Rally Zlín was first held in 1971? The winner of the inaugural event was Czech driver Jan Halmazňa. His car: obviously a ŠKODA, the 1100 MB model.
… the Barum Czech Rally Zlín has always been an important event for international drivers? The top drivers to have competed there include the likes of World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl (D). The winners’ list features Norway’s John Haugland (N, three times), Enrico Bertone (I, three times), Harald Demuth (D, twice) and Franz Wittmann (A, twice), among others.
… the Barum Czech Rally Zlín was first included in the Czechoslovakian Rally Championship in 1972? It also formed a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for many years, and was actually a candidate for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2005. Since the merger with the IRC, the rally has formed part of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), as it did in 2013.
... on two occasions in the history of this iconic rally, one car has won five times in a row? In both cases it was a ŠKODA. Between 1976 and 1980, the winner was always at the wheel of a ŠKODA 130 RS. From 2009 up to and including 2013, the winning car was the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.
… the Barum Czech Rally Zlín was 1,200 kilometres long in 1974? This remains the longest distance in the history of this rally. For comparison: only 237.33 kilometres of special stage are scheduled this year.
… the longest special stage is Trojak, at 22.82 kilometres? The drivers tackle this stage twice on Saturday. After the 4.44-kilometre qualifying stage, the rally officially begins on Friday with the city stage in the centre of Zlín. The competitors must negotiate a total of 9.51 kilometres over three laps of a course lined with thousands of spectators.
... ŠKODA grew dramatically in the Czech Republic in the first half of 2014? ŠKODA recorded growth of 22.9 per cent in its home market in the first six months of the year, taking the total number of deliveries in that period to 34,800. 5,600 cars were sold in July – 22.5 per cent more than July 2013.

The number for the Barum Czech Rally Zlín: 5

For the last five years in a row, the Barum Czech Rally Zlín has been won by a driver in the successful ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. Jan Kopecký was victorious in 2009, 2011 and 2013. In 2010 the rally was dominated by Belgian rally legend Freddy Loix. Juho Hänninen (FIN) won in the fast and reliable four-wheel drive car from Mladá Boleslav in 2012.

FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), Drivers’ Championship standings after seven of eleven rounds:
1. Esapekka Lappi, 118 points; 2. Sepp Wiegand, 78; 3. Craig Breen, 70; 4. Vasily Gryazin, 53; 5. Kajetan Kajetanowicz, 48; 6. Robert Kubica, 39; 7. Ott Tänak, 38; 8. Kevin Abbring, 38; 9. Bernardo Sousa, 37; 10. Freddy Loix, 37; 11. Robert Consani, 37.

[Karlheinz]

ŠKODA home race: Sepp Wiegand in second place at half time

› On course for a podium finish in the works Fabia Super 2000
› Thousands of fans experience an eventful day
› ERC front runner Lappi unlucky and will restart on Sunday
› Kopecký tests new turbo engine for ŠKODA Fabia R 5

Zlín, 30 August 2014 – Sepp Wiegand will start the final day of ŠKODA’s home race of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) in an outstanding second place. In an eventful rally day at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín, the speedy German ŠKODA driver kept his cool in front of thousands of spectators at the track and is on course to finish on the podium. ERC front runner Esapekka Lappi (FIN) damaged his car on the fourth special stage and didn’t make it to Saturday‘s finish line. However he will be back chasing points in the day’s classification on the remaining 109.42 kilometres on Sunday.

“Last year we finished in fourth place here on our debut in the works team, this year we’re second in the intermediate standings, it’s fantastic! We’ve only been focussing on what we’re doing and have tried not to make any mistakes,” said Sepp Wiegand: “We’re going to do our best to keep this speed on Sunday.” After 127.91 kilometres of special stages, the young German and his co-driver Frank Christian are 54.1 seconds behind the leaders Václav Pech/Petr Uhel (CZ/CZ).
23-year-old Wiegand took controlled risks on the narrow and slippery asphalt tracks. This saw him work his way up from eighth place at the start of the day into second, despite tyre damage on the final special stage of the day. This makes Wiegand the best foreign driver in the field in the Czech Republic, which is dominated by the strong local drivers. On the final day he has the chance to clinch his third ERC podium spot of the season, after second place in Northern Ireland and third place in Belgium.

On a dry day, ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi and his co-driver Janne Ferm, like some of the other favourites, didn‘t make it to the finish for the day. In second place in the overall standings, Lappi came into contact with a kerbstone. After the ŠKODA mechanics repaired his car, the Finn will restart the race for the remaining six special stages on Sunday and will still be able to pick up valuable championship points.

“I skidded sideways into a kerbstone on a long and fast right bend. I’m annoyed with myself for making this mistake and can only apologise to the team,” said Lappi. Despite his slip-up, the 23-year-old will definitely remain at the top of the ERC overall standings after the eighth of eleven races of the season.

As well as the two Fabia Super 2000s sporting a red and white RS retro look, the European Rally Champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ) in the advance car also delighted the crowds of fans. The current leaders in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) were driving a test vehicle with the 1.6-litre turbo engine for the new ŠKODA Fabia R 5.
As of 2015, ŠKODA will use the new rally car in the R5 category to participate in international rallies. “It was great fun to drive in front of so many spectators and to show off our new car a bit. I’m proud that I can be so involved in the development of the new Fabia R 5. I was very involved in the development of the Fabia Super 2000,” said Kopecký. The seasoned ŠKODA driver won the Barum Czech Rally Zlín last year, his successor will be crowned at 4pm local time on Sunday in the centre of Zlín.

The number of the day: 10.11.0 minutes

After 16.05 kilometres on the second special stage Slušovice, three of the top drivers had the exact same time down to the tenth of a second. In addition to the two ŠKODA drivers, Sepp Wiegand (D) and Esapekka Lappi (FIN), Tomáš Kostka (CZ) also mastered the long distance in 10.11.0 minutes. Evidence of just how evenly balanced the competition at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín is.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín – Intermediate results after day 1
1. Pech/Uhel (CZ/CZ), Mini John Cooper Works S2000 1h 16m 35.0s
2. Wiegand/Christian (D/D), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 + 54.1s
3. Kostka/Houšť (CZ/CZ), Ford Fiesta R5 + 1m 12.7s
4. Kajetanowicz/Baran (PL/PL), Ford Fiesta R5 + 1m 25.9s
5. Odložilík/Tureček (CZ/CZ), Ford Fiesta R5 + 1m 37.0s

[Karlheinz]

Nail-biting finale: Wiegand in second place at ŠKODA home race

› German ŠKODA driver with 0.2 second lead
› ERC leader Lappi picks up valuable championship points
› Hrabánek praises Wiegand: “strong performance at difficult rally”
› “Milestone” in development of turbo engine for the new ŠKODA Fabia R 5

Zlín, 31 August 2014 – Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) finish second on the podium after a nail-biting finale, Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) defend their leading position in the championship: The ŠKODA team thrilled tens of thousands of fans at their home rally in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). As well as the works team's two Fabia Super 2000s sporting a red and white RS retro look, European champion Jan Kopecký (CZ) also delighted fans at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín. In the advance car, he successfully tested the turbo engine for the new ŠKODA Fabia R 5 on the 15 special stages of the rally.

“Congratulations to Sepp Wiegand and Frank Christian. With their strong performance at this rally, they consolidated their second place in the overall standings. It was a very difficult rally in which many of the favourites failed to make it to the end. That's why Esapekka Lappi was even able to strengthen his lead in the ERC overall standings,” said ŠKODA motorsport director Michal Hrabánek.

Wiegand and his co-driver Frank Christian (D) finished in second place after a dramatic duel with Tomáš Kostka (CZ) on the final special stage. After a total of 237.33 kilometres of special stages, he was just 0.2 seconds ahead of his rival. Behind the winners Václav Pech/Petr Uhel (CZ/CZ), Wiegand was the best foreign driver amid the local top drivers. After second place in Northern Ireland and finishing third in Belgium, this was the third ERC podium spot of the season for 23-year-old Wiegand. The Barum Czech Rally Zlín was once again a good hunting ground for the man from Saxony: Last year he finished in fourth place on his debut in the ŠKODA works team.

“Naturally I'm delighted that we secured second place. The asphalt was slippery and muddy in places, particularly in the sections in the forest. We didn't take any unnecessary risks on Sunday to avoid throwing away the rally. The most important thing here was to pick up valuable championship points,” said Wiegand.


In the overall standings of the ERC, the second-placed German has reduced his deficit to his leading team-mate Lappi to 19 points after eight of eleven races of the season. The two ŠKODA drivers even managed to extend their lead over their rivals in the fight to take over from last year's European champion Kopecký. Lappi has 123 points and is ahead of Wiegand (104).

Lappi, who didn't make it to the end of the day on Saturday after a mistake, and his co-driver Janne Ferm won three of the six special stages on Sunday and finished third in the day's standings. This saw him pick up five points for the ERC overall standings. “We successfully managed to limit the damage on Sunday. Many thanks to the ŠKODA team of mechanics who repaired our Fabia Super 2000 to make it as good as new,” said Lappi.
The next test of the 1.6-litre turbo engine for the future ŠKODA Fabia R 5 also went without a hitch at the Barum rally. The test vehicle was driven by the continental champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ). “This time the priority wasn't to get the best times here, but to test the engine. It was fantastic to drive on the track in front of the tens of thousands of spectators,” said Kopecký.

In the future ŠKODA will use the new rally car in the R5 category to participate in international rallies. ŠKODA motorsport director Michal Hrabánek sees the team is on the right path in the development of the source of hope for future success: “We also completed our second mission at the Barum rally: Testing our new vehicle. This saw us set another milestone.”

The number of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín: 9

A ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 was fastest on nine of a total of 15 special stages at the ERC rally in the Czech Republic. Jaromir Tarabus (CZ) set four best times, Esapekka Lappi (FIN) was the fastest driver three times, Roman Kresta (CZ) and Jaroslav Orsák (CZ) were fastest on one special stage each.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín – Final result

1. Pech/Uhel (CZ/CZ), Mini John Cooper Work S2000 2h 16m 28.7s
2. Wiegand/Christian (D/D), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 + 51.5s
3. Kostka/Houšť (CZ/CZ), Ford Fiesta R5 + 51.7s
4. Orsák/ Šmeidler (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 + 1m 12.8s
5. Tarabus/Trunkát (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 + 1m 13.6s

[Karlheinz]

Manufacturers’ title in their sights: ŠKODA can seal victory in the APRC in Japan

› Rally Hokkaido forms penultimate round of the Asian-Pacific Rally Championship
› Opportunity for ŠKODA to win the Manufacturers’ Championship with rallies to spare
› European champion Jan Kopecký and defending champion Gaurav Gill battle it out amongst themselves for the Drivers’ title
› After Portugal and Austria: Fabia Super 2000 wins its third national title in Belgium

Mladá Boleslav, 22 September 2014 – ŠKODA continues its relentless pursuit of the title in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) at the Rally Hokkaido. Championship leader Jan Kopecký (CZ) and defending champion Gaurav Gill (IND) head to the penultimate round of the season, in Japan from Friday to Sunday, on the back of four wins from the first four races. This weekend, the works-assisted ŠKODA MRF team can wrap up the Manufacturers’ Championship in the APRC with one rally still to come.

“As a team, our main goal is obviously to successfully defend the title for ŠKODA. That is what we are focussing on,” said Kopecký. ŠKODA currently has a 67-point lead over the second-placed manufacturer. Should that advantage still be at least 40 points at the end of the Rally Hokkaido, the team will be assured of first place. At the same time, however, Kopecký is also battling his team-mate Gill for the Drivers’ title in the APRC.
Both ŠKODA drivers have two wins to their name in the APRC this season: India’s Gill and his co-driver Glenn Macneall (NZ) triumphed most recently in Malaysia and at the opening race in New Zealand. European champion Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler (CZ), in their first season in the APRC, were unbeatable at the rallies in New Caledonia and Australia. The 32-year-old ŠKODA works driver goes into the Rally Hokkaido with an eight-point lead over Gill at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

“It will be another great battle. Gaurav has the advantage of knowing most of the special stages in Japan from last year. But I will obviously fight hard,” said Kopecký. The land of the rising sun is certainly not unknown territory for the Czech automobile manufacturer – neither now nor in the past. ŠKODA’s predecessor Laurin & Klement was selling cars in Japan between 1908 and 1914. One model was even presented to the imperial family, while the mayor of Tokyo drove another. Fast forward a century, and Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall won the only international rally in Japan on the way to winning the continental championship last year.
“It goes without saying that I would like to win here again this year. That would be a big step towards defending my Drivers’ title. However, that will not be easy, as Jan Kopecký is a quick learner at rallies that are new to him,” said Gill, praising his fellow ŠKODA driver. The competitors at the Rally Hokkaido must tackle 18 special stages and 222.28 kilometres against the clock. There is huge spectator interest: 68,000 fans were counted out on the route for ŠKODA’s triumph last year.

The starts in the APRC are of great importance to the Czech automobile manufacturer. The goal is to further raise the awareness of the brand in international markets – particularly ŠKODA’s largest market, China, where the finale of the APRC season takes place in November. ŠKODA has set its sights on increasing its global sales to at least 1.5 million units per year over the coming years, with particular emphasis on the growth markets in Asia.

One important factor in the brand’s image is the successful Fabia Super 2000. Experienced Belgian rally driver “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won his home round of the FIA European Rally Championship in the high-tech, four-wheel drive powerhouse from Mladá Boleslav in June, has won the title in the Belgian Championship. This is the third championship win this year for ŠKODA’s current rally car. Pedro Meireles (P), who is supported by ŠKODA Portugal, had previously won the championship in Portugal, while old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A), at the wheel of the Fabia Super 2000, clinched the twelfth rally title of his career in Austria this year. It is quite possible that more titles could follow in both the APRC and the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), in which ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi (FIN) tops the table.

Did you know that …

... the Rally Hokkaido made its first appearance on the APRC calendar in 2002? The rally is taking place for the 13th time this year.
... the 2003 event was a candidate to be included on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar in 2003? One year later, the APRC competition was held in conjunction with the first “WRC Rally Japan”. The events were separated again in 2005, and the APRC rally has been run under the name Rally Hokkaido since then.
… the Rally Hokkaido is nowadays the only international FIA rally in Japan?
… the six rounds of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship are held in regions, in which over 2.5 billion people live? China, which hosts the final race in the APRC Season on 8 and 9 November, was also the largest individual ŠKODA market in the world in August, with 21,600 cars sold. In total, ŠKODA delivered 522,500 cars in the first half of 2014, the first time the company had sold more than half a million cars in just half a year. That is a remarkable 19.1 per cent increase on August 2013.
… Hokkaido is the most northern of the main Japanese islands, with a population of 5.6 million? The capital Tokyo has 5,629 persons per square kilometre, whilst this figure is as low as just 67 in Hokkaido.
… Hokkaido lies on roughly the same degree of latitude as northern Italy and France? However, the island has longer and harsher winters than the European regions.
… the island of Hokkaido is also famous for its major sporting events? Its largest city, Sapporo, hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972 and the Nordic World Ski Championship in 2007.
… the service park for the rally is in Obihiro? The city has about 170,000 inhabitants and is regarded as the rally capital of Japan.
... Butadon is the region’s culinary speciality? Big chunks of pork are grilled over charcoal and served with a special sauce. Butadon is to Obihiro what Peking duck is to Beijing.

The number for the Rally Hokkaido: 3

Strange: the competitors at the Rally Hokkaido must tackle two of the special stages three times. The “Satsunai River” super special stage is one kilometre long and, as SS 1, 11 and 18, forms both the start and the finish of the rally. The “Pawse Kamuy” stage is 10.40 kilometres in length and represents stages 2, 6 and 10. This year’s event features only one special stage that was not on the itinerary at last year’s rally: at 28.75 kilometres, the “Kunneywa” special stage is also the second longest.

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Manufacturers’ Championship standings after four of six rounds:
1. ŠKODA, 153 points; 2. Mitsubishi, 86; 3. Proton, 59; 4. Subaru, 52; 5. Renault, 45

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Drivers’ Championship standings after four of six rounds:
1. Jan Kopecký, 112; 2. Gaurav Gill, 104; 3. Mark Pedder, 90; 4. Michael Young, 67; 5. Jun Xu, 67

2014 APRC calendar:

11–13 April: Rally Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rally New Caledonia – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Rally Malaysia – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: Rally China – China

[Karlheinz]

Double title success: ŠKODA makes history at theAPRC

› ŠKODA clinches the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships early
› Third consecutive APRC title
› Czech factory driver Kopecký claims his second continental title after winning the European Rally Championship in 2013
› Fifth win for ŠKODA in round five of the season
› Fabia Super 2000 continues on its winning streak – three national titles already bagged this year

Obihiro, Japan, 28 September 2014 – ŠKODA has every reason to celebrate: the Czech car maker has made motorsport history by clinching a double title early in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). It is ŠKODA’s third consecutive triumph in the APRC manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship*.
With the win, works driver Jan Kopecký (CZ) secured another continental championship less than a year after lifting the European Rally Championship trophy. Kopecký and his co-pilot Pavel Dresler (CZ) put in a commanding performance at the Rally Hokkaido in Japan to make their victory perfect.

“I’m absolutely delighted that we were once again able to win the two continental titles in what is a very important region for us. It means we have achieved a major goal. It’s all the better to be able to travel to the APRC season final in our most important market, China, having already notched up these wins,” commented ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. He singled out the new champion Kopecký for particular praise. Following wins by Chris Atkinson (AUS/2012) and Gaurav Gill (IND/2013), the Czech driver completed the car maker’s title hat-trick in the APRC.
“It is Jan’s first year at the APRC, and winning the title in these difficult circumstances is an incredible achievement,” said Hrabánek. Kopecký and Dresler could hardly believe their historic success. “I would like to thank the ŠKODA Motorsport team and the team from ŠKODA MRF for their great support. It’s amazing to be able to celebrate another big success like this after winning the European Rally Championship. All of this season’s rallies were uncharted territory for us, but we rose to the challenge. I’d also like to pay my co-driver Pavel Dresler a huge compliment – I would’ve lost my way in the Asian-Pacific forests without him,” said 32-year-old Kopecký.

He continued to display strong nerves in round five and wowed tens of thousands of spectators who had thronged to line the route. Kopecký/Dresler were the clear winners at the end of the 18 Special Stages with a total length of 222.28 kilometres. Having already taken the top spot on the podium in New Caledonia and Australia, winning round five marked their third victory in this season’s APRC.

The remaining two rallies in New Zealand and Malaysia were won by ŠKODA’s other pairing, Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall (NZ). The reigning champions and winners of last year’s Japan rally were at the top of the table, just ahead of their team-mates, until SS 07 of the classic rally on the island of Hokkaido when a crash forced them to retire early. “Of course I would’ve liked to defend the title, but it’s only fair to congratulate Jan on his success. The title is in the right hands. I’m glad that I was able to help ŠKODA win the manufacturers’ championship,” Gill said following the triumph in Japan.

Competing in the APRC is immensely important to the Czech car maker. Its aim is to further enhance international awareness of the brand – especially in China, ŠKODA’s largest market, where the final round of the APRC season will take place in November. ŠKODA hopes to increase its global sales to at least 1.5 million units per annum over the next few years with particularly strong growth in the rapidly expanding Asian markets.

This double title success in the APRC means that the legendary ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 remains on a winning streak. It has already claimed three national titles this year: Freddy Loix won the Belgian championship as well as finishing first in the FIA European Rally Championship leg in his home country in June at the wheel of the high-tech 4WD made in Mladá Boleslav. Prior to this, Pedro Meireles – who is supported by ŠKODA Portugal – won the Portuguese championship. Veteran driver Raimund Baumschlager also sealed his twelfth rally championship in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. ŠKODA could yet rack up another title in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), where works driver Esapekka Lappi (FIN) is currently top of the table ahead of his team-mate Sepp Wiegand (D).
* Subject to confirmation by the FIA.

The number for the Rally Hokkaido: 15

One of the two drivers from the ŠKODA MRF team put in the fastest time in 15 of the 18 Special Stages at the APRC Rally Hokkaido. Jan Kopecký ranked top in 11 Stages, while Gaurav Gill claimed four best times.

The 2014 APRC calendar:
11–13 April: Rally of Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rallye de Nouvelle-Calédonie – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally of Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Malaysian Rally – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: China Rally – China

[Karlheinz]

The title race goes on: ŠKODA out to put the shine on a golden autumn of rallying in Switzerland

› “Rallye International du Valais” the penultimate stop in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC)
› Having secured the title in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) with races to go, the ŠKODA works drivers now have their sights set on the ERC title
› ŠKODA has already won three national titles with the Fabia Super 2000 in 2014

Mladá Boleslav, 20 October 2014 – The battle for the Drivers’ crown in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) is coming to a head. When Europe’s rallying elite line up at the penultimate round of the season – the “Rallye International du Valais” – this weekend (23 to 25 October), ŠKODA works duo Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) will do so as championship leaders. Their closest rivals for the title are also at the wheel of a Fabia Super 2000: Germany’s Sepp Wiegand and his co-driver Frank Christian of the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland team start the event 19 points behind the leading ŠKODA pair.

“I have very fond memories of the rally in Switzerland,” said Lappi. “Last year, Janne and I claimed our first major win at an asphalt rally here. That was a very special moment in our careers – particularly as we had won the APRC rally in China for ŠKODA just a few days earlier. I would ideally like to repeat last year’s success in Switzerland, in order to take as large a step forwards as possible in the championship. However, you don’t always get what you want in the ERC: we have a long and extremely demanding rally ahead of us.”
Lappi has already won two events this season, including the prestigious “Circuit of Ireland Rally”, which is also held on asphalt. Fellow ŠKODA driver Wiegand finished second at the same event to claim his first podium in the European Rally Championship. A further two podiums were to follow – third place at the “Ypres Rally” in Belgium and second at the “Barum Rally” in ŠKODA’s backyard in the Czech Republic – putting the 23-year-old in contention for the ERC Drivers’ title with two rounds remaining.

“My best results this year have come at asphalt rallies: I made it onto the podium in Northern Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. That has to be the goal at the ‘Rallye International du Valais’ too if I am to keep the race for the championship alive,” said Wiegand. “This rally is completely new to me. So far, I only know the special stages from video recordings of last year’s race. Some of it reminds me a bit of the Rally Monte Carlo, at which Frank and I won the WRC2 class in 2013. However, the roads are narrower in Switzerland and there is no room for mistakes. There are also a few short gravel sections, which makes it even more exciting.”

The “Rallye International du Valais” is one of the most demanding rounds of the ERC for both man and machine. From Thursday to Saturday, the teams must overcome a total of 260.2 kilometres against the clock, spread over 19 special stages through the Swiss canton of Wallis. The majority of the stages are held on narrow asphalt roads around the cities of Sion and Martigny. However, eight special stages also feature short gravel sections, which the drivers must overcome in cars set-up for asphalt conditions. On top of that come the vast differences in elevation: the lowest point of the route is 400 metres above sea level, while the rally reaches a highest altitude of 1,800 metres. The first car gets proceedings underway at 09:00 local time on Thursday with the 3.3-kilometre qualifying stage in Sion. The competitors reach the finish in Martigny at 17:30 on Saturday.

While the race for the ERC crown is still wide open, the destination of the title in the APRC has already been decided. ŠKODA made motorsport history at the penultimate round of the season in Japan at the end of September: the Czech manufacturer won both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for the third time in a row*. ŠKODA works driver Jan Kopecký (CZ) won the Drivers’ Championship with one race still to come, ahead of his team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND), who won the championship last year. European champion Kopecký is the first rally driver to win first the ERC then the APRC in successive years.

These victories and titles are intrinsically tied to the successful Fabia Super 2000. The high-tech four-wheel drive powerhouse from Mladá Boleslav has also enjoyed great success in national rally championships. Experienced Belgian rally driver “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won his home round of the FIA European Rally Championship in a Fabia Super 2000 in June of this year, claimed the title in the Belgian championship. Prior to this, Pedro Meireles (P), who is supported by ŠKODA Portugal, had also won the championship in Portugal. And old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth title in Austria at the wheel of a Fabia Super 2000.
* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

Did you know that …

... the “Rallye International du Valais” is the penultimate round of the 2014 ERC season? The season finale will take place on the French island of Corsica from 6th to 8th November. The ERC presentation ceremony follows on 9th November in the Corsican capital Ajaccio.
... the “Rallye International du Valais” is being staged for the 55th time this year? The first organiser was the rally-mad wine merchant Philippe Simonetta, who managed to combine his two great passions: that the motorsport world should discover the canton of Wallis, which is ideally suited for rallying, and the region’s outstanding wines.
... the “Rallye International du Valais” was initially called the “Rallye du Vin” (Rally of Wine)? From 1981 to 1984 it bore the name “Rallye International du Vin et du Valais”. It then took on its current title in 1985 and has been known as the “Rallye International du Valais” since.
... the rally in Switzerland first formed part of the European Rally Championship in 1980? The event also featured on the calendar of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2007 and 2008.
... the name ŠKODA went down in the list of winners of the “Rallye International du Valais” last year? Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm won just six days after their success at the APRC rally in China. The two Finns completed a 40-hour journey between the presentation ceremony in China and the start in Wallis.
... the rally circus will pitch its tents in two places at this year’s “Rallye International du Valais? The start of the rally is in the capital of the canton, Sion, which will also play host to the teams’ service areas until Friday. From Saturday on, the service park will be located about 30 kilometres away in Martigny, where the presentation ceremony will also take place.
... that September 2014 has been the best September in the history of ŠKODA? The Czech automobile manufacturer saw deliveries rise by 10.4 per cent last month to a global figure of 95,600 cars (same month last year: 86,600). In Europe, ŠKODA’s market share rose to 4.4 per cent in the first nine months of this year.

The number for the “Rallye International du Valais”: 30.18

Unusual: although the “Rallye International du Valais” is declared as an all-asphalt rally, the teams must still overcome 30.18 kilometres of gravel road. The “Caserne” special stage, which the drivers tackle twice on Friday, includes a 0.14-kilometre section on loose ground. Saturday will be particularly tricky, as the competitors face a further 29.9 kilometres of gravel on the “Bruson”, “Verbier”, “Les Cols” and “Col des Planches” stages. Here, the drivers must be particularly careful – after all, their cars will be set up entirely for asphalt roads. The teams will also only have access to wide asphalt tyres throughout the rally weekend – not the considerably narrower gravel tyres with their deeper tread.

FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), overall standings drivers’ championship after 9 of 11 events:

1. Esapekka Lappi, 123 points; 2. Sepp Wiegand, 104; 3. Kajetan Kajetanowicz, 94; 4. Craig Breen, 74; 5. Vaclav Pech, 63; 6. Vasily Gryazin, 53; 7. Ott Tänak, 44; 8. Bruno Magalhães, 44; 9. Robert Kubica, 39; 10. Robert Consani, 39.

[Karlheinz]

Rallye du Valais: One-two lead for ŠKODA
10/23/2014

Two ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000s at the top after the opener of the Rallye International du Valais. Sepp Wiegand leads ahead of brand colleague Esapekka Lappi.
Good opener for ŠKODA at the “Rallye International du Valais”: After the first three of a total of 19 special stages in the penultimate race of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season, Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) from the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland team are at the top of the standings. Just 4.4 seconds behind them are their Finnish brand colleagues Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm in second place. The ŠKODA works duo won the rally in the Swiss canton of Valais last year and are currently at the top of the ERC overall standings – ahead of Wiegand and Christian.

“Leading the rally after the first three stages is a great feeling. This is the first time we have led an ERC race at the end of a day,” said Wiegand. “However, it was only the opener – there's still a long way to go in the rally. The slippery tracks were often difficult to gauge. Sometimes it felt like we were aquaplaning, but it was mostly sheet ice. The rally and conditions here are completely new to me, but it can carry on like this.”

Lappi also experienced the surprises that the changeable track conditions in the Swiss mountains had in store. “The conditions changed constantly. As soon as it was wet anywhere, I took my foot off the accelerator,” said Lappi. “It wasn't always pleasant, but as it turned out everything went okay for me.”

The largest – and most difficult – part of the rally still awaits the participants. A total of 16 special stages over 227.82 kilometres need to be mastered on the second and third days of the penultimate ERC race this season. While the drivers and co-drivers battle for every second on the track on Friday afternoon, the mechanic crews will also be racing against the clock. After the lunchtime service on Friday, the teams will head from Sion to Martigny, about 25 kilometres away, to set up their tents at the CERM exhibition centre in a few hours, ready for the final day of the “Rallye International du Valais”.

Number of the day: 1
A first: For the first time, Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian end the day of an ERC race in the lead. The first day of the “Rallye International du Valais” got off to a somewhat unusual start – nixing the tactical plans of both ŠKODA crews. After qualifying, the stewards decided to reduce the second special stage, 11.66-kilometre “Crans-Montana”, to just four kilometres due to bad track conditions. Snow and ice from the middle section of the stage onwards may have resulted in unpredictable – and possibly unfair – conditions for the participants.

Rallye International du Valais – intermediate results after day 1
1. Wiegand/Christian (D/D, ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000) 15.55.1 min.
2. Lappi/Ferm (FIN/FIN, ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000) + 4.4 sec.
3. Abbring/Marshall (NL/GB, Peugeot 208 T16) + 6.3 sec.
4. Burri/Ferrero (CH/F, Ford Fiesta R5) + 13.1 sec.
5. Hirschi/Landais (CH/F, Peugeot 208 T16) + 17.4 sec.
6. Carron/Revaz (CH/CH, Peugeot 207 S2000) + 17.8 sec.
7. Kajetanowicz/Baran (PL/PL, Ford Fiesta R5) + 18.0 sec.
8. Consani/Vilmot (F/F, Peugeot 207 S2000) + 24.2 sec.
9. Tarabus/Trunkát (CZ/CZ, ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000) + 31.0 sec.
10. Althaus/Ioset (CH/CH, ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000) + 37.6 sec.

[Karlheinz]

ŠKODA defends its lead at the “Rallye International du Valais“

​› After day two of three, it's still a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 at the top at the “Rallye International du Valais“.
› ŠKODA driver Esapekka Lappi takes the lead from team mate Sepp Wiegand.
› The final day‘s programme will cover more than half of the total distance in the Swiss mountains.

​Sion, 24. Oktober 2014 – ŠKODA has defended its lead at the “Rallye International du Valais“. On the second day of the penultimate race of the season of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), the ŠKODA factory duo Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) took the lead. Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) from the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland team, who had first place after the first of three rally days in the Swiss canton of Wallis, were set back due to tyre damage. The duo are now occupying fourth place, 1:16.2 minutes behind their Finnish team mates.

​ERC front runner Lappi, who had already won the “Rallye International du Valais” in the previous year, was able to take a big step towards winning the European championship title with his victory on Saturday. “We are in the lead – and that’s really good. The Fabia Super 2000 has worked like Swiss clockwork yet again”, said the Finn. “It leaves us in a good starting position to build on Saturday. I don’t want to think about anything more than that quite yet, as we still have a long way to go with the final day.”

Less happy was Lappi’s ŠKODA mate Wiegand. The 23 year old German fell back in the rankings on Friday. Damage to his tyre on the tenth special stage was what caused the significant loss of time. “The flat tyre was just unfortunate”, said Wiegand. “I’m focusing on the positive aspects. The opportunity to get on the victory podium is still there. We will give it our all on Saturday.”

Participants will have to contend with numerous challenges during the final day of the “Rallye International du Valais”. More than half of the rally’s total distance is still to go. Eight special stages across 135.62 kilometres are on the programme, among them being the longest section: the 32.13 kilometre WP “Les Cols” on Saturday morning. The winner will be driving over the ramp at 17.30 at the CERM exhibition centre in Martigny.

The number of the day: 29.5

The “Rallye International du Valais” is similar to the legendary Monte Carlo Rally in more ways than just its track characteristics. The Swiss ERC track also shares an organisational feature, which is rather unusual nowadays, with the oldest rally in the world: just like the “Monte”, the teams at this Swiss rally have to change location during the event. While the service point was based at the former barracks of Sion up to Friday afternoon, the teams were pitching their tents at the exhibition centre CERM in Martigny from Friday evening onwards. The distance between the two locations is exactly 29.5 kilometres. The teams only had three hours to dismantle, reconstruct and transport themselves to the next service point.

“Rallye International du Valais” – intermediate results after day 2

1. Lappi/Ferm (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000            1h 11m 03.5s
2. Kajetanowicz/Baran (PL/PL), Ford Fiesta R5                     + 23.0s
3. Breen/Martin (IRL/GB), Peugeot 208 T16                    + 1m 01.5s
4. Wiegand/Christian (D/D), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000     + 1m 16.2s
5. Carron/Revaz (CH/CH), Peugeot 207 S2000                + 1m 24.6s
6. Hirschi/Landais (CH/F), Peugeot 208 T16                     + 1m 29.8s
7. Consani/Vilmot (F/F), Peugeot 207 S2000                    + 1m 35.4s
8. Burri/Ferrero (CH/F), Ford Fiesta R5                            + 1m 47.4s
9. Tarabus/Trunkát (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000    + 2m 21.1s
10. Althaus/Ioset (CH/CH), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000       + 2m 28.0s

[Karlheinz]

Lappi‘s victory in Switzerland secures ŠKODA the European championship*

​› ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi repeats last year’s success at the ERC race in Switzerland and looks likely to win the title
› ŠKODA brand colleague Sepp Wiegand also makes it onto the winners’ podium and in third place is the last remaining rival in the ERC title race
› The season finale of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) takes place from 6 to 8 November in Corsica

​Martigny, 25 October 2014 – The European Rally Champion will be a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 driver once again this year. The works drivers Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) extended their lead in the overall standings with their victory at the “Rallye International du Valais”, the penultimate race of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season. Only their brand colleagues Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) can prevent them from winning the ERC title for drivers and co-drivers now. The duo from the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland team finished third at the rally in the Swiss canton of Valais.

​“I’d like to congratulate both sets of drivers on this fantastic result,” said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. “Once again our two ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000s ran like Swiss watches. Finishing with both cars on the podium – that’s the result of the professional performance of the whole team this weekend. We’re delighted that the ERC title will now be decided among two ŠKODA driver teams. After successes in the APRC and in three national championships in 2014 already, this result in the ERC is another golden chapter in the successful history of the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.”

The “Rallye International du Valais” went ŠKODA’s way for the second time in a row. Lappi/Ferm won the ERC race in the Swiss Alps last year – and this year ŠKODA was at the top on all three rally days. In the night from Thursday to Friday, Wiegand/Christian went to bed as the front runners of an ERC race for the first time, before Lappi/Ferm took the lead on the second day and kept hold of it right until the finish on Saturday evening.

“The whole weekend went perfectly for us,” said Lappi. “Janne and I are incredibly proud to have won in Switzerland for the second time. I would like to thank the whole team for their fantastic work. We’re in a great position in the championship now and travel to the final race in Corsica with a good feeling.” After success in Latvia and Northern Ireland this year it was the third victory of the year for the Finns.

“It was an incredibly exhausting rally for us,” said Wiegand after his fourth ERC podium spot this season. “We started well but were then unlucky, for example with the tyre damage on Friday. That’s why we’re all the more delighted to have finished in third place here. It means that Frank and I are still even in with a chance of winning the European championship.”

While the battle for the ERC crown is still open, the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) has already been decided. ŠKODA won the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings of the APRC for the third time in a row*. ŠKODA works driver Jan Kopecký (CZ) also secured the drivers title before the end of the season – ahead of his team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND), who won the championship last year. European champion Kopecký is the first rally driver to have won the ERC and then the APRC in two consecutive years. The big season finale of the APRC will take place on 8 and 9 November in ŠKODA’s biggest market, China.

These victories and championship titles are inextricably linked to the successful Fabia Super 2000. The high-tech four-wheel drive from Mladá Boleslav has also been successful in national rally championships. Belgium’s rally old hand “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won the FIA European Rally Championship race in his home country in the Fabia Super 2000 in June, won the Belgian championship title. Before that, Pedro Meireles (P), supported by ŠKODA Portugal, won the championship in Portugal. Old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth rally championship title overall in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

Number of the day: 6

Esapekka Lappi looks likely to win the European Rally Championship going into the ERC season finale. If the Finn picks up at least six championship points in Corsica at the final race of the year, the 23-year-old from Naarajärvi will have won his first international title.

“Rallye International du Valais” – final results

1. Lappi/Ferm (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000            2h 46m 22.4s
2. Breen/Martin (IRL/GB), Peugeot 208 T16 R5                          + 42.0s
3. Wiegand/Christian (D/D), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000               + 3m 04.1s
4. Hirschi/Landais (CH/F), Peugeot 208 T16 R5                          + 4m 10.2s
5. Burri/Ferrero (CH/F), Ford Fiesta R5                                     + 4m 17.8s
6. Consani/Vilmot (F/F), Peugeot 207 S2000                             + 4m 24.8s
7. Althaus/Ioset (CH/CH), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000                 + 5m 56.9s
8. Perroud/Marchand (CH/CH), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000         + 6m 22.5s
9. Gonon/Horgnies (CH/CH), Subaru Impreza R4                    + 7m 08.9s
10. Radoux/Gregoire (CH/CH), Ford Fiesta R5                        + 9m 53.5s

[Karlheinz]

ŠKODA driver Lappi set to win ERC title

ERC season finale: Nothing stands between ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi and the title after Wiegand's retirement.

The stage is set for ŠKODA driver Esapekka Lappi (FIN) at the season finale of the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC): The Finn’s path to winning the title is clear after his brand colleague Sepp Wiegand (D) is no longer able to take part in the legendary “Tour de Corse” from Thursday to Saturday after his car caught fire during testing before the event. For the third time in a row, a driver of the successful Fabia Super 2000 model will be added to the list of ERC champions. Juho Hänninen (FIN) started the Czech car manufacturer’s winning streak in 2012. In 2013 victory went to Jan Kopecký (CZ), who won the title in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for ŠKODA this year.

In addition to the titles in the APRC and four national championships in 2014 alone, the early certain victory in the European continental championship is the icing on the cake of another extremely successful rally season for ŠKODA. Unfortunately the ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland team won’t be taking part. The German duo Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian came off the track in a left-hand bend during pre-event testing on Monday. Dry grass at the scene of the accident was set alight by their car’s hot exhaust, setting the car on fire. Sepp Wiegand and Frank Christian weren’t hurt. However, because there isn’t enough time to repair their Fabia Super 2000, they are unable to start the “Tour de Corse”.

“I feel really bad for Sepp Wiegand and Frank Christian, we were looking forward to the thrilling ŠKODA battle for the title with our fiercest rivals,” said Lappi. “We now need to single-handedly try to round off this successful season for ŠKODA on Corsica. After our third victory this season in Switzerland, naturally we are very confident heading to Corsica.”

Wiegand will be crossing his fingers for his brand colleague Lappi at the rally: “I’m very disappointed. I’m really sorry that the slip-up had such drastic consequences – I’m also sorry for the whole team,” he said visibly dejected. “I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard to give us the chance to still be fighting for the title here.” Some consolation for the 23-year-old German is that he is still in with a chance of finishing second in the overall standings, which would mean a ŠKODA one-two victory.

The winner of the season finale will be decided on eleven varied special stages covering 251.50 kilometres on Corsica. Porto Vecchio in the south east of the island is the starting point for the first time. There, where the legendary “Tour de France” cycle race started with ŠKODA as a partner in 2013, the wild chase on winding asphalt tracks between the seashore and rugged mountains gets underway as of Thursday. The new starting point means that some legs are completely new to all driver teams – they will set the scene for the thrilling ŠKODA showdown.

As in the ERC, the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) has already been decided. ŠKODA won the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings in the APRC for the third time in a row*. ŠKODA works driver Jan Kopecký (CZ) also secured the drivers’ title before the end of the season – ahead of his team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND), who won the championship last year. European champion Kopecký is the first rally driver to have won the ERC followed by the APRC in two consecutive years. The grand finale of the APRC season will take place from 7 to 9 November in ŠKODA's biggest market, China.

These victories and championship titles are inextricably linked to the successful Fabia Super 2000. The high-tech four-wheel drive from Mladá Boleslav has also been successful in national rally championships. Belgium’s rally old hand “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won the FIA European Rally Championship race in his home country in the Fabia Super 2000 in June, won the Belgian championship title. Before that, Pedro Meireles (P), supported by ŠKODA Portugal, won the championship in Portugal. Old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth rally championship title overall in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. On top of that, Poles Grzegorz Grzyb/Robert Hundla won the championship in Slovakia.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

Did you know that...
...75 percent of the winners of the “Tour de Corse” are French? In a total of 56 rallies held so far, a rally driver from France has been at the top of the winners’ podium 42 times. Incidentally: The only German driver to have celebrated a victory on Corsica is Herbert Linge. He won alongside co-driver Paul-Ernst Strähle in the Porsche SC90 back in 1960.

...there are two record winners of the “Tour de Corse”? The Frenchmen Bernard Darniche and Didier Auriol won the rally six times each.

...the rally on Corsica is also known as the “rally of 10,000 bends”? The name refers to the fact that the special stages are mainly on asphalt roads winding through the mountains.

...the “Tour de Corse” was part of the FIA World Rally Championship until 2008? Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb dominated on Corsica this millennium. The record world champion won here four times in a row from 2005 to 2008.

...Ajaccio, the centre of the rally, has a very famous resident? Napoléon Bonaparte was born here in 1769. You can still visit the birthplace of the former emperor of France today, including the trap door that Napoléon used to exit the house when he fled Corsica in 1793.

...spectators at the “Tour de Corse” may come across semi-wild domestic pigs roaming free? Their meat is used in local delicacies such as lonzu (smoked fillet of pork), coppa (smoked pork neck), or figatellu (smoked liver sausage with herbs).

...Corsica is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus? Talking of size: At 2,706 metres, Monte Cinto is the highest mountain on Corsica. However, racers won’t see the summit. The highest elevation on Corsica is about 100 kilometres to the north of Ajaccio.

...France isn’t only an important market for ŠKODA? The new ŠKODA Fabia and Fabia Combi recently celebrated their world premiere at the Paris Motor Show. The Czech car manufacturer has also been a partner of the legendary “Tour de France” for professional cyclists since 2004. ŠKODA founding fathers Laurin and Klement laid the foundations for the brand's success story with the production of bicycles in 1895.

The number of the “Tour de Corse”: 5
The victory at the last ERC rally in Switzerland was the fifth European championship victory in Esapekka Lappi’'s career, which is still in its early stages. In 2013 Lappi was mainly active in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), but was victorious at the end of the ERC season in Switzerland. This year saw victories three to five in Latvia, Northern Ireland and the “Rallye International du Valais”.

FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), overall standings drivers’ championship after 10 of 11 events:
1. Esapekka Lappi, 162 points; 2. Sepp Wiegand, 128; 3. Craig Breen, 104; 4. Kajetan Kajetanowicz, 100; 5. Vaclav Pech, 63; 6. Vasily Gryazin, 53; 7. Robert Consani, 50; 8. Ott Tänak, 44; 9. Bruno Magalhães, 44; 10. Robert Kubica, 39.

[Karlheinz]

ŠKODA Champions want to round off outstanding season at highlight in China


​› “China Rally Longyou” from Friday to Sunday final APRC stop
› ŠKODA title win in the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings* already certain
› Five victories in five rallies of the APRC season so far
› ŠKODA production vehicles are best sellers in China
› Titles in the ERC and four national championships for the Fabia Super 2000

​Mladá Boleslav, 5 November 2014 – The ŠKODA champions want to round off an outstanding season in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) at the highlight of the season in China. With the flawless result of five victories in five rallies so far, the duos Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ) and Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall (IND/NZ) head to the Czech car manufacturer’s most important market in the world for the season finale. The works-supported ŠKODA MRF Team has already secured the title in the manufacturers’ standings of the APRC* ahead of the “China Rally Longyou” for the third time in a row.  Also, Jan Kopecký has secured the title before the end of the season, making him the first driver in history to win the driver’s title in the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the APRC* in consecutive years.

​“Naturally we are very proud to have won these titles for ŠKODA in our debut season in the APRC. But there’s no reason to celebrate just yet: After all we want to finish off the season perfectly at the highlight of the season and put on a good show for our fans in China,” said Kopecký. The 32-year-old ŠKODA works driver has won three rallies this season, in New Caledonia, Australia and most recently in Japan. The dethroned defending champion Gill was victorious in the other two APRC rallies in New Zealand and Malaysia. Gill’s aim for China is to at least draw level with Kopecký on number of victories: “After coming second in China last year, I want to finish the season with a win. After all it’s an important race for the whole brand.”

Just how popular ŠKODA is in China was evident the first time that the Czech brand ever participated in a vintage car rally in Beijing and Shanghai in September. At the “Top City Classic Rally China” a convertible ŠKODA Felicia from 1961 and a Laurin & Klement 300 from 1923 – the oldest vehicle to take part – delighted tens of thousands of spectators. At the “China Rally Longyou”, the state of the art rally racer Fabia Super 2000 is set to enthral the fans over 230.92 kilometres and 13 special stages.

ŠKODA wants to increase its worldwide sales in the coming years to at least 1.5 million units per year, focusing on the Asian growth markets in particular. In China alone the number of vehicles sold is planned to rise to more than 500,000 in the future. Last week ŠKODA’s HR Director Bohdan Wojnar was part of a Czech government delegation accompanying President Miloš Zeman on his state visit to China.

In addition to the title hat-trick in the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings in the APRC, ŠKODA has also secured the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) title going into the final race of the season. The path to the ERC title is clear for ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi (FIN) at the season finale on Corsica from Thursday to Saturday. The high-tech four-wheel drive from Mladá Boleslav has also won the championship title in four national rally championships.

Belgium’s rally old hand “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won the FIA European Rally Championship race in his home country in the Fabia Super 2000 in June, won the Belgian championship title. Before that, Pedro Meireles (P), supported by ŠKODA Portugal, won the championship in Portugal. Old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth rally championship title overall in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. On top of that, Poles Grzegorz Grzyb/Robert Hundla won the championship in Slovakia.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.


Did you know that …

… the six races of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship are held in regions in which more than 2.5 billion people live?

… China is ŠKODA’s largest single market worldwide? In September 2014 alone, 24,900 vehicles were delivered here, which is more than a quarter of the Czech car manufacturer’s total sales around the world. The increase of 16.3 percent compared with the previous year’s result in the same month (September 2013: 21,400) was also the second-best monthly sales result for ŠKODA since entering the Chinese market in 2007. A total of 198,200 vehicles were sold in the first nine months.

… the “China Rally Longyou” has been part of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) since 2006? Before that, the rally in the province of Zhejiang was where the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) was held.

… Cody Crocker is the record winner of the “China Rally Longyou”? The Australian won the rally four times in a row between 2006 and 2009.

… Alister McRae won the “China Rally Longyou” in 2011 and 2012, continuing the McRae family’s success story in China? His older brother, rally legend Colin McRae, won the “Rally China” in 1997, which was still part of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) back then.

… “Longyou” is a district in the Chinese province of Zhejiang? Zhejiang Province is known as the “land of fish and rice”. The largest fishing area is off the east coast of China and rice is the most important agricultural product on land.
… the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world is in Zhejiang Province? In May 2008 the Hangzhou bridge was opened in Hangzhou harbour. Construction of the 6-lane bridge started in November 2003 and cost a total of around 1.1 billion euros.

… ŠKODA has fond memories of the “China Rally Longyou”? Last year Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) won the “China Rally Longyou”, beating their team-mates Gaurav Gill/Glen Macneall (IND/NZ) and clinching championship victory for ŠKODA in the manufacturers' standings.


The number of the “China Rally Longyou”: 1, 2, 3

1, 2, 3 – the top three positions in the drivers’ overall standings in the APRC are all taken by ŠKODA drivers. The new champion Jan Kopecký (CZ) leads ahead of the dethroned defending champion Gaurav Gill. Both drivers drive for the works-supported team ŠKODA MRF. Third-placed Jun Xu from China also owes his success to a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.


FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Manufacturers’ Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. ŠKODA, 192 points (making them APRC champion*); 2. Mitsubishi, 94; 3. Subaru 82; 4. Proton, 72; 5. Renault, 45


FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Drivers’ Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. Jan Kopecký, 151 (making him APRC champion*); 2. Gaurav Gill, 104; 3. Jun Xu 97; 4. Mark Pedder, 90; 5. Michael Young, 88


APRC Calendar 2014:

11–13 April: Rally Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rally New Caledonia – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Rally Malaysia – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: China Rally Longyou – China

[Karlheinz]

Champion Kopecký ambassador for ŠKODA in core market China

​› Title hat-trick* for ŠKODA in FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
› Jan Kopecký: “Delighted by how many people in China drive a ŠKODA”
› Promotional tour in Shanghai after the rally
› Historic achievement by Kopecký: Champion* in the ERC and APRC in consecutive years

​Longyou/China, 7 November 2014 – Champion Jan Kopecký noticed something very special in his first few days in China. “I’m surprised and delighted by how many ŠKODA models there are on the roads here,” said the Czech works driver: “Whether it’s the Fabia or the Octavia – the Chinese like us.” To develop this special relationship in ŠKODA's most important global market further in the future, Kopecký and his co-driver Pavel Dresler are on a promotional tour in China.

​The focus of this tour is the successful duo’s appearance at the “China Rally Longyou” from Friday to Sunday. Going into the season grand finale of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Kopecký has already become the first driver in history to win the drivers’ title in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the APRC* in consecutive years. On top of that, ŠKODA has secured the title in the manufacturers’ standings of the APRC* ahead of the “China Rally Longyou” for the third time in a row. In the five races of the APRC season so far ŠKODA has won five times.

So it's logical that the rally fans in the Chinese province of Zhejiang are watching out for Jan Kopecký and the successful Fabia Super 2000 model in particular. To make sure they were prepared perfectly, Kopecký and Dresler travelled to China a week before the start of the most important rally. “This was the best way for us to adjust to the time difference. Before the recce on Wednesday we mainly went jogging and to the gym – and are also getting to know the country and people on our first trip to China,” reported Kopecký.

As well as the friendliness of the people, the 32-year-old is particularly taken with the varied and delicious food in China. The turbulent traffic in the Longyou district is new territory: “There's so much traffic, everyone sounds their horn.” The trip to the metropolis of Shanghai, supported by ŠKODA China, when the rally is over will be even more exciting. Photo shoots in front of the sights in the megacity and at a ŠKODA dealer are planned for Monday and Tuesday.

The Czech car brand has been in China since 2007 and since then has found its way into customers’ hearts with its attractive models. In the first nine months of 2014, almost 200,000 vehicles were delivered in China. The plans for the future are to deliver up to 500,000 each year in ŠKODA's most important single market in the world.

“Just how fast and reliable our Fabia is, was demonstrated once again in this championship,” said Kopecký: “On top of that, ŠKODA has a perfect team. China is the perfect location to celebrate this properly with everybody.”

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.



Did you know that …

… the six races of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship are held in regions in which more than 2.5 billion people live?

… China is ŠKODA’s largest single market worldwide? In September 2014 alone, 24,900 vehicles were delivered here, which is more than a quarter of the Czech car manufacturer’s total sales around the world. The increase of 16.3 percent compared with the previous year’s result in the same month (September 2013: 21,400) was also the second-best monthly sales result for ŠKODA since entering the Chinese market in 2007. A total of 198,200 vehicles were sold in the first nine months.

… the “China Rally Longyou” has been part of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) since 2006? Before that, the rally in the province of Zhejiang was where the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) was held.

… Cody Crocker is the record winner of the “China Rally Longyou”? The Australian won the rally four times in a row between 2006 and 2009.

... Alister McRae won the “China Rally Longyou” in 2011 and 2012, continuing the McRae family’s success story in China? His older brother, rally legend Colin McRae, won the “Rally China” in 1997, which was still part of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) back then.

… “Longyou” is a district in the Chinese province of Zhejiang? Zhejiang Province is known as the “land of fish and rice”. The largest fishing area is off the east coast of China and rice is the most important agricultural product on land.

… the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world is in Zhejiang Province? In May 2008 the Hangzhou bridge was opened in Hangzhou harbour. Construction of the 6-lane bridge started in November 2003 and cost a total of around 1.1 billion euros.

… ŠKODA has fond memories of the “China Rally Longyou”? Last year Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) won the “China Rally Longyou”, beating their team-mates Gaurav Gill/Glen Macneall (IND/NZ) and clinching championship victory for ŠKODA in the manufacturers’ standings.

The number of the “China Rally Longyou”: 1, 2, 3

1, 2, 3 – the top three positions in the drivers’ overall standings in the APRC are all taken by ŠKODA drivers. The new champion Jan Kopecký (CZ) leads ahead of the dethroned defending champion Gaurav Gill. Both drivers drive for the works-supported team ŠKODA MRF. Third-placed Jun Xu from China also owes his success to a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.


FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Manufacturers’ Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. ŠKODA, 192 points (making them APRC champion*); 2. Mitsubishi, 94; 3. Subaru 82; 4. Proton, 72; 5. Renault, 45


FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Drivers’ Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. Jan Kopecký, 151 (making him APRC champion*); 2. Gaurav Gill, 104; 3. Jun Xu 97; 4. Mark Pedder, 90; 5. Michael Young, 88


APRC Calendar 2014:

11–13 April: Rally Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rally New Caledonia – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Rally Malaysia – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: China Rally Longyou – China

[Karlheinz]

ŠKODA driver Lappi is European Rally Champion*

​› Lappi new ERC champion* ahead of his brand colleague Sepp Wiegand
› “Biggest success of my career”
› Third ERC title win in a row with the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000
› Four national championship titles already, as well as drivers’, co-drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for ŠKODA in 2014

Rally Corsica 2014 Rally Corsica 2014 Rally Corsica 2014 Rally Corsica 2014 Rally Corsica 2014
​Porto Vecchio, 7 November 2014 – ŠKODA has secured the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) title* for the third time in a row. Despite Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) being unable to finish the season finale on Corsica, the works drivers are the champions of the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) also have reason to celebrate; coming second in the overall standings they clinched ŠKODA’s one-two victory in the continental championship.

​“It’s the biggest success of my career. My thanks go to the entire ŠKODA Motorsport team and my co-driver Janne – they all did a fantastic job,” said Lappi. As European Champion, the 23-year-old follows in the footsteps of his ŠKODA brand colleagues Jan Kopecký (CZ/2013) and Juho Hänninen (FIN/2012), who won the title in the successful Fabia Super 2000 model in the two previous years. Lappi earned the victory with his three wins at the ERC rallies in Latvia, Northern Ireland and Switzerland.

The Finn was unable to complete the tradition-steeped “Tour de Corse” after he came off the track on the final special stage of the first day. The successful duo escaped without injury. At the point at which they retired, Lappi was in a promising third place. “We were doing well at this rally, but then I misjudged a bend. I feel bad for the team,” said Lappi.

The major problem at the classic rally was that the drivers who started first flung mud from the edge of the track onto the asphalt. The drivers who started later – Lappi was fourth to take to the track – had to battle with this. This was made worse by the fact that the track was slippery and wet at times, despite the sun shining. Unpredictable conditions with consequences for Esapekka Lappi. The Finn won’t start the second day of the “Tour de Corse”.

Nevertheless, ŠKODA’s one-two victory in the ERC is certain: With 162 points Lappi won the title ahead of his brand colleague Wiegand (128), who got four podium spots in the course of the season. As well as this victory, ŠKODA has also already secured the title hat-trick in the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)* ahead of the season finale at the weekend in China, ŠKODA’s most important market. ŠKODA works driver Jan Kopecký is the new champion, ahead of his team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND), who won the championship last year. Last year’s European Champion Kopecký is the first rally driver to have won the ERC and then the APRC in two consecutive years.

The high-tech four-wheel drive from Mladá Boleslav has also won the championship title in four national rally championships. Belgium's rally old hand “Fast” Freddy Loix, who won the FIA European Rally Championship race in his home country in the Fabia Super 2000 in June, won the Belgian championship title. Before that, Pedro Meireles (P), supported by ŠKODA Portugal, won the championship in Portugal. Old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth rally championship title overall in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. On top of that, Poles Grzegorz Grzyb/Robert Hundla won the championship in Slovakia.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

Number of the day: 7

There is seven hours time difference between Corsica and the east coast of China. Which is where the season finale of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the “China Rally Longyou”. And there’s another reason to celebrate: going into the rally, ŠKODA is already champion in the manufacturers’ standings for the third time in a row.



“Tour de Corse” – intermediate results after day 1

1. Sarrazin/Renucci (F/F), Ford Fiesta RRC                1h 22m 05.4s
2. Bouffier/Panseri (F/F), Ford Fiesta RRC                + 1.7s
3. Abbring/Marshall (NL/GB), Peugeot 208 T16 R5            + 38.3s
4. Camilli/Veillas (F/F), Peugeot 207 S2000                + 1m 11.0s
5. Maurin/Klinger (F/F), Ford Fiesta R5                    + 2m 14.2s
6. Dumas/Giraudet (F/F), Porsche 997 GT3                + 2m 26.9s
7. B. Magalhães/C. Magalhães (PT/PT), Peugeot 208 T16 R5        + 2m 58.7s
8. Tarabus/Trunkát (CZ/CZ), ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000        + 3m 42.4s
9. Leandri/Gordon (F/F), Ford Fiesta R5                + 4m 20.8s
10. Cronin/Clarke (IRL/GB), Subaru Impreza                + 6m 30.2s