ŠKODA Motorsport with Kopecký, Veiby well prepared for 10,000 corners of Tour de Corse

Mladá Boleslav, March 30: For the first time in the 2018 season of the FIA World Rally Championship, ŠKODA Motorsport factory crews Jan Kopecký / Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE) and Ole Christian Veiby / Stig Rune Skjaermœn (NOR / NOR) face pure tarmac roads on the fourth round of the WRC 2, the Rally France / Tour de Corse (April 5-8), also known as the “Rally of the 10.000 corners”.

While Kopecký and Veiby successfully honed their tarmac driving skills in the opening round of the Czech Championship, the Rally Valašská, two weeks before, the ŠKODA FABIA R5 got an engine upgrade, improving engine power, performance and torque.

Kopecký said: “I finished second in the WRC 2 category in Corsica in 2016. And in 2011, 2012 and 2013 I also achieved a second place each time. Last year, I had some power steering issues, which cost me the chance to fight for a podium result. Now I want to take a revenge for last year’s mishap.”

Ahead of the Tour de Corse, the Czech champion prepared himself with a special asphalt warm-up, scoring a dominant win with his ŠKODA FABIA R5 at the first round of the Czech Rally Championship 2018, the Rally Valašská.

Kopecký, who won the WRC 2 category at Rally Monte Carlo, the opening round of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), could take the lead in the 2018 WRC 2 championship standings by winning in Corsica.

Team-mates Ole Christian Veiby and co-driver Stig Rune Skjaermœn prepared themselves as well on the Rally Valašská by finishing in third place. “I did not compete on tarmac since the Tour de Corse last year, so it was a welcome experience to get the feeling again for the ŠKODA FABIA R5 on asphalt. After my fifth place in 2017, I want to achieve another top result,” said Veiby.

Not only the crews but also the ŠKODA FABIA R5 are travelling well prepared to the Mediterranean island. To maintain the global success of the ŠKODA FABIA R5, the ŠKODA Motorsport recently upgraded the currently most successful rally car in its category.

ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek explains: “In the past, our work on the ŠKODA FABIA R5 focused on reliability. As a result, none of the factory cars had to retire due to technical issues so far. Thanks to the presence of our works team in the FIA World Rally Championship, we got the experience to continuously develop the car making the FABIA R5 the best car in its category.

“In 2018, we are facing new R5 cars from our competitors. As a result, we are now offering an engine upgrade to our customer teams which improves torque, power output, drivability and the throttle response of the engine. At the Tour de Corse, Jan and OC will benefit from this upgrade which offers on top of that nine horse powers more.”

The Rally France / Tour de Corse features only 12 timed stages which are notorious for their length and the fact that virtually no straight is longer than 50 metres. Hence, the organisers call it the “Rally of the 10.000 corners”. Nevertheless, the competitive mileage sums up to more than 333 kms.

On Sunday, the penultimate monster test Vero – Sarrola – Carcopino will bring men and machine to their limits on a grueling, non-stop sequence of corners over more than 55 Kms. The winner will reach the island’s capital Ajaccio at 3 pm on the “Place du Diamant”.

ŠKODA Motorsport Overview

ŠKODA has been successful on the motorsport scene since 1901. Be it on the circuit or in rallies, ŠKODA has celebrated victories and won titles all around the world. Historical highlights include winning the title in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2) for the first time in 2016, numerous title wins in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), as well as the victory in the European Touring Car Championship in 1981. ŠKODA teams have also triumphed in the world’s oldest and most famous rally, taking several class victories in the legendary Monte Carlo, which was first held in 1911.

The ŠKODA FABIA R5, a high-tech 4×4, was homologated by the International Automobile Federation FIA on 1 April 2015. ŠKODA’s new FABIA R5 is successfully continuing the long tradition of ŠKODA Motorsport. Its predecessor, the FABIA Super 2000, won 50 national and international titles around the world. In the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2) 2016, Esapekka Lappi / Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) won the title for the Czech car maker. In total, 10 of the 2016 season’s races in the World Rally Championship were won by a ŠKODA FABIA R5.

ŠKODA drivers Gustavo Saba (PRY) and Gaurav Gill (IND) also won the continental championships in South America and the Asia-Pacific region at the wheel of the successful ŠKODA FABIA R5. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) was unbeatable in the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) while a further 10 national titles also went the way of ŠKODA drivers.

The 2017 season was the most successful year in the history of ŠKODA Motorsport. Works duo Pontus Tidemand / Jonas Andersson (Swe/Swe) became WRC 2 Champions, ŠKODA Motorsport won the Team Championship. Jan Kopecký / Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) won the Czech Rally Championship (MČR) for the third time in a row and are the spearhead of in total 14 crews winning their country’s national titles. Furthermore, the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the FIA South American Rally Championship (CODASUR) and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) have been won by teams competing in a ŠKODA FABIA R5.

ŠKODA AUTO

• Is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the World. The company was founded in 1895 during the pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company’s headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav
• Offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, KAROQ, KODIAQ and SUPERB
• In 2017, delivered more than 1,2 million vehicles to customers Worldwide
• Has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions
• Operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia, Algeria and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners
• Employs over 35,000 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets

Skoda Motorsport release