Return of SKODA : Skoda Motorsport Factory Team To Appear At Monte Carlo Rally

Skoda Fabia Super 2000

The Skoda Fabia Super 2000 is going to have a competition premiere at the upcoming Rally Monte Carlo (21-24 January, 2009) as part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series (IRC). The Skoda Motorsport factory team will have two crews in action, Czechs Jan Kopecký with Petr Starý (co-driver) and Juho Hänninen with Mikko Markkula, both from Finland.


Skoda Auto has successfully completed the vehicle homologation process and received an official homologation certificate from FIA that entitles the Fabia Super 2000 to take part in FIA competitions.

Commenting on the Company’s return to the car racing world, Skoda Auto BOD Member for Technological Development Dr. Eckhard Scholz says: “We are proud to be continuing the tradition of over a hundred years of motorsport under the winged-arrow emblem. We want to use the car in selected competitions, primarily in the IRC series, and we strongly believe that the new vehicle is absolutely competitive. We and our importers are also going to look for opportunities of using the Fabia Super 2000 on national level in the respective countries and are planning to start selling the vehicle to private teams as well, as well as perform further development work and tests of this race car.“

Explaining the reasons for selecting the said drivers, Head of Skoda Motorsport Michal Hrabánek says: “Although they are still young, both Jan and Juho are very good drivers and have enough experience, too. With the new car and the team around, we believe that they will continue growing and that we will represent the Skoda brand in rally competitions really successfully.“

Key technical parameters of the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 :

• Dimension : Length 3,992 mm, width 1,798 mm, wheelbase 2,486 mm, Weight 1,200 kg
  
• Drive : 4×4
  
• Engine : atmospheric petrol engine, four cylinders, 16 valves, displacement 1,998 ccm, aluminium block and cylinder head, torque 245 Nm
  
• Transmission : 6-speed sequential - X-trac, 3 mechanical differentials
  
• Clutch : AP Racing – 184 mm
  
• Electronics : Magneti Marelli
  
• Suspension : McPerson – front and rear
  
• Shock absorbers : Reiger Racing system
  
• Brakes : Brembo, front disk diameter 355 mm, rear disk diameter 300 mm (tarmac); gravel - 300 mm both front and rear
  
• Wheels : OZ wheel rims with BF Goodrich 18´´ (tarmac) and 15´´ (gravel) tires

Images : Skoda Fabia Super 2000

[Source : SKODA]