As a tribute to the 40-year history of Skoda cars with the RS designation , this year's Rally Bohemia will feature the participation of two contemporary Skoda Fabia Super 2000 specials in the design of the historic Skoda 180 RS and Skoda 200 RS models . Both drivers, Jan Kopecký and Sepp Wiegand, want to fight for victory with these retro-style cars. Rally Bohemia takes place on the weekend (July 11-12, 2014) in the vicinity of Mladá Boleslav, the home town of the Czech automobile company.
The reason for the historical appearance of the Fabia Super 2000 cars is the 40th birthday of the Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS cars. In June 1974, both of these cars took part in official competitions for the first time. The premiere performance was the start of the Skoda Rally at the time , the predecessor of today's Rally Bohemia. Exactly 40 years later, the crews of Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler and Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian will enter today's Fabia Super 2000 cars in the 1974 design.
The Skoda 180 RS and 200 RS cars are considered to be the founders of the successful history of Skoda RS cars , which in the seventies and eighties were particularly influenced by the legendary Skoda 130 RS cars. Since 2000, the carmaker has continued this tradition by producing cars in RS versions for its customers. The highlight of this version so far is the new Skoda Octavia RS – the most powerful and fastest mass-produced Octavia of all time. The abbreviation RS stands for Rally Sport.
"For 40 years, the abbreviation RS has denoted extremely aggressive, sporty and high-quality cars of the Skoda brand ," says a member of the board of directors of Skoda Auto for the area of technical development Dr. Frank Welsch . "With our emotional performance at Rally Bohemia, we underline the importance of the RS models for our brand and thus create a bridge between the past and the current sports models of the brand," says Dr. Welsh.
Jan Kopecký and Sepp Wiegand want to fight for victory with their retro-style cars at Rally Bohemia. "It's great to compete in my home country and, moreover, at Skoda Auto's headquarters, and at the same time remember the excellent history of the RS models. And I'm most looking forward to being able to compete on asphalt again – in the APRC series we mostly drive on gravel," says Jan Kopecký . In 2013, the reigning European champion won Rally Bohemia. In 2014, the Skoda factory driver competes mainly in the Asia-Pacific Championship (APRC) . After two wins and one second place, Kopecký now leads the overall APRC standings.
Second driver Sepp Wiegand also believes that he has a good chance in the Czech Republic: "By getting on the podium in Northern Ireland and Belgium, I showed that I am driving better and better. Of course, I would like to prove that in the homeland of the Skoda brand ." In addition to Kopecky and Wiegand, the Italian driver Umberto Scandola will also take part in the Rally Bohemia in a Fabia Super 2000, who will start with the support of the Italian representative of the Skoda brand .
In addition to historical reminiscences, this year's Rally Bohemia is also of great importance for the Skoda brand from the point of view of the brand's future sporting activities . The leading driver of the European Championship and Skoda factory driver Esapekka Lappi will test the new turbocharged 1.6-liter engine for the new Skoda Fabia R 5 special, with which Skoda will compete in international R 5 competitions from 2015. Lappi will complete selected sections of Rally Bohemia in a Skoda Fabia Super 2000 car, equipped with a new engine.
According to the FIA regulations, the new R 5 competition car will be equipped with a turbocharged engine with a volume of 1.6 liters. "Development of the Fabia R 5 continues well, we are proceeding exactly according to plan," says Skoda Motorsport team director Michal Hrabánek . "The first stress test in real competition conditions is an important year on the road to homologation , which will take place by mid-2015," adds Hrabánek.
Rally Bohemia takes place this weekend (July 11-12, 2014). 12 special stages with a total length of 150.66 kilometers await the participants. Participants will arrive at the finish line in Václava Klementa Street in Mladá Boleslav, directly opposite the Skoda Museum, on Saturday. Rally Bohemia is part of the international championship of the Czech Republic . As in previous years, Skoda is the general sponsor of this event.
You know,E…
…Rally Bohemia was called Rally Skoda from its first year in 1974 until 1985 ? The Czech automaker introduced the competition to test the quality and durability of its models under extreme conditions. The first rally 40 years ago measured a full 1,800 kilometers , special stages were spread all over Czechoslovakia. 152 crews participated in the competition, of which 72 were foreign.
…the 200 RS , which started the successful history of the RS models in 1974, had a two-liter engine with 163 horsepower? The maximum speed was 210 km/h, the gearbox was supplied by Porsche.
…the positive experience with the 200 RS led to the fact that the 130 RS was also produced shortly after? With this racing car, also referred to as the "Porsche of the East", Skoda celebrated successes both in car competitions and on circuits, the brand, among other things, achieved victory in its class at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1977 and victory in the European Touring Car Championship in 1981.
… Skoda won Rally Bohemia five times in a row with the 130 RS between 1976 and 1980? Norwegian John Haugland won three times.
…Rally Bohemia was part of the European Championship and the European Cup for many years? In 2004, 2005 and 2013, today's Skoda factory driver Jan Kopecký won.
… in Rally Bohemia in recent years Skoda won four times in a row ? In 2009 and 2010, the Finn Juho Hänninen triumphed in a Fabia Super 2000, in 2011 the Belgian Freddy Loix. After the official results were not announced in 2012, Jan Kopecký won last year .
…at the turn of the century did the RS models experience a renaissance? The Octavia RS , introduced in 2000, was immediately very successful thanks to its powerful engine, great driving characteristics and sporty charisma. In 2001, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Skoda Motorsport , a limited series of 100 cars was produced Skoda Octavia RS WRC Edition .
…the third-generation Octavia RS with a top speed of 248 km/h is the fastest mass-produced Octavia ever?
…already in 2011 , Jan Kopecký entered the Wallachian Rally in the retro design of his competitive Fabia S2000? At that time, it was a reminder of the famous 130 RS models , starting at Rally Monte Carlo in 1977, where Václav Blahna won his category?
Source: Skoda Auto
