The new Skoda Fabia R5 is also desired by customers all over the world. The first car was delivered to Raimund Baumschlager in those days. The 12-time Austrian rally champion drove it for the first time at the Wechselland Rallye on May 1 and 2 . Right at its world premiere, the new Skoda Fabia R5 special won a clear victory at the Šumava Klatovy Rally . The Skoda Motorsport factory team car driven by Asia-Pacific champion Jan Kopecký proved to be fast and reliable.
"The customer program is much more than just a business model for the Skoda brand. The entire team works with commitment and enthusiasm on each of the competition specials. It does not matter if it is a factory car or a customer car. Our customers from all over the world can appreciate this enthusiasm and the high technical competence of the brand, " says the head of Skoda Motorsport, Michal Hrabánek .
" The interest in our new Skoda Fabia R5 car in the customer program is huge. After the successful homologation of our new competition special, the demand increased by leaps and bounds, " says Marcela Janatová , the new head of the Skoda Motorsport customer program. " We will try to fulfill the wishes of most customers by the end of the year. Cars will be delivered to Germany, Italy, Belgium and Portugal in the spring, " adds Janatová.
Experienced driver Baumschlager was the first customer to get behind the wheel of the new car with all-wheel drive. The 55-year-old driver was already a member of the team that tested the new Skoda Fabia R5 car in the past months. " It is an excellent competition special that drives excellently on any surface, " praised Baumschlager: " I am sure: the Fabia R5 will be the best car in its class." "
Baumschlager's BRR-Team has already bought several Fabia S2000 cars from Skoda Motorsport and is also one of the most important customers for the Fabia R5. In mid-May, Fabian Kreim will drive a new car for the Skoda Auto Deutschland team for the first time in the German Rally Championship (DRM).
Customers who buy a new Fabia R5 will receive technical support from the Skoda Motorsport team in addition to a modern car. " This way, both parties can share their know-how and profit from it in the long term ," adds Hrabánek. The basic competition version of the new Skoda Fabia R5 costs 180,000 euros in accordance with the regulations of the World Automobile Federation (FIA).
For this, customers will receive a top competition car with all-wheel drive , which is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo engine in accordance with FIA regulations. This is – apart from the body design changes – the biggest technical change from the Fabia S2000's two-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. In addition, the new car will have a sequential five-speed gearbox and McPherson struts .
Baumschlager: “The Fabia R5 is even more precise when driving and thanks to the turbo engine it excites with strong torque. It is simply a brilliant competition car that will continue the successful history of the Skoda brand ."
Source: Skoda Auto Photo: Autokaleidoskop, Montfortgarage, Rallye-Magazin, Revistascratch
