Vorsprung durch Sputnik? The Skoda Rally story

Back in the 1980’s car gags mainly centred around eastern European cars and Skoda was top of the hit list. The irony is that they were not really bad cars. But given most buyers where in the socks, sandals and a beige jumper brigade and this was the teeth, tan, shoulder pads and GTI era the humble Skoda was just not sexy enough.

A Skoda Rapid was far from its namesake boasting a just 53 bhp, owners had the last laugh though as these cars were pretty well made and boasted great reliability. More to the point, they were out there rallying, taking regular podium places on the arduous Monte Carlo Rally and killing the competition in their class. We all know that motorsport helps sell cars but all this rally success did not improve it’s boring beige image and transfer to showrooms.

How did it all start? Well Skoda began rallying in the 1960s with the Octavia and 1000MB models and generally most of these were fairly lightly modified versions of the standard cars and competed because of their smaller capacity, in the lower power classes. The Czech manufacturer did produce two specialised rally cars, the 130RS model in the 1970s, and then the 130LR in 1985 and 1986 which was designed to comply with Group B regulations with more power and lightweight bodywork.

“Most buyers where in the socks, sandals and a beige jumper brigade and this was the teeth, tan, shoulder pads and GTI era”

The factory motorsport team was only a small works team based and managed as a department in the Skoda factory. This was a top job if you worked at the company and many of the drivers where company employees. The Skoda Rally dept. did also hire foreign professionals one of the most successful was the rapid Norwegian John Haugland, who and had over 100 class wins primarily in the 1960s and 1970s.

Reliability was one key to their success and they needed it as the competition was often technically far more advanced but this along with super talented team drivers produced results. These results came on the world stage winning classes and high place finishes (eighth on the Acropolis Rally in 1973 and 1979) and also having great success on the Uk’s famous RAC Rally – they won the under 1300cc for 17 years running!

In 1989 the now legendary rear engine Skoda’s were pensioned off into retirement with the new front-drive Favorit picking up the mantle. It did a great job; Skoda won the Formula 2 World Championship outright in 1994. Pretty good considering they were up against technically far better cars from manufacturers such as Opel and Nissan. With a change of rules the company replaced the Favorit with the then all new Felicia it was good but still up against it being only 1500 then later 1600cc competing with 2ltr cars of the period. That aside a certain Mr. Blomqvist punched way above his weight to take 3rd place in a cold and icy 1996 RAC Rally.

“Skoda Motorsport took the manufacturers championship in 2010 with seven wins; nine 2nd and 3rd places”

Now with the backing of VAG (Volkswagen Auto Group), in 1999 Skoda entered the WRC with the Octavia with a two car team of and with a few driver changes managed a 4th on the Rally GB. The Octavia continued to be the model for 2000 with the Evo2 version appearing later in the season – a model that they also competed in the following year. 2003 saw the introduction of the new Fabia WRC and former world champion Didier Auriol joined the team. This model competed right through till 2005 where it was upgraded to the WRC05 and placed firmly in the hands of Colin McRae and Mikko Hirvonen.

skoda-fabia-s2000-05

The Skoda factory team withdrew from the WRC at the end of 2005 taking a few years off and not returning till 2008 and in 2009 with Juho Hänninen firmly behind the wheel took the car’s first win in Russia and with Jan Kopecký winning their home event in the Czech Republic, not a bad return to the world rally scene. After this return and a bucket load of hard work, Skoda Motorsport took the manufacturers championship in 2010 with seven wins; nine 2nd and 3rd places and Juho Hänninen achieved the driver’s title. That recent success has continued and Skoda continue to do great things in WRC and today.

Commercially speaking, since the intervention of VW, Skoda have a totally turned around that ‘beige’ image too – heard any Skoda jokes down the Dog and Duck recently? thought not. At Paddock42 we love a good under dog story and these dogs done good!

Classifieds Archive

£410000

£54000

POA

SOLD

SOLD

$1000000

$3000

POA

$399500

$115000

$25000

$17000