Skoda to unveil updated Fabia R5 rally car

The most successful rally car in the Skoda’s history, the Fabia R5, is getting an update. Skoda Motorsport will unveil the new rally car at the Geneva International Motor Show.

As well as revised styling cues from the latest road car, the Fabia R5 gets technical improvements. The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is upgraded improving power output and engine response.

The Skoda Fabia R5 is due to be homologated by the FIA in the second quarter of 2019. After this homologation, it will be available to customers worldwide.

The new generation Skoda Fabia R5 rally car features a new headlight design plus performance and reliability improvements. “The next generation of our multiple championship winning Skoda Fabia R5 is an important step to keep our customers worldwide and the Skoda factory team competitive,” says Michal Hrabánek, Head of Skoda Motorsport.

After having been tested on thousands of kilometres on gravel tracks and asphalt roads as well as on snow and ice, the updated Skoda Fabia R5 follows in the footsteps of the most successful rally car in the brand’s history.

“We make sure, that after the homologation process our customers get a car, which is fully developed and ready for competition without any compromises.

“Thoroughness in the development of a new rally car has absolute priority for Skoda Motorsport. We strictly follow the same processes of quality management and control as in Skoda’s road car production,” emphasizes Hrabánek.

In 2018 alone, the titles in the Team Championship of the FIA World Rally Championship’s WRC 2 category were won, while Skoda Motorsport celebrated the top three positions of the WRC 2 drivers and co-drivers categories as well.

As a result of the increased efforts in customer services, Skoda customers were also successful worldwide, winning the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the FIA South American Rally Championship (CODASUR) the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) and 17 national rally titles with a Skoda Fabia R5.

Up to the end of 2018, 252 Skoda Fabia R5 were delivered worldwide. Of those, 80 cars were sold to customers in 2018 alone. In 2019 Skoda Motorsport will enter two cars into selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship.

Finnish youngsters Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen will compete in the new WRC 2 Pro Championship. Reigning WRC 2 Champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler from Czech Republic will be seen on selected WRC events as well. They will also defend their title of Czech Rally Champions.

As avid rally fans ourselves, we can appreciate the engineering of these cars. Seeing them out on the same stages we compete on is an absolute treat. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely we’ll ever get chance to drive one. But we’ll try our best…