Skoda poised for full return

Czech company planning full time WRC comeback

Skoda Motorsport is close to announcing a full-time return to the World Rally Championship in 2005 with its Fabia WRC, reports Autosport magazine.

The Czech Republic firm's results have improved since it took a sabbatical earlier this year and this is believed to be a major contributing factor in swaying the company's chiefs decision over a full programme in 2005.

Excellent news. Now if only ITV would spend more than 45 seconds on the Fabia...

fair play to the skoda team, the car has come along way in the time they have been away, and they could do alot worse than put one of britains up and coming drivers in the car.

So soon it will be Subaru vs Skoda.

The Pugs and Citroen will pull out if Ford do as there is no point in competing if there are no other mass manufacturers to beat.

The whole thing needs a shake up to make it cheaper and get more private teams in a variety of cars competing competitively.

Steve

what engine does the wrc fabia run ?i coud search but i'm tired

Our 1.8T bored out to 2 litres and with some other minor fettling on the side...

That's why the Skoda's been slow until now.

was thinking it was a tdi for a second then,not that thats a bad thing before all you oil burners get yer knickers in a knot

Now if only ITV would spend more than 45 seconds on the Fabia...

Even if they were winning ITV would show f**k all.

Eurosport

the fabia uses the 18t block and head castings, but benefits from the crankshaft out of the diesel, of course it has been tweaked and refined and is an improvement on the octavia engine they used when the fabia was first introduced.

Skoda will be back in 2005

Fabia WRC programme will continue into 2005

Skoda has confirmed that it will run cars in the 2005 World Rally Championship. The Czech manufacturer has only run a part season in 2004 after deciding to spend the first half of the year developing its Fabia WRC.

The company intends to compete with two cars in all 16 rallies and has signed German Armin Schwarz. The second driver has not yet been confirmed.

Martin Muehlmeier, the head of Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team, said: "The deal was confirmed on Tuesday night after lots of long meetings. "One of the very important things is that the entire board of directors is behind us on this. What has made it difficult has been the proposals coming in for the championship regulations all the time.

"WRC is incredibly important to Skoda because it visits all of our key markets and gives us the chance to bring some emotion to the brand."

Mitsubishi is also expected to confirm on Thursday afternoon that it will be staying on for a full campaign in 2005 as well.

Source: Autosport.com

I'm sure I heared on ITV that Chris Meeke was looking to sign for Skoda.

I'm sure I heared on ITV that Chris Meeke was looking to sign for Skoda.

ITV will give them plenty of coverage then.

More news from autosport.com:

Skoda satisified with season Czech manufacturer encouraged by improved pace of FabiaSkoda has declared itself happy with the progress towards the front of the WRC pack, having now completed its programme for 2004. The Czech manufacturer has only run a part season after deciding to spend the first half of the year developing its Fabia WRC.

It did however confirm its intention to run a full championship campaign in 2005 back in September and has since been encouraged by recent performances, particularly in the Rally Deutschland, where Armin Schwarz took a stage win and Toni Gardemeister finished seventh.