The works Skoda team has confirmed it will return to the World Rally Championship on a full-time basis in 2005. The Czech marque will run a two-pronged attack with a pair of Fabias, but has yet to announce which drivers will be behind the wheel.

Skoda made its full WRC debut with the Octavia in 1999 before switching to the smaller, more competitive Fabia in the second half of 2003. This year it has opted for a limited programme of WRC and national events as part of a plan to develop the car which has proved highly successful. Jani Paasonen and Toni Gardemeister both finished in the points on the Neste Rally Finland

colin mcCrash at skoda???oh dear oh dear

That's good news, glad they are doing the full programme, just hope they get more TV coverage on ITV. Makes C4's previous efforts look reasonable