Mattias Ekström dominated Saturday’s Dan Anderssons Minne Rally that was part of a two-day Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team test programme ahead of the Swedish Rally (February 10-13). The rally was run close to Fredriksberg, north east of Karlstad, on stages very close to ones scheduled for use on the Swedish Rally. The 26-year old Swede is the reigning DTM Champion for Audi Sport and has been given permission by Škoda Auto’s partner in the Volkswagen Group to contest the second round of the World Rally Championship in the Fabia WRC.



On Friday Mattias spent the day in a private test session before entering the national rally on Saturday. He was fastest on all three stages (totalling approximately 65kms) and would have won the event by over two minutes. However, to avoid affecting the sporting hopes of the championship contenders, Mattias withdrew from the rally before the final control.

Mattias said: “I am feeling much more confident about our performance in Sweden after this weekend. It was a good test of both the Fabia WRC and myself. We made some useful changes to the car in private on Friday but Saturday was important for me to get a better understanding of how I can perform in real competition. I was competing against Swedish Rally experts such as Stig-Olov Walfridsson so I was able to have a good idea of my relative performance. The conditions were about 70% frozen gravel and 30% pure ice with some light snow on top. From what I hear of the forecast, this is about the best we can expect on the rally itself so this was a very good opportunity to learn the conditions.”

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “I am very pleased that Mattias performed so well on his first rally in the Fabia WRC. I was extremely satisfied with the result and we are all now looking forward to the Swedish Rally itself.”

Schwarz out, Paasonen in for Sweden



Schwarz out, Paasonen in for SwedenJani Paasonen will contest next week's Swedish Rally (February 10-13) for the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team. The 29-year old Finn will replace Armin Schwarz in the Fabia WRC while Armin recovers from the shoulder injury he sustained during the Monte Carlo Rally.

After consultation with the FIA Medical Delegate it was decided that Armin needs just a little longer to let his dislocated shoulder regain full strength before he returns to competition. The doctors' initial diagnosis suggested a six-week recovery period was normal for such an injury.

Jani will line up in Sweden alongside fellow Finn Janne Tuohino and Sweden's Mattias Ekstrom in the first three-car Fabia WRC entry of the 2005 season. Mattias and Janne are nominated for Manufacturers' Championship points as these two drivers have carried out the pre-event testing and, following his drive on a Swedish national rally last weekend in the area where the WRC event is to be run, Mattias has the most current local knowledge available.

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “Naturally we are all disappointed for Armin but we said in Monte Carlo that we would be guided by the medical staff over when he was fully fit to drive in competition again. It would be wrong to risk further damage so soon after the accident. I am confident that Jani will do a good job for us in Sweden and that Armin will be fully fit in time to return to the wheel in Mexico.”

New transmission for Fabia EVO2

Skoda's new Evo2 Fabia WRC, which is set to make it's debut in Mexico in under 2 weeks time will feature new transmission parts as well as a new turbocharger construction. In addition to a new aerodynamics package, the weight within the car has been reduced and distributed more effectively. A new material has been used in the construction of the turbocharger, which has also helped to reduce the weight. Changes to the transmission unit, including a new clutch and transmission, have reduced the weight even further and help to transfer the engine's power to the wheels better.

Some changes have been made to other parts, such as the shock absorbers, the heat exchangers and the pedal group.

Tuohino in, Paasonen out for NZ?

Janne Tuohino could be set to replace fellow Finn Jani Paasonen as Skoda's 2nd driver for April's Rally of New Zealand after Paasonen crashed out of last weekend's Rally Mexico on SS2 - according to top British magazine Motorsport News.

Having set a promising 6th fastest time on the opening stage, the Fabia driver lost control of his car on a fast left-right section of the stage, damaging his car to the extent that he could not retstart the rally until Saturday morning under the SuperRally rules.

Skoda bosses will be frustrated that despite showing promising speed on all 3 events so far this year, including 2 fastest stage times on Monte Carlo and a host of top-6 times since, the Mlada Boleslav squad have been unable to capitalise on this in terms of final results either due to niggling reliablity problems or driver errors.

Paasonen had been due to start New Zealand's round of the World Championship driving the 2nd Fabia alongside Armin Schwarz but his mistake in Mexico could have put paid to that.

Skoda's final choice should be announced within the next 2-3 weeks.

Skoda has recalled Janne Tuohino for the Rally New Zealand in place of fellow Finn Jani Paasonen.

The second official Fabia will generally be split between the two this season. Skoda is thought to have been unimpressed with Paasonen’s Mexican performance. He destroyed an engine in the shakedown, then crashed on the second stage, rejoining solely because of the “superally” dispensation.

After ‘long-haul’ events in Mexico and New Zealand returns to Europe for the next four gravel rounds of the World Rally Championship. Round five, Rallye d’Italia-Sardinia (April 28-May 2) again sees the Fabia WRC 05 being driven by Armin Schwarz/Klaus Wicha and Janne Tuohino/Mikko Markkula.

The Sardinia event joined the World Rally Championship for the first time last October and was run in hot and sunny conditions. The gravel roads of the millionaire’s paradise island offered a complete contrast to the asphalt of Sanremo where the Italian round of the WRC had been held previously. It proved to be a difficult event for many crews who quickly discovered that the roads used for the event are narrow and lined with big rocks that proved extremely damaging to suspension.

Armin Schwarz led the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team here last year although a severe dose of ‘flu ensured that it was not a happy experience for the German driver. Janne Tuohino is making his Sardinia debut and is looking forward to this event.

Sardinia marks the start of the second quarter of the season and one that is run completely on gravel roads with four events taking place in just nine weeks. After Sardinia the series moves to Cyprus, Turkey and Greece – each event a tough challenge that demands reliability and stamina.

Armin said: “We discovered last year that this new event wasn’t like the old Sardinia Rally. The roads are narrow and twisty with a lot of loose gravel on the surface. But running the rally earlier in the year might make a big difference. We didn't have good weather in the pre-rally test so maybe this will be the first wet event of the season. Either way it is important to try and be fast from the start.”

Janne said: “Since New Zealand we had a good test in Sardinia, quite close to Olbia, and I did about 300kms which was important for me to learn about this soft and sandy surface. I have never done this event before but the roads are quite narrow and technical which is good for my driving style. I used to be quite sideways which was good for the fans but not for the times! It certainly wouldn’t work here.”

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “The long-haul events obviously were not so good for us but now we are back in Europe we are looking for better results. We made a specific test in Sardinia ahead of this rally to give Armin and Janne extra time in the car so that their experience can be improved on the exact surface of the rally, something that was not possible in Mexico and New Zealand because the regulations do not permit testing there.”

The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team travels a short distance to holiday island at the eastern end of the Mediterranean for the sixth round of the World Rally Championship. The Cyprus Rally (May 12-15) will see the Fabia WRC 05 driven by Armin Schwarz/Klaus Wicha and Janne Tuohino/Mikko Markkula.



The recent Sardinia event showed that the Fabia WRC 05 is well suited to the kind of rough and rocky roads that it will face in Cyprus. The weather could play a significant part in the eventual result of the rally as, while Cyprus typically enjoys very hot and sunny conditions for the rally, few competitors will forget the treacherous roads they faced when the 2002 event was run amid heavy rainstorms.

The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team missed last year’s rally and so this will be the debut on the island for the Fabia WRC where its predecessor, the Octavia WRC, made its final appearance in 2003.

Armin said: “Cyprus is famous for its tight and twisty stages that are renowned for being tough on both car and driver. It’s always a difficult rally but it is a lovely place to be if it’s sunny although the weather in the mountains can sometimes be very different from what it is on the coast.”

Janne said: “Like Sardinia this is a technical event where you have to be a little bit smart and clever. If you try to go flat out you will have problems.”

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “We saw on the first day in Sardinia that rough and technical gravel events suit our car quite well at the moment. I will be hoping that Armin and Janne can continue to get that performance from the car on all three days in Cyprus which is a similar event. We have made another test in the Czech Republic since Sardinia and we hope to see the benefit of this extra work once the rally starts.”

Kopecky gets third Fabia for Germany


Czech Rally Champions Jan Kopecký and Filip Schovánek will drive an official Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team Fabia WRC 05 on the Bohemia Rally (July 1-3), that is based in Mladá Boleslav the ‘home’ of Škoda Auto.

Last year Jan won the event that was part of the team’s development programme of WRC rounds and national events. Jan will drive the third official Skoda Fabia WRC 05 at the Rallye Deutschland in August alongside Armin Schwarz and Alex Bengue.

Skoda looks for progress in Turkey


The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team travels north from Cyprus for the seventh round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally of Turkey (June 2-5) where the Fabia WRC 05 will again be driven by Armin Schwarz/Klaus Wicha and Janne Tuohino/Mikko Markkula.

Turkey is a completely new event for the Fabia WRC 05 as it was not on the team’s schedule last season. Janne finished seventh on this event last year but it will be Armin’s first visit to the rally in the area of the world once known as Asia Minor.

Armin said: “I really won’t know exactly what to expect until I start the recce. I think the roads are smoother than Cyprus but sometimes rougher than the Acropolis so I hope that our car’s good handling on these type of roads will benefit us.”

Janne said: “Turkey is something between Cyprus and Greece so I think we know what to expect when we get there. We had a good test session in Greece after Cyprus and we found some new things in the set-up for this type of event.”

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “Turkey is a new event for us but it is another hot and rough gravel event which we are becoming accustomed to at this part of the season. We have carried out some extra testing before the event and I hope that we will see further improvements in our performance. We are starting to score some points and we must try to continue that over the coming events.”

Rally of Turkey in detail:

Turkey entered the World Rally Championship for the first time in 2003. It is based at the port and seaside resort of Kemer, approximately 50kms south west of the city of Antalya, and all the main stages are located in the Anatolian mountains.

After a 1.10kms superspecial at the Akdeniz University in Antalya on Thursday evening the action begins on Friday with six stages before a return to the superspecial to end the 150.64kms leg. On Saturday there are a further six tests in the mountains and one final visit to the superspecial in a leg totalling 150.01kms of stages. Sunday’s final leg has just two stages (totalling 49.63kms) but the second of the pair is the longest of the rally at 33.30kms. The event finishes in Kemer at 12.55pm.

Two Finns field Fabias for Finland



The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team will enter three cars for Rally Finland (August 4-7) with Armin Schwarz/Klaus Wicha and Jani Paasonen/Jani Vainikka nominated for points on the tenth round of the 2005 World Rally Championship. A third Škoda Fabia WRC 05 will be entered on the event for Janne Tuohino/Mikko Markkula.

Rally Finland is the fastest event in the entire WRC and last year’s winning average speed was 122.62kph. For 2005 some stage routes have had to be modified as last year the winning speed was getting close to, and on the Ouninpohja stage, exceeding the permitted 130kph average.

The event comes at the end of an intense period of testing for the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team. Apart from private test sessions the team has also won the Bohemia Rally in the Czech Republic (with Jan Kopecky) and the Eifel-Rallye in Germany (with Alex Bengue) while Jani Paasonen’s final preparations for Rally Finland included contesting the Tampere Rally.

Armin said: “This is a real drivers’ rally and it takes place in forests full of enthusiastic spectators. It is very difficult for visiting drivers because only after three days do you start to understand the challenges. You have to be full of confidence to do really well.

Jani said: “Last year was my first drive for Škoda Motorsport but I enjoyed it very much and finished sixth. I hope that I can do at least as well as that this year. It’s my home event so I always look forward to it and want to get the best result possible.”

Janne said: “We had a really good test in Finland a few weeks ago that was probably the best test I have ever had with the Fabia WRC. I am fully confident and really want to get started!”

Head of the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, Martin Muehlmeier, said: “This is a very important rally for the team and we need a good result. We saw last year with Jani what the car is capable of achieving, even on such a technical rally as this, so I hope we can at least equal that performance.”

Francois Duval and co-driver Patrick Pivato head for this week’s Rally de Espana Catalunya-Costa Daurada (March 23-26) with their confidence high after a successful two-day test with the First Motorsport Skoda Team.

The 25-year old Belgian completed a two-day test near Vic and declared that his Skoda Fabia WRC is much improved from the car he drove for the first time in January’s Monte Carlo Rally. Duval said: “For Monte Carlo we were not able to have the car to the correct set up and had to use blocked active differentials. Now we have the 2006 specification mechanical diffs and the Fabia has been transformed. We had a really good test, about 200kms, and it now handles much better. We have good balance and it is much easier to drive although we still have some work to do on the braking. In Monte Carlo I ran as high as fifth and set a fastest time but I then made a mistake and left the road so I need to make sure that I avoid any similar mistakes in Spain and hopefully we can get our first result of the year.”

The test sessions in Sardinia were very successful for Red Bull Skoda up until Monday afternoon. On Saturday, Harri Rovanpera spent a day at the wheel of the Fabia WRC, on Sunday it was Andreas Aigner’s turn. The team was able to test a lot of different suspension settings and tyres on both days.



On the third day of testing, on a new piece of gravel road, Andreas Aigner started off in the Fabia WRC and then gave a very positive summary of all his test sessions in Sardinia: “It was most important to adapt from asphalt to gravel. I felt really good in the car, and I’ll go into this weekend’s Rally Sardinia with great confidence.”

For Harri Rovanpera the first day was very positive as well, but on Monday the Finn slid off the road in one of the final test runs and rolled the Fabia WRC test car: “I came too close to the outside, there was plenty of loose gravel but unfortunately also a rock which destroyed the rim. Then the car rolled rather violently, thank goodness I suffered no injuries. Risto complained about a slight headache. Except for this incident our test was very informative, too.”

Head of Technical Staff Dietmar Metrich, who emphasized the great importance of this test for the entire team, said about the incident: “The car is pretty badly damaged all over, we will probably need a new chassis but the incident didn’t affect either of the two competition Fabia WRCs set to run in the rally.”