Skoda presents its new Fabia RS Rally2

Skoda Motorsport has chosen to present its new car in its Mlada Boleslav lair in the Czech Republic (60 km from Prague). After several months of development, the team led by Michal Hrabanek has lifted the veil on a car based on the fourth generation of the Fabia. Numerous test sessions were carried out in several countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Croatia, etc.) and on all surfaces by Andreas Mikkelsen, Jan Kopecky, Kris Meeke or Marco Bulacia in order to achieve the objective set by the boss. “ Standing still means going backwards and this is especially true in motorsport, explains Hrabanek. That is why, to develop our Fabia, we applied the experience gained on the previous model and optimized every detail. The goal was to improve the car rally the most efficient in the world. » The challenge was significant, because since its launch in 2015, the one that succeeded the Fabia S2000 has established itself as a benchmark in its category. Different versions followed one another with success in common. According to April totals, the R5, Rally2 and Rally2 Evo have amassed more than 1710 victories, 4 podiums and won titles across the globe. More than 116 cars were sold, which represents a third of the Rally450s on the market. Called Fabia RS Rally2, this Skoda makes the link between the past with the 2 RS of the 130s and 70s and the present, since the most efficient models of the brand (Octavia and Enyaq Coupé) bear the letters RS. The Mamba Green color also matches these two standard models.

Despite this launch, Skoda Motorsport does not intend to change a sporting policy instituted since 2020. While it had been officially committed for years, the manufacturer modified its involvement by withdrawing and instead developing a efficient customer service. It is the German team Toksport WRT based at the Nürburgring which has become the spearhead of Skoda in WRC2 or in ERC et qui sera chargée de superviser les participations des RS Rally2. Cette dernière se différentie notamment de la précédente version par sa carrosserie plus large et un empattement plus long ce qui offrira une répartition des masses encore améliorée et a entrainé une nouvelle cinématique de suspension. Possédant de série le meilleur coefficient de traînée dans sa catégorie, les ingénieurs ont pu élaborer un kit aérodynamique très efficace qui permet à l’auto de générer presque deux fois plus d’appui qu’avant. Dans les entrailles de la voiture tchèque, les techniciens n’ont pas lésiné sur la sécurité en composant un arceau avec 35,8 mètres de tubes d’acier au chrome-molybdène à haute résistance soudés au châssis. Afin de lutter avec les C3 Rally2, Polo R5 et Hyundai i20 Rally2, la Fabia incorpore un nouveau moteur 1,6l turbo basé sur le 2l TSI de la série EA888 développant environ 289 ch. Avec les difficultés qui existent dans la production des pièces, les débuts en compétition ne devraient intervenir qu’après l’été à l’Acropole (8-11 septembre). Si au départ 4 voitures étaient espérées, ce ne sera peut-être d’abord qu’avec deux exemplaires.

ALSO READ > At M-Sport, everyone behind Fourmaux