Jan Kopecký out to extend his lead in the Czech Rally Championship

Mladá Boleslav/Český Krumlov, 24 May 2016 – ŠKODA Motorsport has set itself some lofty goals for the 44th #rally Český Krumlov: to repeat last year’s success, continue the winning run, and extend the lead in the Czech #rally Championship (MČR). Last year’s winners Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) are looking to tighten their grip on top spot at round two of the Czech national championship, preferably with their second win of the season. ŠKODA works duo Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson (S/S) will be in action in the Czech Republic for the second time this season on Friday and Saturday. The speedy Swedes gave the ŠKODA Motorsport team their first win of the season in the FIA World #rally Championship (WRC 2) at #rallyportugal last weekend.

​“We made a perfect start to the Czech #rally Championship with the one-two achieved by Jan Kopecký and Pontus Tidemand at the #rally Šumava Klatovy,” says ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. “We are pleased to be back #racing in front of our home crowd again. Last year’s #rally Český Krumlov was hard to beat, in terms of drama. Jan Kopecký only secured a thrilling victory on the very last stage,” Hrabánek recalls.

Thousands of fans are expected again at the second of six rounds in this season’s MČR. The iconic #event begins on Friday in České Budějovice and ends after 14 stages and 167.08 kilometres against the clock in Český Krumlov on Saturday.

Not only could Jan Kopecký claim his second win of the season, but he could also win the iconic #rally for the third time, having previously triumphed in 2012 and 2015. “We want to challenge for the win again. That is going to require a top performance. Pontus Tidemand and Václav Pech are among those who will give as good as they get again,” says the 34-year-old. Kopecký has won his last six MČR rallies in the ŠKODA #fabiar5, starting last season. 

Pontus Tidemand and his co-driver #jonasandersson are making their second guest appearance in the Czech championship at the #rally Český Krumlov. “Jonas and I are looking forward to our next #rally in the home of the ŠKODA brand, as the fans are really special here,” says 25-year-old Tidemand. 

As at the #rally Šumava Klatovy, Kopecký/Dresler and Tidemand/Andersson will face competition from ŠKODA customer teams in South Bohemia. Vojtěch Štajf/František Rajnoha (CZ/CZ) will compete in ŠKODA’s globally successful high-tech four-wheel drive powerhouse, the #fabiar5. Štajf lines up for the Klokočka ŠKODA Czech National Team. 

ŠKODA has once again come up with something new for motorsport fans at the #rally Český Krumlov. As well as a diverse and entertaining programme in the ŠKODA Park, the manufacturer is also staging a competition, in which entrants can win a ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 230 for a year. “ŠKODA has made a perfect start to the season in the MČR – both on and off the #rally routes,” says Michal Pres, Head of Marketing at ŠKODA Czech Republic. “We want to continue that at the #rally Český Krumlov, and to offer fans in the ŠKODA Park another attractive programme.” 

The ŠKODA #fabiar5 and other #rally cars in the Czech #rally Championship are not the only ones who will be competing in South Bohemia. One part of the diverse motorsport weekend will be the 5th New Energies #rally Český Krumlov for automobiles with alternative forms of propulsion. This forms part of the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) Alternative Energies Cup for the first time this year. The importance of the #rally is underlined by the attendance of FIA President Jean Todt. 

ŠKODA is also represented in this competition, including with the ŠKODA OCTAVIA Combi 1.4 TSI G-TEC. This sees the Czech car maker confirm its interest in the development of alternative forms of propulsion. The brand also boasts impressive technical expertise in the field of developing and manufacturing environmentally-sound vehicles. CNG technology is among the key pillars of ŠKODA’s sustainability strategy. The OCTAVIA G-TEC, which runs on both fuel and compressed natural gas, is very popular with customers.

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Porto, 22 May 2016 – The speedy Swedes Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson passed the ultimate endurance test at the #rallyportugal and gave ŠKODA Motorsport their first win of the season in the FIA World #rally Championship (WRC 2). Despite two damaged tyres on the 368 classified kilometres, the works duo got an emphatic win. ŠKODA Motorsport's second start of the season in the #wrc 2 was a triumph for the ŠKODA #fabiar5: Behind Tidemand/Andersson, the customer team Nicolás Fuchs/Fernando Mussano (PE/PE) clinched a one-two result for the ŠKODA brand.

​“This gravel #rally in #portugal really took everything out of man and machine. Pontus Tidemand and #jonasandersson weren't thrown off course by the minor setbacks and showed a very strong performance in the face of fierce rivals. My congratulations go to the entire ŠKODA Motorsport team, who did a fantastic job. This is a great success for the ŠKODA brand,” said Michal Hrabánek. 

Exactly one year after the ŠKODA #fabiar5 made its #wrc debut at the #rallyportugal, the ŠKODA Motorsport Director was able to enjoy another spectacular success for the new #rally car: “Of the top ten drivers in the #wrc 2, seven were in a ŠKODA #fabiar5. The #rallyportugal proved that we have developed a fast and reliable car. And our customers also benefit from this. These successes are what motivate us to keep working hard.”

This was exactly the attitude that Pontus Tidemand displayed at the #rallyportugal on the gravel tracks riddled with sharp stones. A best time on the first stage on Thursday saw the Asia-Pacific champion take the lead in the #wrc 2. However, the 25-year-old suffered tyre damage on both Friday and Saturday, and despite lightning-fast tyre changes, temporarily lost the lead to fellow ŠKODA driver Nicolás Fuchs, but fought his way back to the top impressively with phenomenal times. Then Tidemand claimed his second win for ŠKODA Motorsport in the #wrc 2 in front of tens of thousands of delighted spectators on the legendary Fafe stage on Sunday. The Swede was also victorious at the #rally Spain last year. 

“What a crazy rally! We are delighted with this hard-fought win after fantastic duels with our fellow ŠKODA drivers. Thanks go to the entire team, who once ageing gave us a great car to work with,” said Tidemand. After second place at the home #rally in Sweden in February, the fair-haired #racing driver finished on the winners' podium for the second time on his second start in the #wrc 2 this year.

In the overall standings for the season in the #wrc 2, with 43 points, Tidemand moved up into third place behind Britain's Elfyn Evans (62), who failed to pick up points in #portugal after a crash, and Nicolás Fuchs (55). The man from Peru won the #rally Argentina, and before that, Finland's Teemu Suninen was victorious at the #rally Mexico – the ŠKODA Motorsport works team did not compete in either of these rallies. Including Tidemand's triumph in #portugal, this means that each of the last three #wrc 2 rallies have been won in a ŠKODA #fabiar5. 

The second ŠKODA works team of Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) also delivered an aggressive, strong performance in #portugal. After two damaged tyres on Friday, the experienced #rally drivers restarted the race at the weekend with the burden of a 14-minute penalty, and after a spectacular pursuit, ended up finishing in tenth place to pick up a point for the overall #wrc 2 standings. “We got the best-possible result after our misfortune with the tyres and now need to look to the future,” said Kopecký.

This Friday and Saturday, the Czechs and the winning duo Tidemand/Andersson will contest the #rally Český Krumlov in the Czech #rally Championship (MČR). Then from 9 to 12 June, the #rally Sardinia is the next #wrc 2 task. In addition to Kopecký/Dresler, the third works duo of Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) will represent ŠKODA Motorsport.

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​Porto, 21 May 2016 – At the end of a dramatic day, flying Swedes Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson lead the #rallyportugal going into Sunday’s final leg. The ŠKODA works duo suffered a puncture on Saturday’s penultimate stage. Despite this, they still take a lead of 32.0 seconds over fellow ŠKODA pair Nicolás Fuchs/Fernando Mussano (PE/PE) into the final four special stages on Sunday. These include two runs of the iconic Fafe stage. The ŠKODA #fabiar5 continues to dominate the #wrc 2 class at round five of the FIA World #rally Championship: five of the top six drivers are at the wheel of the #rally powerhouse from the Czech Republic.  

​“That was a really tough day, with highs and lows! We established a nice cushion in the morning, but the puncture then undid all that good work. However, that is rallying for you – and we managed to fight our way back into the lead,” said Tidemand. The morning first witnessed the retirement of British driver Elfyn Evans – the current leader in the #wrc 2 championship, who was running second at the time – after a crash on the longest special stage, Amarante 1 (37.67 kilometres). Asia-Pacific champion Tidemand clocked a magnificent fastest time on this stage in the morning loop.

After that, the Swede’s lead over Nicolás Fuchs had grown to over one and half a minute. However, Tidemand then suffered a puncture in the first kilometre of the Marão 2 stage. Fuchs consequently took a slender 2.6-second lead into the final special stage of the day, but Tidemand hit back emphatically when the duos returned for a second crack at Amarante. Both Tidemand and Fuchs are driving a #fabiar5.

“We may have a small lead again, but it will still be a tough battle. Anything is possible at this #rally. As such, we must remain fully-focussed and keep a cool head right down to the final seconds,” said Tidemand. The competitors already have over 300 kilometres of special stage behind them, and face a further 67.32 kilometres against the clock on Sunday. Excitement is guaranteed, as the icing on the cake is the Fafe stage. Tens of thousands of fans will make the pilgrimage to the route, where they will watch the #rally cars tackle one of the most famous jumps in the rallying world.

The second ŠKODA works team, Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ), re-joined the #rally on Saturday, following their double puncture on the opening day. The experienced pair was able make great inroads in the overall standings, thanks to some impressive times. “We will continue to do our best to climb the standings and gain valuable experience for the coming rallies,” said Kopecký.

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