Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

New Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with Barum rally theme

28. 6. 2022 - Roman ORDELT

When you arrive in Zlín at the end of the holiday season for the 51st edition of the Barum Czech Rally Zlín 2022 (26-28 August), the new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 will be peeking out at you from the billboards, city lights, posters and all the official printed materials of this important European competition. Škoda Auto a.s. is once again a major partner of the Zlín Rally.

"In previous years, we have always had a Škoda car as the central theme, which has been winning laurels at the world and European scene. This year we have chosen a different concept in the form of a brand new competition car from Mladá Boleslav, which will follow the successful performance of the brand with the winged arrow," said Ing. Jan Regner, director of Barum Czech Rally Zlín. The new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 racing car is based on the fourth generation of Škoda Fabia and follows the most successful Rally2 category car of recent years. It is based on the highly successful Škoda Fabia Rally2 and Rally2 evo, which has become the best-selling rally special over the past eight years with more than 450 sales. Thanks to an extensive customer programme, the Škoda Motorsport team and private teams have managed to achieve an impressive number of over 1,700 wins and 12 world championship titles in the driver and team categories with these cars.

Škoda Motorsport has developed a new engine for the new car, improved the handling, powertrain and electronics and, last but not least, once again increased the safety of drivers and passengers. Extensive testing on tarmac, gravel and ice, as well as in a variety of weather conditions, has given the new Škoda rally model the necessary refinement to successfully compete for future victories and titles in the hands of customer teams. "Especially in motorsport, standing still always means going backwards. That's why, in developing the new model, we have used the experience we have achieved with the previous model and have further optimised every detail in a targeted manner to further improve the most successful racing car of recent years. I am proud of the entire team at Škoda Motorsport, who have pursued this goal with great dedication. I would also like to thank our colleagues in the production car development department who have provided us with a great foundation for the Fabia RS Rally2 with the fourth generation Fabia," said Michal Hrabánek, Head of Škoda Motorsport.

The new car benefits from best-in-class aerodynamics and the high body rigidity of the series production model. In addition to the improved powertrain, electronics, safety and handling, the experts at Škoda Motorsport have also developed a new 1.6-litre turbocharged engine based on the EA888 family of TSI petrol engines, which, among other things, are also under the bonnet of the RS models. The close link with the RS sports production cars is demonstrated by the new Mamba green paint shade. The new car is expected to be homologated on 1 August.

More information available at www.czechrally.com and don't forget to follow Barum rally on the official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Zlín, 28th June 2022

Roman ORDELT
press agent
Barum Czech Rally Zlín