Skoda WRC
Development programme stepped up for Acropolis Rally
Škoda Motorsport will increase the pace of its Fabia WRC development in the WRC Acropolis Rally. After a seven month concentration on private testing and development, the team will now enter selected Europe-based WRC rounds alongside three national events in the Czech Republic, Germany and Finland.
Because Škoda Motorsport has decided not to register for this season’s WRC there are limitations to the technical improvements that can be made within the existing homologation to the Fabia WRC and so the team will continue to concentrate on its planned development programme rather than overall results.
The new Head of Škoda Motorsport, Martin Muehlmeier, said: "The Acropolis Rally is another step in our programme of development. The main target for this year is to finish as many events as possible to continue the learning and development process. Overall results are not our priority this season."
Finland’s Toni Gardemeister and co-driver Paavo Lukander remain in the team this season but rejoining the Škoda Motorsport Team for 2004 is Germany’s Armin Schwarz and co-driver Manfred Hiemer. Armin previously drove for the team between 1999 - 2001 and played a key role in developing the Octavia WRC, the highly successful predecessor to the Fabia WRC.
In addition to the seven-round WRC programme, Škoda Motorsport is to send cars to three national events to maximise the development opportunities. Firstly, Armin will contest the Saarland Rally (June 18 - 19) in Germany as it offers ideal test opportunities for Rallye Deutschland. Toni will then compete on the Exide Rally (July 2 - 3), one of the traditional ‘warm-up‘ events for Rally Finland. And finally Toni will fly the Škoda Motorsport flag at the Bohemia Rally (July 9 - 11) that takes place around the team’s home town of Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic.
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