Skoda will withdraw from WRC

[Rallying83]

Skoda have anncounced that they will withdraw as a manuf for 2006.
Škoda Auto is to continue giving official support to entries in next season’s FIA World Rally Championship with the Fabia WRC model again spearheading the programme. Two private teams chosen to be run from the Czech Republic and Austria.

The decision ensures that the Škoda brand’s involvement with the WRC remains unbroken and at the same time extends the motorsport presence of a famous brand that celebrated a century of competition in 2001.

Škoda Auto has selected two partners for the future WRC co-operation, one based in the Czech Republic and the other in Austria. The team from the Czech Republic will be based around Czech Champion Jan Kopecký. It will be a single-car private team and Jan will contest 10 European rounds of the 2006 championship using the current Fabia WRC 05 model.The Red Bull Škoda Team will run two Škoda Fabia WRCs on 10 events under the new ‘Manufacturer 2’ category that allows private and officially supported teams to contest a reduced number of events instead of the full 16-round WRC programme. The Red Bull Škoda Team will be run by Austrian Raimund Baumschlager and his Baumschlager Rally & Racing (BRR) Team. Already confirmed as one of the drivers for the Red Bull Škoda Team is 21-year old Austrian Andreas Aigner. Andreas has been gaining WRC experience in recent seasons as part of the Red Bull Junior Team. A second driver with international experience will be confirmed shortly.

Škoda Motorsport will provide both teams with the same level of extensive support including the supply of Fabia WRCs and a package of parts for the programme. Technical support will also be available throughout the season and additional engineers will be provided on events. The support will also extend to national activities of Škoda Auto importers in various European markets


Very sad but expected in my opinion.

Thank you to Rallye-info.com/WRC.com for this info

[Mitch]

Come back soon Skoda. We miss you already.

The new teams are pretty retarded too. Red Bull are running a Junior Austrian and maybe Duval. They won't be scoring points in a hurry. I was hoping for McRae and Duval.

The new Czech team will be running Kopecky, another mistake. It seems that Red Bull have dumped Ekstrom as well.

[tumbo]

Remember that it all has to do with the type of entry they have put in. I'm pleased that Skoda will be in the WRC in any capacity

[Capeta]

they dumped Bengue too?

Too bad... I though McRae was going to make a comeback with Skoda.

[Mitch]

Bengue was the only bright shining light in Skoda this year other than McRae's comeback abd Schwarz scoring a point. They should have kept him.

1. McRae
2. Duval
3. Ekstrom/Bengue

[tumbo]

i think bengue/ekstroem above bloody Duval. that guy has no grace, no agreeable personality and costs teams money. Worse than McRash in the early days is young Francois