[WRC] News & Rumours 2018

[Mirek]

They could easily get Polo WRC 17 and change it to Fabia beast

A car developed in 2016 is obsolete in 2019-2020 no matter how good it would be in 2017.

[ESTR]

A car developed in 2016 is obsolete in 2019-2020 no matter how good it would be in 2017.

Yes but they could develop further and just continue what VW start.. Just my thoughts.. It doesn't matter, I think that they will no come in top league for at least for a while. They said it a couple of times already. It's too expensive for them and no point if they keep wining titles in WRC2 year after year.

[Franky]

Yes but they could develop further and just continue what VW start.. Just my thoughts.. It doesn't matter, I think that they will no come in top league for at least for a while. They said it a couple of times already. It's too expensive for them and no point if they keep wining titles in WRC2 year after year.

But keep in mind that VW is entering the R5 category. From a financial point of view there's no point to pour money into two competing development teams (who are competing with each other) in the same corporation.

[ESTR]

But keep in mind that VW is entering the R5 category. From a financial point of view there's no point to pour money into two competing development teams (who are competing with each other) in the same corporation.

VW will not enter in WRC2 with factory backing team. Maybe just couple of events but not the championship - This is for customers only.

[RS]

I smell a green light for the WRC car (2019-2020) but it's just my feeling in the moment...

Also Kopecky went back on his threat to walk. Must be an incentive for that.

[Franky]

VW will not enter in WRC2 with factory backing team. Maybe just couple of events but not the championship - This is for customers only.

No one in the financial department cares about that.

[Mirek]

They said it a couple of times already. It's too expensive for them and no point if they keep wining titles in WRC2 year after year.

I am not aware they said something like that. Škoda is in perfect financial situation, it has a lot of money now. They have record braking numbers every successing month and the trend is still growing. In my opinion if they ever want to do WRC than it's now when they have more than enough money to spend and nothing else to prove in the second league.

Just to support the claim - for first 3/4 of 2017 they had operational profit 1,2 billion Euro (+28%) and the average profit from one car 10% which was second highest in the whole VAG behind Porsche (ahead of Audi).

Besides that their direct rivals on the market are nearly all in WRC...

[Simmi]

Hope you're right Mirek. Again there were quotes earlier this year about Jouhki wanting to place Kalle somewhere where he could run a WRC for testing/experience. He can't do that at Skoda, but like you say maybe they like the look of the manufacturer long term. Plus Skoda do like to market their WRC success and heritage it seems.

Seems like a perfect time. Probably too good to be true but I'd love to see it.

[pantealex]

Kalle Rovanperä has multiple years contract says Jouhki.

[RS]

Kalle Rovanperä has multiple years contract says Jouhki.

Although contracts may be broken, i can't imagine he would sign up for that long without the prospect of a World Rally Car on the horizon.

Fabia4 road car should be due around 2020