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Sulland
18th January 2009, 22:07
How will Skoda do in their come back to international rally ?

Will they have tech problems in the first run with startnumbers ?
Will they blow the others away ?
Will they be far behind the 207 and GP ?

What do you think and hope ?

urabus-denoS2000
18th January 2009, 22:11
They will be on the pace of the 207 and Kopecky will win!!!!!! ;) ;) ;) ;)

FabiaFan
18th January 2009, 22:13
How will Skoda do in their come back to international rally ?

As allways both cars out in their first rally... ?

During the season some (lower) podiums???

RS
18th January 2009, 22:32
As allways both cars out in their first rally... ?


Lol, FabiaFan, you seem quite 'experienced'

New Skoda rally car debuts never go well, not even Felicia Kit Car.

But I expect more than some "lower podiums" by the end of the year.

Buzz Lightyear
18th January 2009, 22:35
I thought the Skoda was very good in testing, looks well balanced, the suspension is sorted, and Oreca are doing the engines, .. but the 207 testing also looks very good. i cant wait to watch the result flowing in! best of luck to all.

Donney
19th January 2009, 13:42
I expect them
to do a very decent rally but probably not on the podium.

StevieWonder
19th January 2009, 17:26
also do not expect a podium at first rally, but compared to fabia s2000´s big brother in WRC, it can only get better ,-)

GTA
19th January 2009, 18:50
Top 5 for sure.... :)

atsiotras79
19th January 2009, 19:26
Well. I think "reliability" will be the key word for Skoda during the Monte. If they have it, I think they will fight for much more than a podium finish! I expect Kopecky to at least win some ss.

HaCo
19th January 2009, 20:24
Have they subscribed to the the championship?

RS
19th January 2009, 20:55
Have they subscribed to the the championship?

Yes, will be confirmed tomorrow at a press conference.

RS
19th January 2009, 21:19
Have they subscribed to the the championship?

http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=7599

HaCo
19th January 2009, 21:31
http://www.rallye-info.com/article.asp?sid=0&stid=7599

Thanks RS. :)

Pitty Proton is not in the series, but it's allready good they will do some events. Hope to see them in Ypres as well.

Simmi
20th January 2009, 00:17
I'd love to see the Fabia get a couple of stage wins but I dont think both will see the finish.

The Monte isn't really the best event for its drivers so I expect some good finishes later on this year.

Tom206wrc
20th January 2009, 15:07
Good luck to Kopecky and Hänninen !!! :cool:

urabus-denoS2000
20th January 2009, 22:20
http://www.ircseries.com/html/gallery/showImg.asp?sess=712409725&id=19

RS
20th January 2009, 23:15
I see Josef Kopecky is a member of the works team now, anyone know in what role?

Sulland
20th January 2009, 23:19
I think the Fabias will win stages, and fight for the podium - if they thechnically will last till the end.

There are always issues that testing did not pick up, that you see in the rally itself.

Karbonyl
21st January 2009, 00:23
Don't know exactly, but Josef Kopecký should have role of sporting director or something like that.

noel157
21st January 2009, 01:31
Don't know exactly, but Josef Kopecký should have role of sporting director or something like that.

Jan's father or brother?

FabiaFan
21st January 2009, 02:07
Jan's father or brother? First option ;-) Former TC racer on top national level.

RS
21st January 2009, 06:25
I am very pleased to see Kopecky Snr. in the team, he clearly did an excellent job running 'CRT-Skoda'

FabiaFan
21st January 2009, 09:38
Lol, FabiaFan, you seem quite 'experienced'

New Skoda rally car debuts never go well, not even Felicia Kit Car.


So the first one's gone...

FabiaFan
21st January 2009, 09:42
Have they subscribed to the the championship? But they plan to enter only 5 rounds so far.

Karbonyl
21st January 2009, 10:22
No true, Hanninen has contract for six events.

Tom206wrc
21st January 2009, 10:58
Not bad debut with Hänninen on SS1 :)

Sulland
21st January 2009, 11:44
Was it not supposed to be a press conference last night where skoda officially entered IRC and so on. Did that happen, and do we have any links to that ?

Tom206wrc
21st January 2009, 18:30
Sincerely I know it's only three stages finish, but what do you think about Hänninen performances as Kopecky's(when everything OK) ??? :)


By the way, what was Kopecky's problem on SS3 ??? :confused:

RS
21st January 2009, 18:38
Sincerely I know it's only three stages finish, but what do you think about Hänninen performances as Kopecky's(when everything OK) ??? :)


By the way, what was Kopecky's problem on SS3 ??? :confused:

Kopecky had power steering problems on all three stages. He made a little fix after SS1 but it was still not right.

If he has a clear day tomorrow, then I expect some stage wins from Jan!

HaCo
21st January 2009, 19:02
Awesome debut of Skoda and Hanninen, didn't expect such a pace of the Fin on asfalt, perfect choise of Skoda!

Leon
21st January 2009, 19:35
thank god for Skoda. peugeot is too strong at the moment.

Rally Power
21st January 2009, 19:45
Skoda has done an excellent job testing and developing the Fabia S2000 during a whole year, before homologation.

This is the right formula in order to be competitive as Peugeot showed before, and perhaps a major reason for speedily homologated cars like the MG, Opel and Proton struggle to be competitive.

Well done Skoda!!!

Sulland
21st January 2009, 23:30
I think the sale of Fabia S2000's will get a boost after this !

J4MIE
21st January 2009, 23:40
Good start but still a long way to go ;)

Sulland
22nd January 2009, 00:38
Oh yeh, but a good start gives a moral boost to the whole team - will come in handy for future hard work, and pay back for all the tests and adjustments in the past !

FabiaFan
22nd January 2009, 00:41
No true, Hanninen has contract for six events. The fact is, an other source is speaking also of Scotland... So could this be the sixth one?

HaCo
22nd January 2009, 18:08
The fact is, an other source is speaking also of Scotland... So could this be the sixth one?

So, no Ypres for Skoda? :(

Tom206wrc
23rd January 2009, 16:56
It's not Hänninen's fatal mistake on this morning SS10 that would remove Skoda team excellent job !!! Nice done guys :up:


Pitty Skoda won't come in Brazil in march... :(

Karbonyl
23rd January 2009, 17:48
In despite of Juho's retirement Škoda Motorsport clearly proved, that they finally have competetive car with really big balls :-D

wotaguy
23rd January 2009, 20:58
the car is stunning, im so happy with pace, despite juha, retiring, just hope they enter scotland,

RS
23rd January 2009, 21:10
Kopecky lost 4 minutes on SS1, he is now 3m47s off the lead, a 1-2 could have been possible here on pace. Grrrr. Only doing 5 rounds would seem like a waste of a good car.

Sulland
23rd January 2009, 22:35
Kopecky lost 4 minutes on SS1, he is now 3m47s off the lead, a 1-2 could have been possible here on pace. Grrrr. Only doing 5 rounds would seem like a waste of a good car.

Yes I agree, but they have 1 in P-WRC as well so we can enjoy it in WRC as well !!!

Mitch555
24th January 2009, 02:46
Dunno about anyone else but I think Skoda can take a lot of positives out of this rally. They've done a great job with their car, its already competitive. Their drivers Kopecky and Hanninen did really well considering it was the cars first rally.

Hope to see similar threads with the words Proton, MG, Toyota & Opel :)

Looks like FIAT will need to do some work for next round, but that is a good thing I think.

Anyway, congratulations Skoda on what I think was a very successful debut although you didn't win or get on the podium.

Tom206wrc
24th January 2009, 10:16
Fantastic debut of the Fabias can't wait for Portugal, next IRC event for Skoda :up:

HaCo
24th January 2009, 12:11
I wonder if Skoda would consider doing more events now they have saw how competitive the package is: Hanninen/Kopecky + Skoda :)

Sulland
24th January 2009, 12:33
So, no Ypres for Skoda? :(


If not Imperatore get hold of one, and someone would like to rent it.
I think their marketshare of rally rentals would go up if they change to the Skoda.
As much as I like the Polo, it is hard to do development as a small team without much manufacturer support !

RS
24th January 2009, 20:41
Skoda will do 5 >>further<< events this season. Azores, Russia, Barum, Sanremo, Scotland? More is possible depending on "analysis of the Monte data"

I can certainly see Mr Duval driving a Fabia on Ypres ;)

HaCo
25th January 2009, 09:10
Skoda will do 5 >>further<< events this season. Azores, Russia, Barum, Sanremo, Scotland? More is possible depending on "analysis of the Monte data"

I can certainly see Mr Duval driving a Fabia on Ypres ;)

Okay... AWESOME! :-)

Mitch555
25th January 2009, 12:00
I think it'd be a great idea to do Ypres considering that Kopecky is such a good driver on tarmac. Yes Dudu would be pretty cool in a Fabia!

Mirek
25th January 2009, 12:43
I hope they do Ypres. Spectating Monte was just fantastic and maybe we could go to Ypres as well! :)

GigiGalliNo1
25th January 2009, 13:24
Oh, so Skoda aren't doing the full IRC this year? :(

HaCo
25th January 2009, 13:52
]I hope they do Ypres. Spectating Monte was just fantastic and maybe we could go to Ypres as well! :)
With or without Skoda, you and all the rallyfans are welcome in Belgium!! :)

Sulland
25th January 2009, 15:44
With the result in Monte, and the speed the car showed, Skoda could go out and get some major sponsors, to do full IRC in 09 !!!

Honza H.
27th January 2009, 08:56
Rally-mania.cz have made some digging at Hanninen´s website:
He probably signed a Skoda contract for next season too, this season there should be 6 more IRC rounds planned (Spain and Scotland involved).

RS
27th January 2009, 10:05
Rally-mania.cz have made some digging at Hanninen´s website:
He probably signed a Skoda contract for next season too, this season there should be 6 more IRC rounds planned (Spain and Scotland involved).

I think Hanninen confirmed some time ago he has a 2 year contract with Skoda.

I also heard that 3 Fabias are going to Italy?

Mirek
27th January 2009, 11:05
Yes, one for Aimont (Longhi) and two for Jolly Club.

jirka rk
27th January 2009, 11:21
ATA Rallye Acores, Rally Russia, Rali Vinho da Madeira, Rally Barum, Principe de Asturias, San Remo i RAC Rally of Scoland.

RS
27th January 2009, 12:25
ATA Rallye Acores, Rally Russia, Rali Vinho da Madeira, Rally Barum, Principe de Asturias, San Remo i RAC Rally of Scoland.

Is that confirmed?

Hmm, they only miss Ypres of the European events... Perhaps they can rely on a couple of local specialists there in RGRS Fabias :)

Mirek
27th January 2009, 12:26
RS: There should be Jolly Club on Ypres with two Fabias ;)

PLuto
27th January 2009, 12:58
About Skoda programme - they dont have nothing sure yet. Everything depends on result of Monte - now they will talk together and make a decision. It is sure they will start in Acores, later we will see.

[Madeira-Rally]
27th January 2009, 13:05
]RS: There should be Jolly Club on Ypres with two Fabias ;)

I suppose one for Ojeda.. and the other???

Mirek
27th January 2009, 13:47
I don't know...

Finni
27th January 2009, 14:43
Is Hänninen paying for his drive?

I would like to see where it's written he is in two years contract.

Mirek
27th January 2009, 14:48
I thought he had at least 6 events and testing paid by Škoda but I may be wrong...

DonJippo
27th January 2009, 16:09
I would like to see where it's written he is in two years contract.

Over here http://www.juhohanninen.com/sitenews/view/-/nid/248/ngid/2/

RS
27th January 2009, 17:07
According to a post by Tom on the European Championship board, Automeca are also discussing with Skoda to buy a Fabia S2000. Maybe the S2000 is one of Skoda's best selling cars in the middle of this "financial crisis" :)

HaCo
27th January 2009, 19:41
According to a post by Tom on the European Championship board, Automeca are also discussing with Skoda to buy a Fabia S2000. Maybe the S2000 is one of Skoda's best selling cars in the middle of this "financial crisis" :)

LOL :)

How many Skoda S2000 have there been build allready?

Mirek
27th January 2009, 19:45
11 bodyshells but only 6 completed cars I think.

Sulland
27th January 2009, 20:37
But to put the parts together does not take long, does it ?

Abarth need to do something to match the two others !

Mirek
27th January 2009, 20:57
No, if You have the parts ;)

4Regioni
27th January 2009, 22:38
Wonderful debut...great car.

Sulland
27th January 2009, 23:54
If the Fabias shows same speed on gravel, they will have to change the number of cars they thought they would sell in 09, and start buying parts......

FabiaFan
28th January 2009, 01:36
Hmm, they only miss Ypres of the European events... Perhaps they can rely on a couple of local specialists there in RGRS Fabias :)

They can for sure rely on Jolly Club doing the FIA European Rally Championship (starting with Mille Miglia and including also Ypres later of course) with two Fabias. I'm not sure about RG, they have no Fabia yet...

Honza H.
28th January 2009, 13:21
They can for sure rely on Jolly Club doing the FIA European Rally Championship (starting with Mille Miglia and including also Ypres later of course) with two Fabias. I'm not sure about RG, they have no Fabia yet...

Today´s news officially confirmed Ojeda with Fabia S2000 doing the European Championships (so Ypres should be definitely involved).