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Skoda could do well returning to WRC if FIA stuck with naturally aspirated S2000.
Citroen and Ford sees that as a threat to their dominances, influences the FIA to make do with 1.6litre turbo. While more suitable to their development also rose the cost.
Skoda has second thought and realize maybe they should just stick with IRC and S-WRC.
Rally Finland and Lahti Historic ERC will be at least partly joint event this season. It have a FIA approval now.
Rally Guide 1 for Rally Finland will be released February 25th.
Google translate.
Skoda is all part of the Volkswagen group as most of us know. Maybe it is their intention to be a form of test mule for a proper VW entry in the future based on the same platform. It would make sense, economically. An evolution of an proven winner rather than start the VW campaign from scratch. But VW will compete in the WRC mostly and Skoda will continue in the IRC.
Keep this in mind considering that the SAAB WRC rumours revolve around a car based on the BMW Mini Cooper platform. So SAAB/Spyker are not looking at re-inventing the wheel concerning development costs if they can help it. Prodrive will license their part of the bargain and make money from the deal.
Also look at the Rallye-Raid Mini, basically a Mini body on a BMW X3 raid car.
Yeh i'm not excited about it anymore after hearing that....Quote:
Originally Posted by Livewireshock
Go VW! :D
Why would you deny a potentially good manufacturer for WRC? Skoda's WRC effort between 99-05 is hardly a basis to compare their current state. Many things have changed since then.Quote:
Originally Posted by GigiGalliNo1
With their earlier experience in WRC and their current success in IRC, they have every right to look up again. Because regardless of it's current state, WRC is still the sports pinaccle. And I also feel that IRC (just like the former ERC) should be more about privateer teams. WRC actually needs more manufacturers to survive!
And let me remind you that the Fabia S2000 regularly beats Fiesta's (M-Sport) and 207's (PSA) in not only IRC but also WRC. You can't deny it's potential.
But in the end it's all up to VW. At least they could count on Skoda's solid basis, should they enter on their own.
Even as a Fabia-fan I must admit that there are unfortunately not many entries (and therefore almost no noticable results) of Peugeots with top SWRC drivers (and definitely not by PSA!) in the WRC rounds :-/ And with Fiesta, I would say, they are even (comparable drivers, similar number of cathegory wins). And on the other side there are no good regular competitors with Fiestas in IRC...again a pity... But good for Skoda, because they would not outpace the Fiestas as clearly as they do with Peugeots...Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
The point is, they are competitive.Quote:
Originally Posted by FabiaFan
Yes. of course, you woldn't expect from me i'd say the opposite, would you? But I wouldn't dare to say, they are a little bit better, or a little bit worse, or just even with Fiesta S2000... Because there is not a proper comparison.Quote:
Originally Posted by Josti
We will see in Monte where the regural Skoda drivers will have P. Solberg and H. Solberg with a factory 207 and a factory FiestaQuote:
Originally Posted by FabiaFan
Yes, I'm looking forward to this... my bet is it will be only between J.Hanninen and H.Solberg, maybe also Mikkelsen...anyway only Fiesta and Fabias...Quote:
Originally Posted by GINE