Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[Mirek]

A big manufacturer like Skoda, part of an even bigger group (VAG), let's its motorsport dept live and die by it's own products and gives no financial or other assistance ?

I don't by believe M-Sport are competing on a level playing field against the likes of these in-house factory teams.

New facilities like this don't come cheap...

https://www.simpsonsskoda.co.uk/news...da-motorsport/

'ŠKODA Motorsport is now operating out of a brand new headquarters close to the ŠKODA AUTO factory in the outskirts of Mladá Boleslav.
The purpose-built facilities host all departments of ŠKODA Motorsport under one roof and can serve the needs of the customers and the factory team even better. Research and development, production, workshop, storage, workshop for prototypes, logistics, offices and a show room for customers are concentrated in the brand new facilities close to the ŠKODA AUTO factory near Mladá Boleslav. The persons working for ŠKODA Motorsport share 1,859 square metres of office space and 3,844 square metres of workshop and storage facilities. In total, the new premises cover 16,400 square metres.

Christian Strube, Head of Technical Development ŠKODA AUTO, says: “With this new headquarter, we are prepared for the future challenges. Due to an improved workflow, we can develop and built up cars even more efficient and make our service for our customers even better. Last year, our target was to provide more than 200 FABIA R5 to customers worldwide. And we delivered! Up to now, almost 250 FABIA were sold. In order to keep that momentum, these new premises are an ideal foundation for the future success of our motorsport program.”

And so what? What you are trying to say?

[WRCStan]

Don't forget the M-Sport Evaluation Centre https://www.m-sport.co.uk/mec

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Don't forget the M-Sport Evaluation Centre https://www.m-sport.co.uk/mec

That is separate from the rally car/prep side of the business and intended to raise money from manufacturers wanting to test their new road cars.

Plus it was created with their own investment, not built for them by a manufacturer (Ford), like Skoda Motorsport's base was for them.

[Jarek Z]

Two Hyundais i20 N Rally2 in Portugal, for Ricardo Teodósio and Bruno Magalhães:
https://www.fiaerc.com/team-hyundai-...22-erc-season/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I see Polo R5's are still finding new drivers with some now taking them into the 2022 Irish Tarmac championship. The Fiesta lost out to the i20 there but now it is also seeing the Polo take over as the new choice. There were 4 in the Top 10 in Galway.

The older Fiesta R5 is still very popular but the Rally2 has struggled for takers.

A C3 Rally2 shouldve appeared on Rd1 (Galway) but didn't... and there were no Fabia's at all !

[rp]

and there were no Fabia's at all !

How it is possible that no Fabia's!?

[the sniper]

How it is possible that no Fabia's!?

We see very few of them in the UK too. We almost see more of the Proton Iriz R5! I don't think a Rally2 evo Fabia has ever even competed in a UK National rally.

[Steve Boyd]

http://www.northweststages.co.uk/bre...-ingram-rally/

[the sniper]

http://www.northweststages.co.uk/bre...-ingram-rally/

I did think I should add "yet" to the end of that last post, as Ruairi Bell will seemingly have a Fabia Evo too this season, if he's continuing in the UK.

As an aside, I've long wondered if there was potential for an Ingram Simpson(s) partnership. The latter has seemingly long had newish Fabias that don't seem to get much use. Both have a relationship with Toksport. Neil funds his own fun though, which is fair enough.

[lmmjvss]

Is Ingram popular in Europe? I dont know how big an ERC title is in Europe, but Im such a fan of Chris. He is chatismatic. He "looks like" a poor guy trying to rally, u'know? I like thah haha
Btw... Is he brothers with BTCC's Ingram?