Rally2 (ex-R5) News

[mknight]

Meeke seemingly testing new Fabia in Greece.

Last moment changes or planned tests that got delayed?

[Co-driven]

Planned tests.

Apparently car was homologated in August, but due to shortage of spare parts they won't use it in Acropolis.
Lindholm should be testing in Greece also.

But, from what I heard, car still has some particularities and is a bit different to drive than the current one.

[RS]

Meeke/Floene in Greece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcq3ztNooOQ

[RS]

Lindholm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOnSM6POAes

[RS]

New Fabia was homologated on September 1st: https://www.auto.cz/skoda-fabia-rs-r...soutezi-145522

- This was delayed due to the requirement to produce a certain number of road cars on which it was based.

- They are short of everything (not just chips)

- Debut possibly not until Monte

[mknight]

In the Dirtfish article they write what likely is the main reason. That they want to start production and continue without stopping with at least 5 cars in first batch. They say they could run 1-2 now.

Also interesting that they call it "the most anticipated Rally2 ever".

I'd say Hyundai last year and maybe even more the Polo (if you include R5) were more anticipated.
Hyundai cause their previous car wasn't all that competetive and Polo cause VW motorsport dominated in WRC

Current Fabia is still probably the allround best car, even though some other cars are better in specific conditions.

But might be that people who want to buy brand new car have to wait for this, cause the current car is no longer produced.

[RS]

Maybe the works team will run a couple of cars on Catalunya to showcase it and concentrate on getting the customer cars built for the beginning of 2023?

[PLuto]

Maybe the works team will run a couple of cars on Catalunya to showcase it and concentrate on getting the customer cars built for the beginning of 2023?

No

[PLuto]

It is simple - they dont have enough parts for the cars. To build them and also to run them. So for them it is nonsense to start with new car and show its speed, when they are not able to sell the cars...

[RS]

Not even enough parts to run two cars on a tarmac rally?