ŠKODA enters FABIA R5 and legendary ŠKODA 130 RS into GP Ice Race at Zell am See

› Show event on an ice track in Zell am See/Austria offers plenty of action for the fans
› WRC 2 champion Jan Kopecký as well as Team BRR Baumschlager Rallye & Racing junior
Julian Wagner, both driving ŠKODA FABIA R5, compete in the modern cars category
› German record rally champion Matthias Kahle drives historic ŠKODA 130 RS on the frozen
tracks of the airfield close to Zell am See

Mladá Boleslav, 15 January 2019 – Demonstration runs of historic race and rally cars, a

thrilling fight in the category of modern R5 rally cars as well as spectacular skijoring

competition await fans at GP Ice Race in Zell am See (19 and 20 January 2019). Both driving

ŠKODA FABIA R5, reigning WRC 2 champion Jan Kopecký and BRR Junior Julian Wagner

spearhead the R5 competition of modern rally cars. Seven times German Rally Champion

Matthias Kahle powers a 140 horse power strong, rear wheel driven ŠKODA 130 RS in

spectacular style around the race track.

Ferdinand Porsche, together with Vinzenz Greger initiator of the GP Ice Race in Zell am See, says:

“We are thrilled to expect a tense fight in a proper competition, namely for victory in the R5 category

of modern rally cars. For forty years between 1937 and 1974, fans enjoyed spectacular races on ice

and skijoring in Zell am See. With a modern interpretation, we want to bring back this legendary

event from its decades long slumber,” emphasizes the great-grandson of the legendary Porsche

founder.

With Czech ŠKODA factory driver Jan Kopecký on the entry list, a reigning rally champion will come

to Zell am See. In a dominant way, with five rally wins and one second place, the Czech driver

conquered the WRC 2 title of the FIA World Rally Championship 2018, driving a ŠKODA FABIA R5.

“I am really looking forward to compete with my ŠKODA FABIA R5 on ice in Zell am See. Already

during the 2018 WRC season, I had the chance to sample some experience on icy and snowy

roads by winning the R5 category at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally,” says Jan Kopecký.

Promising 23 years BRR Junior Julian Wagner, driving a ŠKODA FABIA R5 from Austrian team

BRR Baumschlager Rallye & Racing, will be an ambitious threat for the champion. The talented

shooting star will also be the man to watch during the Austrian Rally Championship 2019. Already

during the first round of the national series, the Jännerrallye, Wagner was unbeatable on ice and

snow and achieved a dominant victory. Austrian rally driver Günther Knobloch will start as well with

his ŠKODA FABIA R5 in the highly competitive R5 field.

Seven times German Rally Champion Matthias Kahle will power the lightweight ŠKODA 130 RS,

featuring rear wheel drive and 140 horse power, amongst the group of historic race cars around the

ice track in Zell am See.

ŠKODA Motorsport Overview

2018 was the most successful year in the history of ŠKODA Motorsport so far. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZE/CZE)

became WRC 2 champions and managed to win the Czech Rally Championship (MČR) for the fourth consecutive time.

2017 WRC 2 winners Pontus Tidemand/Jonas Andersson finished second overall, and youngsters Kalle Rovanperä/

Jonne Halttunen (FIN/FIN) completed a pure ŠKODA podium in the final standings of the 2018 FIA World Rally

Championship’s WRC 2 category. For the fourth time in a row ŠKODA Motorsport won the WRC 2 Championship for

Teams.

The success story of the Czech brand took place worldwide. The private ŠKODA driver Yuya Sumiyama and navigator

Takahiro Yasui from Japan won the 2018 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Manvir Singh Baryan/Drew

Sturrock (KEN/GBR) took the title win in the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC). After winning the FIA South

American Rally Championship (CODASUR) in 2013, 2016 and 2017, ŠKODA crew Gustavo Saba/Fernando Mussano

(PRY/ARG) again were successful. On top of that, ŠKODA crews won 17 national championships.

The ŠKODA FABIA R5, a high-tech 4x4, was homologated by the International Automobile Federation FIA on 1 April

2015. ŠKODA’s new FABIA R5 is successfully continuing the long tradition of ŠKODA Motorsport. Its predecessor, the

FABIA SUPER 2000, won 50 national and international titles around the world.

ŠKODA has been successful on the motorsport scene since 1901. Be it on the circuit or in rallies, ŠKODA has

celebrated victories and won titles all around the world. Historical highlights include winning the title in the FIA World

Rally Championship (WRC 2) for the first time in 2016, numerous title wins in the FIA European Rally Championship

(ERC), the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), as well as the

victory in the European Touring Car Championship in 1981. ŠKODA teams have also triumphed in the world’s oldest

and most famous rally, taking several class victories in the legendary Monte Carlo, which was first held in 1911.

ŠKODA AUTO

› was founded during the pioneering days of the automobile in 1895, making it one of the longest-established

automobile companies in the world.

› currently offers its customers nine passenger-car series: the CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, SCALA, OCTAVIA, KAROQ,

KODIAQ, as well as the KAMIQ (in China) and the SUPERB.

› delivered more than 1.25 million vehicles to customers around the world in 2018.

› has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle

manufacturers in the world. In association with the Group, ŠKODA AUTO independently develops and manufactures

vehicles, as well as components such as engines and transmissions.

› operates at three locations in the Czech Republic; manufactures in China, Russia, Slovakia, Algeria and India mainly

through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan with local partners.

› employs over 35,000 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.

› is pressing ahead with the transformation from a traditional car manufacturer to the ‘Simply Clever company for the

best mobility solutions’ as part of the ŠKODA 2025 Strategy.