ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: Season 2019 with focus on customer sport and WRC 2 Pro
› ŠKODA Motorsport competes in the new WRC 2 Pro category of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship with the ŠKODA FABIA R5
› ŠKODA Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek: “In 2019 our main focus is on the customers, but we want to be successful with Kalle Rovanperä in the WRC 2 Pro category as well.”
› Until the end of 2018 ŠKODA sold 252 ŠKODA FABIA R5 to customers worldwide
Mladá Boleslav, 8 February 2019 – Michal Hrabánek serves as Director of ŠKODA Motorsport
at ŠKODA AUTO a.s. since 2007. In this interview, Hrabánek talks about the participation of
ŠKODA Motorsport in the WRC 2-Pro, the customer program in 2019 and the updated
ŠKODA FABIA R5.
Mr. Hrabánek, currently the ŠKODA FABIA R5 is the most successful rally car in its
category. What is the reason for that?
Michal Hrabánek: ŠKODA Motorsport is continuously working to improve the competitiveness of
the ŠKODA FABIA R5. In the past, the work on our R5 rally car focussed on reliability. As a result,
during the 2018 WRC season no factory car had to retire due to technical issues. Thanks to the
presence of our works team in the FIA World Rally Championship, we got the experience to
continuously develop the car, making the FABIA the best car in its category. The strong and close
cooperation between the R&D department of ŠKODA AUTO and ŠKODA Motorsport and the fact,
that we are working with the same strict processes of quality management and control, is an
important key to success.
Why is ŠKODA competing with a factory team in the WRC 2 Pro category?
Michal Hrabánek: Due to the involvement of our works team in the FIA World Rally Championship,
we are closer to our customers, get their feedback directly and can collect the experience to further
develop the car, making the FABIA the best car in its category.
What is the program of ŠKODA Motorsport for 2019?
Michal Hrabánek: ŠKODA Motorsport modified its strategy for 2019. We sold 252 cars up to the
end of 2018 to our customers, we have a big responsibility to provide the best possible service.
Therefore, our customer program will have top priority in 2019. Furthermore, we will enter two cars
into selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship. Kalle Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne
Halttunen finished their first year as part of our factory team with third overall in the WRC 2
Championship. In 2019, they will compete in the WRC 2 Pro Championship. We will also see the
reigning WRC 2 Champions Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler on selected WRC events. As well they will
try again to defend their title of Czech Rally Champions.
For the upcoming Rally Sweden, you nominated reigning Finnish Champion Eerik Pietarinen
for ŠKODA Motorsport as point scorer in the WRC 2 Pro category. Will we see more private
drivers competing under the banner of the factory team in 2019?
Michal Hrabánek: Eerik Pietarinen is supported by the Finnish ŠKODA importer. Already by
winning the WRC 2 category at Rally Finland 2018 he proved his outstanding speed and talent. We
closely observe the progress of other talented and fast ŠKODA customers and may integrate some
of them into our works team on selected WRC rallies. This is a good example for our new strategy
to support our customer teams even more.
How do you see the future of the WRC 2 Championship and the new Pro category?
Michal Hrabánek: The WRC 2 Championship is and will remain a very attractive motorsport
platform, what we also can see in the impressive media feedback worldwide. The competition level
is high, apart from ŠKODA other manufacturers like Ford, Citroen, Peugeot and Hyundai are selling
R5 rally cars. Also, during the penultimate round of the FIA World Championship 2018, Volkswagen
debuted the new Polo R5. There are also rumours, that Toyota is planning to join the competition
as well. The new WRC 2 Pro category for works teams and works drivers started at Rally Monte-
Carlo. At Rally Sweden we will see ŠKODA, Ford and Citroen competing for championship points.
We support all ideas and plans, which bring rallying forward. The new series may need some time
for further development.
When can customers order the new ŠKODA FABIA R5, when will we see the new generation
car for the first time in competition?
Michal Hrabánek: The final timing is not yet fixed. The most important aspect for us to be 100 per
cent sure, that the car is fully developed and bullet proof ready for competition without any
compromises, this is our responsibility. Thoroughness in a development of a new car has absolute
priority. Due to the homologation planned for the middle of 2019, we could introduce the car after
the second quarter, so that ordering process and first deliveries could start. We have already a list
of customers interested in buying our new generation R5 car. Clients can register for the new
specification FABIA R5. However, this registration is no obligation to buy the car in the end. As
soon as we have more information about final technical specifications and delivery date of the car,
we will inform our customers.
About Michal Hrabánek:
Michal Hrabánek serves as the Director of ŠKODA Motorsport during the last twelve years.
Beforehand, he worked in a leading role in the technical development of ŠKODA AUTO and for
Sales and Marketing as well. He was responsible for the development of the successful ŠKODA
FABIA S2000 and its successor, ŠKODA FABIA R5, which is currently the most successful rally car
of its category. From 2015 up to 2018, ŠKODA Motorsport won under the lead of Michal Hrabánek
four times in a row the Team Championship in the WRC 2 category of the FIA World Rally
Championship.
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.
