ŠKODA MOTORSPORT NEWSLETTER • November 2/2019 Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA FABIA R5 evo, WRC 2 Pro Champions 2019 What a tremendous on top of that very successful in the year! After our success FIA regional championships in Africa W in the WRC 2 Pro cate- and North America plus they con- CONTENT: gory of the FIA World quered numerous national titles. This 1 Editorial Rally Championship 2019, where our newsletter features interesting back- factory crew Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne ground information about our in- Pierre-Louis Loubet and Vincent Landais won the WRC 2 Halttunen won the drivers’ and volvement in motorsport and a list of category of the FIA WRC 2019, 2 co-drivers´ titles* and ŠKODA took all ŠKODA champions so far. While Final standings of the FIA World the manufacturers’ crown, our cus- you read these lines, we are all work- Rally Championship (WRC 2 Pro and WRC 2) tomers as well continue the winning ing hard to prepare next years’ mo- streak for ŠKODA. Pierre-Louis torsport season in order to write Dramatic final in the FIA 3 European Rally Championship Loubet and Vincent Landais wrapped more chapters for the long and rich 2019 up their fantastic season by becom- ŠKODA success story. Above all, we 4 ŠKODA champions 2019 ing WRC 2 Champions* of the FIA will continue to support our custom- World Rally Championship 2019. ers rallying from success to success Facts and statistics about 5 ŠKODA FABIA R5/ ŠKODA Chris Ingram and co-driver Ross around the globe. FABIA R5 evo Whittock won the FIA European Ral- Insider: How to cool down when 6 ly Championship (ERC) after a heart- it’s really getting hot? beat final in Hungary. Filip Mareš/Jan History: When a ŠKODA finished 7 Hloušek won the FIA ERC1 Junior By Michal Hrabánek, the Safari Rally Kenya third Championship. ŠKODA crews were Director of ŠKODA Motorsport • NEWS WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (WRC) FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP/ WRC 2 CATEGORY: ŠKODA customers Pierre-Louis Loubet/Vincent Landais are the champions* After the penultimate round of the WRC 2 cham- duly deserved for the French crew. Rallying with ŠKODA pionship for private teams at RallyRACC Catalun- FABIA R5 and ŠKODA FABIA R5 evo prepared by 2C Com- A ya-Rally de España, Pierre-Louis Loubet (ŠKODA pétition, they secured the title with category victories in FABIA R5 evo) enjoyed the category lead. The title decider Portugal and Italy, a fantastic performance in Finland and had to be the final round, Rally Australia and due to the point additional points scored in France, Wales and Spain. “Con- standings and championship situation, it was clear that only gratulations to Pierre-Louis and Vincent. They impressed a ŠKODA driver could be Champion. After the event had to throughout the whole year with their speed on gravel and be cancelled due to bush fires, the Championship leaders on tarmac as well,” emphasized Michal Hrabánek, Director Pierre-Louis Loubet and co-driver Vincent Landais (FRA/ of ŠKODA Motorsport. Mexican Benito Guerra, also driving FRA) were finally crowned WRC 2 champions. The title was a ŠKODA, finished the 2019 season third overall. STANDINGS: FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Final Championship Standings WRC 2 Pro/Drivers 1. Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) ŠKODA 176 points 2. Mads Østberg (NOR) Citroën 145 points 3. Gus Greensmith (GBR) Ford 137 points 4. Jan Kopecký (CZE) ŠKODA 115 points Final Championship Standings WRC 2 Pro/Manufacturers Final Championship Standings WRC 2/Drivers (private teams) 1. ŠKODA 333 points 1. Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA) ŠKODA 91 points 2. Ford 259 points 2. Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL) ŠKODA/VW 88 points 3. Citroën 145 points 3. Benito Guerra (MEX) ŠKODA 75 points WRC 2 Champions* with ŠKODA: Pierre-Louis Loubet and co-driver Vincent Landais WORLD RALLYING Chris Ingram/Ross Whittock (GB/GBR), European Rally Champions 2019 Despair: After the puncture FIA ERC 2019: CHRIS INGRAM/ROSS WHITTOCK CHAMPIONS AFTER HUNGARIAN THRILLER Even the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, could not E have done better concerning the dramaturgy of the title decision in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC 1). Going into the last stage of the season’s final Rally Hungary, champion- ship leaders Chris Ingram and Ross Whittock (GBR/GBR) were third. That could have been enough to secure the title, even if long time rally leaders Alex- ey Lukyanuk/Alexey Arnautov (Citroën) had taken the victory. But Ingram’s Celebration: championship hopes seemed to be Chris Ingram/Ross gone, when he collected a puncture Whittock with the finish in sight and dropped to fourth. Nonetheless, Lukyanuk punc- first to congratulate Ingram via short Czech Rally Team/Roman Kresta Rac- tured as well during the last meters of message. Two other ŠKODA crews de- ing) won the FIA ERC 1 Junior Champi- the rally, as a consequence dropping to livered a stunning performance through- onship, Lukasz Habaj/Daniel Dymurski second overall. Minutes of feverish cal- out the 2019 ERC season as well: Filip (POL/POL, Sports Racing Technolo- culations started. In the end, Chris In- Mareš/Jan Hloušek (CZE/CZE, ACCR gies) finished third overall. gram, Ross Whittock using an excellent prepared ŠKODA FABIA R5 evo by Tok- Final Championship Standings/Drivers sport WRT were confirmed as champi- 1. Chris Ingram (GBR) ŠKODA 141 points ons. The last Briton to win the European 2. Alexey Lukyanuk (RUS) Citroën 132 points Rally Championship was Vic Elford back 3. Lukasz Habaj (POL) ŠKODA 116 points in 1967 – and in fact he was one of the *All results subject to official publication by the FIA • ŠKODA CHAMPIONS 2019 FIA WRC 2 PRO/CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MANUFACTURERS: ŠKODA MOTORSPORT FIA WRC 2 PRO/CHAMPIONSHIP FOR DRIVERS AND CO-DRIVERS: KALLE ROVANPERÄ/JONNE HALTTUNEN (FIN/FIN) FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR DRIVERS AND CO-DRIVERS: PIERRE-LOUIS LOUBET/VINCENT LANDAIS (FRA/FRA) FIA EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP: CHRIS INGRAM/ROSS WHITTOCK (GBR/GBR) FIA ERC1 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: FILIP MAREŠ/JAN HLOUŠEK (CZE/CZE) FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ARC: MANVIR SINGH BARYAN/DREW STURROCK (KEN/GBR) FIA NORTH AMERICAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP NACAM: RICARDO TRIVIÑO/MARC MARTÍ (MEX/ESP) Filip Mareš/Jan Hloušek (CZE/CZE), winner of the FIA ERC1 Junior Championship 2019 FACTS AND STATISTICS ABOUT ŠKODA FABIA R5/ ŠKODA FABIA R5 evo • INSIDER INTERVIEW & TECHNOLOGY Team manager Pavel Hortek shows where the “camelbacks” are placed behind the seats PAVEL HORTEK, TEAM MANAGER ŠKODA MOTORSPORT, TALKS ABOUT HOT GRAVEL RALLIES Mr. Hortek, although winter has gravel roads and temperatures inside Turkey, both driver and co-driver have come and people start looking for the car, which can easily reach 68 de- to drink at least 3.5 litres or even more Christmas gifts, we would like to grees Celsius and more. of sport drinks per day in order to com- reflect on hot gravel rallies in pensate for the loss of fluid. Special summer. How would you describe How are the crews preparing? food, which is rich of salt and hydrates, the special challenge of such an We have a continuous training pro- is important as well. event? gram for each of our crews. Some- Well, while for example at Rally Italia times, we even let them – clad with How do the drivers carry drinks on Sardegna, the climate in Alghero, the overalls and shoes – do physical exer- board? host town of the rally, is very nice with cises in a sauna in order to prepare We have special devices, so-called 28 degrees and a mild breeze from the them for the heat. “camelbacks”, which are on board of sea, the situation is different for crews the rally car and provide enough fluid competing in this rally. On the stages, What about food and fluid? even during long special stages for both they are facing tough dusty and rocky During hot rallies like on Sardinia or in driver and co-driver. • HISTORY Armin Schwarz/ Manfred Hiemer (ŠKODA OCTAVIA WRC Evo2) at Safari Rally Kenya 2001 18 YEARS AGO DRIVING A ŠKODA OCTAVIA WRC EVO2, ARMIN SCHWARZ AND MANFRED HIEMER FINISHED THE SAFARI RALLY KENYA IN THIRD OVERALL It was the ultimate test for men and machine: The crew Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer. The two Germans fin- Safari Rally Kenya was part of the FIA World Rally ished third overall, scoring the best ever WRC result for the I Championship for decades. In 2001, the ŠKODA Czech rally car under the toughest conditions. Tommi Mäkin- OCTAVIA WRC Evo2 proved its’ robustness on the rocky, en won the Safari Rally Kenya 2001 ahead of Harri Rovanperä, muddy and sandy African roads in the hands of ŠKODA works father of the 2019 ŠKODA factory driver Kalle Rovanperä. ŠKODA MOTORSPORT: Further information: Zbyněk Straškraba, Communications Motorsport P +420 605 293 168 [email protected] http://skoda-motorsport.com.