With a perfect record of six wins in all six races of the season, Škoda celebrates the title treble in the continental championship.
“It’s the perfect finale to a great motorsport season for Škoda. This win in the core market of China emphasizes once again what a fast and reliable rally car our team has built in the Škoda Fabia R5. The fourth consecutive title win in the most important continental championship to us, four wins in the World Rally Championship WRC 2 and four national titles – that is a fantastic record for the first year with the Fabia R5. It’s the reward for the great work of each and every employee in the Škoda Motorsport racing family,” Škoda motorsport director Michal Hrabánek said in a press release.
“I am particularly pleased that we were able to be such a convincing advertisement for Škoda in China, our most important market in the world. So special thanks go to Pontus Tidemand and Emil Axelsson, who crowned their strong first year at Škoda with victory in China and winning the title in the APRC,” he added.
Last Sunday, the two Scandinavians celebrated their first win for Škoda in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2) at the Rally Spain.
After travelling 10,000 kilometers in the air and facing a time difference of seven hours, they didn’t let their rivals get a look in at the rainy China Rally Longyou either. Tidemand/Axelsson drove to victory in their red Škoda Fabia R5 on approximately 230 kilometers of muddy gravel tracks and slippery concrete streets as if they were on rails. Many other drivers failed to make it to the finishing ramp at the Rongchang Plaza around 400 kilometers away from the metropolis of Shanghai. Tidemand’s Škoda-MRF team-mate Gaurav Gill (IND) was one of the drivers forced to retire on Saturday.
“This rally demanded everything from us once again and showed what a fantastic tool we have in our Škoda Fabia R5. The many spectators here in China were fascinated by this car,” said Tidemand delighted with the perfect end to the season.
“Two such important wins in Spain and China within a week – Emil and I didn’t dare dream of that. Winning the title in the APRC is our highlight in a fantastic first year at Škoda. Thanks to the whole team.”
Works driver Pontus Tidemand and his navigator Emil Axelsson are to be crowned champions in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings of the APRC. Škoda will also be honored as winners of the manufacturers’ standings of the APRC for the fourth time in a row.
The Škoda Fabia R5 was presented to the world for the first time in mid April. In addition to the title treble in the APRC, there were 11 podium positions, including four wins, in seven starts in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2). Four national championships have also already been won in the new car in 2015. With five wins in a row in the Czech championship, Jan Kopecký (CZ) clinched the title win before the end of the season.
In Austria, veteran Raimund Baumschlager (A) won the national championship with the Fabia R5. In Hungary, Norbert Herczig (H) was crowned national rally champion in the Fabia R5. “Fast” Freddy Loix (B) was also victorious in the championship in his home country of Belgium.
With Pontus Tidemand, Škoda celebrates its fourth title win in a row in the drivers’ standings of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
The winning streak began in 2012 with the victory of Australian Chris Atkinson. India’s Gaurav Gill won the title in 2013, before Jan Kopecký (CZ) became the first driver in history to become European Champion and Asia-Pacific Champion in consecutive years last year.
In the new Fabia R5, Tidemand got Škoda’s third win in a row at the China Rally Longyou. Esapekka Lappi (FIN) won in 2013, and Jan Kopecký was victorious last year on the way to his title win.
Škoda has been involved in the world of motorsport since 1901. The brand has taken home many trophies from the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and several famous races, such as the oldest rally in the world – the Monte Carlo, which has taken place annually since 1911.