Celebrations as SKODA clinches third IRC makes’ title

ŠKODA is celebrating its third Intercontinental Rally Challenge manufacturers’ title in as many years following Rallye Sanremo, which finished in Italy’s Liguria region on Saturday evening.

Factory driver Jan Kopecký marked the occasion by claiming his best result on the asphalt event by finishing second overall alongside co-driver Pavel Dresler in a Fabia Super 2000.

Commenting on ŠKODA’s latest achievement in the IRC, the company’s motorsport head Michal Hrabánek said: “We have won a valuable hat-trick of IRC titles and made a historic achievement with the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 by becoming the most successful brand of the IRC. Furthermore, our drivers have achieved the largest number of victories. This is indeed the best reward for all the team members in return for the top-class work they have been putting in throughout this successful period. The end of this season is still ahead of us, though, and our ambition is to win also the title in the drivers’ category.”

With 10 of his record 11 wins in the IRC scored with ŠKODA Juho Hänninen said: “I am glad that we have helped ŠKODA achieve this great hat-trick of titles by winning three events this year in Ireland, Belgium and Czech Republic. We have had an excellent car all the time, and that was the key to our success.”

Kopecký, runer-up in the IRC on three occasions, said: “I am really grateful for the opportunity to be part of this great team and drive this superb car. Considering the tough competition, i.e. the existing number of top-class drivers, we are very pleased with the results we have achieved.”

As well as achieving success in the IRC, won this season’s FIA European Rally Championship crown with Kopecký becoming Czech champion for a second time. ŠKODA increased its tally of IRC wins to 27 this year.