The ŠKODA Fabia R5 is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine – a considerable change from the two-litre induction engine in the Fabia Super 2000. The new four-wheel drive car also features a five-speed sequential gearbox and McPherson struts, and weighs at least 1,230 kilograms. Since the start of the project, ŠKODA Motorsport has invested 15 months of intense development work to fine-tune the car and ensure that the ultra-modern components interact perfectly.

“We are happy that we now have the homologation from the International Automobile Federation FIA under our belt,” said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. “The development of our new rally hope was a tiring process and a major challenge for the entire team at ŠKODA Motorsport, to whom I would like to say a big thank you.”

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Drivers involved in the development of the Fabia R5 include the last two European Rally champions Jan Kopecký (2013) and Esapekka Lappi (2014), as well as ERC rally winners Freddy Loix and Raimund Baumschlager.

In the run up to the homologation, about 10,000 kilometres of testing were completed in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Finland. On asphalt, gravel or snow, ŠKODA says the Fabia R5 successfully passed every test.

ŠKODA has received huge interest from customer teams wanted to run the Fabia R5, which is no surprise, considering the success of the Fabia S2000.

“With the new ŠKODA Fabia R5, we want to follow on from the success we have enjoyed in recent years with speed and reliability on the rally routes of this world,” added Hrabánek. “Following the successful homologation, we can now initiate the next phase of the Fabia R5 project.”

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