ŠkodaPortal.cz Simply clever

Johur Bahru, 17 August 2014 – Defending champion Gaurav Gill (IND) has given the works-supported ŠKODA MRF team a fourth victory in the fourth race at the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). European champion Jan Kopecký also defended his lead in the overall standings with victory in the daily classification on Sunday despite difficult course conditions at the Malaysian Rally. ŠKODA also extended their lead in the manufacturer's classification and are right on track for successful championship title defence.

"Malaysia is always the most difficult rally of the year, the conditions are extremely complicated due to the tropical temperatures and rainfall. But we will go away from here happy with a victory and a one-two championship lead," commented Pavel Hortek, Team Principal of the ŠKODA MRF team. Rally winner Gaurav Gill was particularly pleased after his comfortable victory in the successful ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

He and co-driver Glenn Macneall (NZ) held a clear lead over Australian Mark Pedder after the 14 Special Stages. Third place went to Jun Xu racing a private ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. "We missed out on victory last year, which is why we are even happier with this result. This was an especially important win in the title race, it will still be a hard slog with Jan but it keeps the championship alive until the last moment," commented the Indian driver.

As a result Gill claims his second win of the season as the Asian segment of the APRC got under way. His other victory was at the opening race of the season in New Zealand. The two other APRC races in New Caledonia and Australia were won by Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler for ŠKODA. This time the duo were unfortunate during the first day of competition on the muddy tracks through the banana and coconut plantations in the southern part of Malaysia. The rear suspension was damaged on landing after a very long jump whilst the pair were still in the lead. However, the championship leaders came back into the rally on Sunday and secured the points needed for victory in the daily classification with wins in five of the day's six Special Stages.

Consequently ŠKODA enjoy a one-two lead in the overall standings as Kopecký sits narrowly ahead of Gill after four of this season's six rallies. "We were in first on Saturday until we damaged the car. Naturally this is hard to take. But in the end I was able to get the most out of Sunday with first place in the daily classification. By thanks go to the ŠKODA MRF team," said Kopecký. His special preparation for the arduous conditions in Malaysia was to practice sitting in the sauna with full racing overalls on.

The Czech carmaker is taking the performances in the APRC very seriously. The objective is to continue to increase brand presence in international markets – particularly in ŠKODA's largest market China, where the finale of the APRC season will be held in November. ŠKODA is aiming to expand its global sales to at least 1.5 million units per year in the coming years and is particularly keen to increase sales in the Asian growth markets. The next APRC race takes places from 26 – 28 September in Japan.

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