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Mladá Boleslav, 16 September 2014 – ŠKODA's brilliant premiere in China: both of the ŠKODA classics participating in ŠKODA's first classic car rally in China have won in their respective categories. At the end of the first round of the 'Top City Classic Rally China' in Beijing, the Laurin & Klement 300 and ŠKODA Felicia landed poll positions in their categories last weekend. The second round of the classic car rally takes place from 19 to 21 September in the Shanghai region.

"Our classic rally debut in China couldn't have been better," says Andreas Hafemann, President of ŠKODA China. "The 'Top City Classic Rally China' shows just how enthusiastic the Chinese really are about classic automobiles. Not only did we have this opportunity to present two real gems from ŠKODA's corporate history, but we also landed two poll positions – and this has, of course, made our participation doubly valuable."

The elegant Cabriolet ŠKODA Felicia dating back to 1961 made a grand entrance in China. The automotive homage to the 1960s won its rating class of cars produced between 1947 and 1961, and was also named 'most stylish vehicle' of all cars taking part in the rally.

The second classic from Mladá Boleslav also caused a sensation. At the end of the two-day drive in the Beijing area, the Laurin & Klement took poll position in its rating category ('models built prior to 1930'). The visually and acoustically impressive L&K 300 was built in 1923, and has been a part of the ŠKODA Museum collection in Mladá Boleslav since 1974.

The 'Top City Classic Rally China' consists of two uniformity and reliability trials in the Chinese regions of Beijing (12 to 14 September) and Shanghai (19 to 21 September 2014). The 530-kilometre first round took place last weekend from the Chinese capital Beijing, heading north-west to the popular ski resort of Zhongli.

The second half of the classic car rally takes place next weekend (19 to 21 September). The participants will be taking a 581-kilometre journey from Shanghai, heading south-west to the city of Qiandaohuzhen. The scenic route will take the legendary cars through unique natural landscapes, including a drive around the famous 'Thousand Island' Lake – a 573 km2 reservoir.

Both rounds of the 'Top City Rally China' are listed as being uniformity and reliability trials. The China Rally has been organised by Motor Presse China in collaboration with the magazines Motor Classic and Auto Motor and Sport.

China is by far ŠKODA's strongest individual market. With 227,000 deliveries in 2013, around one quarter of ŠKODA's total sales worldwide went to customers in China. The Czech manufacturer has been on the Chinese market since 2007 and has since sold more than 1.2 million vehicles there. During the first eight months of this year, the number of deliveries the brand made increased 10.3% to 173,400 vehicles.

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