ŠkodaPortal.cz Simply clever

Mladá Boleslav, 5 November 2014 – The ŠKODA champions want to round off an outstanding season in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) at the highlight of the season in China. With the flawless result of five victories in five rallies so far, the duos Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ) and Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall (IND/NZ) head to the Czech car manufacturer's most important market in the world for the season finale. The works-supported ŠKODA MRF Team has already secured the title in the manufacturers' standings of the APRC* ahead of the "China Rally Longyou" for the third time in a row. Also, Jan Kopecký has secured the title before the end of the season, making him the first driver in history to win the driver's title in the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the APRC* in consecutive years.

"Naturally we are very proud to have won these titles for ŠKODA in our debut season in the APRC. But there's no reason to celebrate just yet: After all we want to finish off the season perfectly at the highlight of the season and put on a good show for our fans in China," said Kopecký. The 32-year-old ŠKODA works driver has won three rallies this season, in New Caledonia, Australia and most recently in Japan. The dethroned defending champion Gill was victorious in the other two APRC rallies in New Zealand and Malaysia. Gill's aim for China is to at least draw level with Kopecký on number of victories: "After coming second in China last year, I want to finish the season with a win. After all it's an important race for the whole brand."

Just how popular ŠKODA is in China was evident the first time that the Czech brand ever participated in a vintage car rally in Beijing and Shanghai in September. At the "Top City Classic Rally China" a convertible ŠKODA Felicia from 1961 and a Laurin & Klement 300 from 1923 – the oldest vehicle to take part – delighted tens of thousands of spectators. At the "China Rally Longyou", the state of the art rally racer Fabia Super 2000 is set to enthral the fans over 230.92 kilometres and 13 special stages.

ŠKODA wants to increase its worldwide sales in the coming years to at least 1.5 million units per year, focusing on the Asian growth markets in particular. In China alone the number of vehicles sold is planned to rise to more than 500,000 in the future. Last week ŠKODA's HR Director Bohdan Wojnar was part of a Czech government delegation accompanying President Miloš Zeman on his state visit to China.

In addition to the title hat-trick in the manufacturers' and drivers' standings in the APRC, ŠKODA has also secured the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) title going into the final race of the season. The path to the ERC title is clear for ŠKODA works driver Esapekka Lappi (FIN) at the season finale on Corsica from Thursday to Saturday. The high-tech four-wheel drive from Mladá Boleslav has also won the championship title in four national rally championships.

Belgium's rally old hand "Fast" Freddy Loix, who won the FIA European Rally Championship race in his home country in the Fabia Super 2000 in June, won the Belgian championship title. Before that, Pedro Meireles (P), supported by ŠKODA Portugal, won the championship in Portugal. Old hand Raimund Baumschlager (A) also won his twelfth rally championship title overall in Austria in the Fabia Super 2000. On top of that, Poles Grzegorz Grzyb/Robert Hundla won the championship in Slovakia.

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

Did you know that ...

... the six races of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship are held in regions in which more than 2.5 billion people live?

... China is ŠKODA's largest single market worldwide? In September 2014 alone, 24,900 vehicles were delivered here, which is more than a quarter of the Czech car manufacturer's total sales around the world. The increase of 16.3 percent compared with the previous year's result in the same month (September 2013: 21,400) was also the second-best monthly sales result for ŠKODA since entering the Chinese market in 2007. A total of 198,200 vehicles were sold in the first nine months.

... the "China Rally Longyou" has been part of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) since 2006? Before that, the rally in the province of Zhejiang was where the Chinese Rally Championship (CRC) was held.

... Cody Crocker is the record winner of the "China Rally Longyou"? The Australian won the rally four times in a row between 2006 and 2009.

... Alister McRae won the "China Rally Longyou" in 2011 and 2012, continuing the McRae family's success story in China? His older brother, rally legend Colin McRae, won the "Rally China" in 1997, which was still part of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) back then.

... "Longyou" is a district in the Chinese province of Zhejiang? Zhejiang Province is known as the "land of fish and rice". The largest fishing area is off the east coast of China and rice is the most important agricultural product on land.
... the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world is in Zhejiang Province? In May 2008 the Hangzhou bridge was opened in Hangzhou harbour. Construction of the 6-lane bridge started in November 2003 and cost a total of around 1.1 billion euros.

... ŠKODA has fond memories of the "China Rally Longyou"? Last year Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) won the "China Rally Longyou", beating their team-mates Gaurav Gill/Glen Macneall (IND/NZ) and clinching championship victory for ŠKODA in the manufacturers' standings.

The number of the "China Rally Longyou": 1, 2, 3

1, 2, 3 – the top three positions in the drivers' overall standings in the APRC are all taken by ŠKODA drivers. The new champion Jan Kopecký (CZ) leads ahead of the dethroned defending champion Gaurav Gill. Both drivers drive for the works-supported team ŠKODA MRF. Third-placed Jun Xu from China also owes his success to a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000.

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Manufacturers' Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. ŠKODA, 192 points (making them APRC champion*); 2. Mitsubishi, 94; 3. Subaru 82; 4. Proton, 72; 5. Renault, 45

FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), Drivers' Championship standings after five of six rounds:

1. Jan Kopecký, 151 (making him APRC champion*); 2. Gaurav Gill, 104; 3. Jun Xu 97; 4. Mark Pedder, 90; 5. Michael Young, 88

APRC Calendar 2014:

11–13 April: Rally Whangarei – New Zealand
16–18 May: Rally New Caledonia – New Caledonia
20–22 June: Rally Queensland – Australia
15–17 August: Rally Malaysia – Malaysia
26–28 September: Rally Hokkaido – Japan
7–9 November: China Rally Longyou – China

Podobné články