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Mladá Boleslav, 27 January 2014 – Prepare for the future: this task is the main focus of the 2014 rally season for ŠKODA. A very special challenge awaits works drivers Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) and the other duo Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) at their first competitive outing of the year in the European Rally Championship (ERC). The gravel roads of the Rally Latvia – the second of three races that form the ERC Ice Masters series – will put the drivers' skill and nerves to the test from 31 January to 2 February. At the heart of matters at ŠKODA Motorsport this year, however, will be the development of the new Fabia R5.

"The first start of the season is always a special moment, and Latvia is uncharted territory for the entire team. However, I am obviously very much looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000. Last year we gained great experience and had some good results in the APRC, as well as in the ERC at the end of the year. We are obviously looking to follow on from that this year," said Lappi. The flying Finn showed his ability and potential in the final two races of the ERC season, finishing runner-up at the iconic Rally Sanremo and clinching victory in Switzerland.

In the ERC, the two ŠKODA pairings of Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm and Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian expect tougher opposition from other manufacturers' new R 5 cars. The two ŠKODA crews will start at selected rounds of the European Championship. And the successful Fabia Super 2000 will proudly sport a cool new livery in 2014.

Sepp Wiegand, who is supported by ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland is also seen as a talented driver with a big future ahead of him. He finished fourth on his ERC debut for the ŠKODA works team at the Barum Rally in the Czech Republic – ŠKODA's home race. Wiegand is now looking forward to the new challenge. "This is a new championship for us, and the majority of the routes are unfamiliar to us. That doesn't matter though: we will put out foot down right from the word go." Twelve special stages totalling over 240.56 kilometres await the two ŠKODA duos in Latvia. This year, the rally HQ is located in the Baltic port of Liepāja.

"The development of the new car for the R 5 category will take priority this year: that is our motorsport future," said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek: "However, we will be in action at the races again this year, and with our tried and tested model that has proven so successful – the Fabia Super 2000." It was with this rally car that Jan Kopecký and Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) won the European Championship title for ŠKODA last year. The successful duo will line up in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in 2014 – as will defending champions Gaurav Gill/Glenn Macneall (IND/NZ).

The new R 5 rally car is currently being developed in Mladá Boleslav as the successor to the extremely successful Fabia Super 2000 and is equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine, in accordance with FIA regulations. "Entering the R 5 class is a logical step for ŠKODA. At this point in time, we are assuming that the new car will be homologated by mid-2015," said Hrabánek.

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