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Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, 27 August 2013 – ŠKODA is entering no less than three teams into its home rally in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), in its pursuit of victory. The local heroes Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler (CZ/CZ) intend to defend their overall lead in the highlight of the season, the Barum Czech Rally Zlín (30 August to 1 September). The fast Fin Esapekka Lappi and his co-driver Janne Ferm (FIN/FIN) will be making their debut in the European rally series. And the German duo Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian (D/D) will be lining up for ŠKODA's works team for the first time, straight after competing in Rally Germany.

"We will do everything we can to extend our string of successes: we want to fight it out for the win," says Kopecký. "We're really looking forward to the great atmosphere that the hundreds of thousands of fans, most of them from the Czech Republic, will create." The more than 300,000 rally fans who attend every year have recently been treated to four ŠKODA victories in succession, while Kopecký is in with a chance of clinching his third win in the Barum Rally, after his previous victories in 2009 and 2011. So far, this ERC season has been something of a triumph for the 31-year-old in his Fabia Super 2000, as he currently has four wins and one second place under his belt after five events. And after his most recent win in Romania, the Czech Republic's golden child of rallying is now at the top of the ERC leader board.

Kopecký can draw support in his mission for victory from two other ŠKODA duos: in addition to Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm, the promising German pairing of Sepp Wiegand and Frank Christian will also be competing for the works team of the Czech automobile manufacturer for the first time. "It's just incredible. I'm really grateful for this opportunity and intend to do my best to make the most of it," says Wiegand.

This year, Esapekka Lappi is competing in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) for ŠKODA, but also wants to show what he is capable of in the ERC for the first time, in the car make's home rally. "This will be our first major asphalt rally. The standard of driving will be high and this rally will show us how fast we can be on this kind of surface," says Lappi. The Barum Rally stages are anything but easy, alternating between high-speed stretches through forests and bumpy asphalt sections. In addition, the weather can often be very changeable. In all, the competitors will cover a distance of 721 kilometres over three days, with 15 special stages accounting for 234.78 kilometres.

There will also be plenty of excitement on offer for the fans away from the rally action at the ŠKODA Motorsport Park in the heart of Zlín. The park, which measures 2,500 square metres and is free to enter, features a diverse mix of sports activities, leisure opportunities, concerts and a programme of kids' entertainment. On the Friday, there will also be an opportunity to meet the three ŠKODA drivers and get their autographs.

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