To the battle! ŠKODA Motorsport fights in WRC2 for the first place both in team and manufacturers ladders. Therefor there will be three ŠKODA Fabia R5 cars fighting with a great effort in RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada (22nd to 25th October).
“We want to drive for victory,” says team leader Michal Hrabánek, not hiding ambitions. Three ŠKODA Motorsport factory teams are entering the contest. Finns Esapekka Lappi with Janne Ferm (currently second in WRC2 ladder) and Swedes Pontus Tidemand with Emil Axelsson (currently sixth) have a chance for title. Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler will back them up in the battle for much needed points as a team ŠKODA Motorsport II.
In Spain ŠKODA Motorsport will also strive for strengthening its leader position in WRC2 teams classification. In previous six starts ŠKODA team earned maximum possible amount of points (150) and is 49 points ahead of currently second Youth and Sports Qatar Rally Team. At least one team with ŠKODA Fabia R5 car was always present on the winners’ podium. The total of podium standings is nine.
THE CHALLENGE
*** Before Spain Esapekka Lappi is losing 9 points against current leader Násirr Al-Attiyah. Qatar racer will start in contest with ŠKODA Fabia R5 for his own private team.
*** Every WRC2 participant can gain points in the first seven contest of the season he is attending. The worst result is struck out resulting in a total of six results.
*** Right before Rally Catalunya six drivers have a change for title: Nássir Al-Attiyah (97 points), Esapekka Lappi (88), Jurij Protasov (80), Abdulazíz Al-Kuwari (72), Jari Ketomaa (67) and Pontus Tidemand (67). For Lappi and Al-Attiyah the Spain is the last contest they can score in, however for Tidemand, Protasov, Al-Kuwari and Ketomaa it’s just the sixth of seven rallies as these four drivers can score in the final rally of the season – in Wales.
*** All eight drivers who won some of this years’ WRC2 contest are starting in Rally Catalunya.
*** 23 special stages with a total length of 331,25 km are waiting for drivers. The first leg is taking place on Friday and is gravelly, two subsequent legs are on tarmac.
ŠKODA MOTORSPORT TEAMS IN WRC2 2015
Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm
6 starts
2 winnings (Poland, Finland), 2 second places (Portugal, France)
2nd place (currently) in WRC2 drivers ladder
Pontus Tidemand/Emil Axelsson
5 starts
2 second places (Poland, Finland), 1 third place (Portugal)
6th place (currently) in WRC2 drivers ladder
Jan Kopecký/Pavel Dresler
2 starts
1 win (Germany), 1 third place (Italy)
9th place (currently) in WRC2 drivers ladder
MORE ABOUT RALLYRACC CATALUNYA-COSTA DAURADA 2015
