Jan Kopecký will give the brand new ŠKODA Fabia R5 its international debut at the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Rally Šumava Klatovy.
The Fabia R5 has undergone a extensive testing programme already and the manufacturer will enter the WRC2 category at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship, along with the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
“We are delighted to now be able to test our new ŠKODA Fabia R5 at an actual rally, following the successful homologation by the International Automobile Federation FIA. It is obviously particularly symbolic that our first outing will be in the brand’s back yard in the Czech Republic,” said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek.
“The plan for this year is to test the competitiveness of the new rally car around the world, starting with the opening race of the Czech Rally Championship”
Kopecký will be joined by his regular co-driver Pavel Dresler; “We are obviously very proud to be the ones to herald the next chapter in ŠKODA’s rallying success story,” said Kopecký
The Rally Šumava Klatovy features 12 demanding special stages, consisting of 150.71 kilometres. Former winner Kopecký will start all six rounds of the Czech Rally Championship in ŠKODA’s new rally car this year.
