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Latest News - Febuary 2010
Central Skoda gears up for IRC challenge
Central Skoda is excited to learn that Škoda UK Motorsport has chosen Guy Wilks and codriver Phil Pugh to take on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).
Škoda UK Motorsport will enter a Fabia Super 2000 for Guy Wilks and codriver Phil Pugh on the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and Central Skoda is backing the team every step of the way.
Guy, from Darlington in County Durham, is one of Britain’s most exciting rally talents, having won the British Rally Championship twice (2007 and 2008) and finished runnerup in the 2005 FIA Junior Rally Championship. The 29year old driver won the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland last November, driving a Škoda Fabia S2000 in competition for the first time.
Phil, from Tywyn in Gwynedd, enters his eighth consecutive season as Guy’s codriver. The 39year old Welshman was British Champion in 2007, and his experience and skill will be of significant importance in the rallies which lay ahead.
Škoda UK Motorsport will contest selected rounds of the IRC. The programme began with the season opener, Rallye Monte Carlo (January 19-23), where Guy drove faultless on his first asphalt rally in the Fabia S2000 to finish an untroubled 6th overall. A total of 12 million viewers watched the Rallye Monte Carlo coverage on Eurosport, which broadcast over 12 hours of coverage – much of it live
Second and third place finishes by Škoda Motorsport drivers Juho Hänninen / Mikko Markkula (Finland) and Nicolas Vouilloz / Benjamin Veillas (France) saw Škoda lead the IRC manufacturers’ category after Round 1 – underlining the potential of the Fabia S2000 rally car.
Škoda UK Motorsport is looking forward to defending its Rally of Scotland title (October 14-16). The team’s home round of the IRC will form a significant proportion of its marketing and public relations activities – aimed at enhancing the exciting and sporty values of the Škoda brand in the UK.
Guy Wilks: “I am very excited about the season ahead and driving for Škoda UK Motorsport in the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Our victory in Scotland last year showed what potential the Fabia S2000 has. It’s a fantastic car to drive and it suits my driving style. This year’s programme has come together incredibly quickly, and everyone at Škoda UK Motorsport is highly motivated to succeed. You can guarantee that Phil and I will start every rally with one thing on our minds – and it will involve driving as fast as we possibly can!”
Robert Hazelwood, Head of Škoda UK Motorsport: “Our participation in the 2010 IRC brings added excitement to the brand, and we are looking forward to the season ahead. Guy Wilks, Phil Pugh and the Fabia S2000 rally car proved what is possible by winning last year’s RAC MSA Rally of Scotland. The IRC is a demanding series and the opposition is world class, yet we believe Škoda UK Motorsport has a strong package and the ability to do well at every rally we contest.”
Škoda UK Motorsport will contest selected rounds of the 2010 IRC. Events in italics have been confirmed as part of the programme, with further announcements to be made in due course:
19-23 January Rallye Monte Carlo
4-6 March Rally International de Curitiba
19-21 March Rally Argentina
4-6 June Rally d'Italia Sardegna
24-26 June Belgium Ypres Rally
15-17 July Sata Rally Azores
5-7 August Rally Vinho Madeira
27-29 August Barum Czech Rally Zlin
9-11 September Rally Principe de Asturias
23-25 September Rallye Sanremo
14-16 October Rally of Scotland
4-6 November FxPro Cyprus Rally