Successful Debut for New Skoda Fabia R5

Current APRC driver Pontus Tidemand secured a podium finish in the WRC2 category for Skoda, in the brand new Fabia R5 at the WRC Rally of Portugal.

Skoda had a fantastic debut weekend for the Fabia R5 with former APRC driver Esapekka Lappi securing second place, Tidemand third and at a national event in the Czech Republic current APRC champion Jan Kopecky won the 43rd edition of the Rally Český Krumlov after a real last-minute thriller.

“It was great fun. We gained so much fantastic experience on the rally debut in the new Fabia R5,” said Tidemand. The new ŠKODA works driver now returns to the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), where he is eager to defend his leading position in the overall standings from 19 to 21 June at the International Rally of Queensland in Australia.

At the next FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) event from 11 to 14 June on Sardinia, alongside European Champion Lappi, reigning Asia-Pacific Champion Jan Kopecký will also take the wheel of a Fabia R5. Michal Hrabánek: “After the successful debut at the Rally Portugal, we are already looking forward to the next challenge. After all, we are only just getting started with the Fabia R5 project and still have plenty of work ahead of us.”

1. Al-Attiyah/Baumel (Q/F), Ford Fiesta S2000 3:41:35.3 hrs.

2. Lappi/Ferm (FIN/FIN), ŠKODA Fabia R5 + 0:12.0 min.

3. Tidemand/Axelsson (S/S), ŠKODA Fabia R5 + 0:37.8 min.

4. Maurin/Klinger (F/F), Ford Fiesta S2000 + 2:51.2 min.

5. Lefebvre/Prévot (F/F), Citroën DS3 R5 + 2:59.6 min.

This article originally appeared on aprc.tv.

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