Skoda in ETTC

[Werner333]

Superb set for racing debut

Skoda is to make a shock return to the FIA European Touring Car Championship with two of its new Superb models.

The Skoda Autospektrum Racing Team has built the cars to the FIA Super 2000 technical specifications in close cooperation with the Skoda Motorsport factory. They will be driven by Czech drivers Petr Kolar, 22, and Ondrej Navratil, 28. Both were frontrunners in the Skoda Octavia Cup. The team has also prepared and run Skoda Octavia WRC cars in the European and the Czech Rally Championships.

"The victories of the WRC cars should be a good basis from which to start for this new programme," said team boss Otakar Zenkl. "We have great expectations for this participation in the FIA ETCC and we hope to create some surprises, opening a new and interesting chapter in the 100-year-old tradition of Skoda motorsport."

The team has planned an intensive testing programme in order to be ready for the first meeting of the season, at Barcelona on April 6. This will mark the Czech manufacturer's comeback to the ETCC - in 1981, Skoda won the overall manufacturers' title with a team of three 130RS 1.3-litre works cars driven by a group of Czech drivers, which included Bretislav Enge (Tomas's father) and Zdenek Vojtech.

Bron: http://www.autosport.com/

[Scapa]

Wel een beetje laat om er nu nog aan te beginnen lijkt me... Het is in ieder geval goed nieuws voor de serie nu er meer en meer geruchten de kop op steken dat Volvo helemaal niet aan de start komt in 2003. Ze zouden wachten op een nieuw FIA kampioenschap dat vanaf 2005 of 2006 van start zou gaan... Iemand hier al iets meer van gehoord?