Enyaq RS Race: rally technology plus sustainability
The Enyaq RS Race, a fully functional concept for an uncompromising electric speedster, takes its technology inspiration from the Fabia RS Rally2 competition car. And the materials it uses point the way to more sustainable motorsport.
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“The car has a reinforced body structure and an integrated safety frame that, like our rally car, complies with the current FIA regulations,” says Jakub Jareš of Škoda Motorsport. “As far as handling characteristics and interior functionality are concerned, we wanted to get as close as possible to the Fabia RS Rally2 race car.”
Jakub Jareš Škoda Motorsport
The car has a series production powertrain, and the concept itself is based on the production Enyaq Coupé RS, so it certainly has plenty to build on. As a result, the Enyaq RS Race has all-wheel drive with a pair of electric motors generating a total of 340 horsepower and a standard battery found in Škoda’s series production cars.
Using composite materials reduced the car’s weight.
“Inside, though, we’ve added a hydraulic handbrake, and the car has been given front and rear self-locking differentials and several other race car features,” says Miloš Vrba, another member of the Škoda Motorsport team. The concept also has a modified axle set-up and a redesigned braking system. Both axles have carbon-ceramic brakes, and the car is fitted with new, light wheels.
This significantly reduces the car’s unsprung weight. “Reducing the weight was one of our key goals,” explains Miloš Vrba. In addition to the racing technology, the car also has an understated interior dominated by shell seats and a custom-made bio-composite dashboard.
“We also saved a lot of weight by using flax-based composite materials. We use them on the roof, mudguards, bumpers and sills, but also on many other parts such as the wing, floor mats, mirrors and so on,” Miloš Vrba points out. The materials are similar in principle (and in their production process) to carbon composites, but are of natural origin. “This is one of the key issues for the Enyaq RS Race project. Our goal is to make motorsport more sustainable,” adds Miloš Vrba.