With the next generation of the car, Škoda decided to concentrate on the lower competition categories, which were more affordable and allowed for more intensive work with young drivers. The Fabia Super 2000 (also known as the S2000) then became a fixture in the category for four-wheel drive cars with naturally aspirated engines. Teams from all over the world bought a total of 63 Fabia S2000s, and Sebastian Vettel drove one at the 2011 Race of Champions (ROC). “It was a car with an incredibly precise and fast response,” recalls Jan Kopecký, one of the most successful Fabia drivers and also a 2011 ROC participant.
Škoda Fabia S2000 from 2008
2015 brought the Fabia, based on Škoda’s third-generation compact car. In the documentary Kopecký recalls driving with the bonnet open in the 2019 Portuguese Rally, for example, and Michal Hrabánek remembers Kalle Rovanperä’s terrifying crash in Argentina that same year. Fortunately, no one was hurt and Rovanperä went on to become the youngest ever World Champion of the Rally2 category that year (the R5 category was renamed Rally2).
Škoda Fabia R5 with its crew of Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen at Rally de España 2019
Eventually, over 470 Rally2 and Rally2 evo cars were bought by rally teams around the world. This is also why the factory team decided not to race after the 2019 season and instead to continue working with customers and supporting them on their journey to success with Škoda Fabia cars. With this support, Škoda Fabia rally cars continue to win, such as recently in the fourth generation with driver Andreas Mikkelsen, who also looks back on his triumphs with Škoda cars in the documentary.
At the Monte Carlo Rally in January 2023, customer team crews drove the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to victory in 16 out of the 18 speed trials in the RC2 category. Pictured: driver and navigator Erik Cais and Petr Těšínský with their car.