The 130 appeared on rally tracks in 1985, with the ambition to continue the success story of its predecessor, the 130 RS. Although the FIA promised stability in terms of making it possible for the new 130 to take part in international competition, Group B was prematurely abandoned due to a series of fatal accidents, and the ŠKODA 130 LR therefore only had three years to show its calibre.
The era of the new 130 started on home tracks, at the 10th Wallachian Winter Rally in the winter of 1985, and the podium positions were won by Svatopluk Kvaizar - Jiří Janeček, Johny Haugland – Jan Olov Bohlin and Ladislav Křeček – Bořivoj Motl.