Jan Kopecký, 2019 GP Ice Race category winner with a ŠKODA FABIA, WRC2 Champion of 2018 and seven times Czech Rally Champion, enjoys a new role at the GP Ice Race 2020. He will coach the young guns and is on top of that expected to throw in some action of his own with demonstration runs.
Julian Wagner, who led the 2019 Austrian Rally Championship for most of the season before bad luck during the final round relegated him to second, is the only driver of the “Ice Race of Champions”, who can build on some experience with studded tyres on the Zell am See ice track. He impressed with fast times already during last years’ edition. Filip Mareš from Czech Republic made 2019 the most successful year of his career by winning the ERC1 Junior Category of the FIA European Rally Championship. He cannot wait to compete in Zell am See-Kaprun. “I have to thank ŠKODA Motorsport for giving me the great opportunity to entertain the visitors of the popular GP Ice Race with the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo before the new season really starts,” he says.
Besides local hero Julian Wagner, ERC champion Mareš has to face two more tough competitors coming from national championships. Martin Koči (SVK) won the Slovakian Rally Championship twice in a row (2018 and 2019), Fabian Kreim (GER) conquered three titles in Germany (2016, 2017 and 2019). The expected thousands of fans can look for stunning action by the young guns. They fight for the “Ice Race of Champions” victory on equal terms – each of them is driving a ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, technically identical and prepared by the factory team.
