Skoda are coming back again! All through the 2008 season the competition department of Skoda Auto have been working on the development of the new Fabia Super 2000 project. This was the car aimed at the customer or national importers' teams market rather than as a basis for an official factory team return. But after the homologation at the beginning of 2009 plans have changed and Skoda Motorsport will enter the 2009 IRC.

The Fabia S2000 has turned out to be a major international effort already. Various personnel experienced in world championship competition have been involved either directly, as for instance the Austrian chief test engineer Walter Illmer and on a consultancy basis for example with the Italian Mario Fornaris, most recently the chief engineer for the Mitsubishi Lancer World Rally Car programme, and Frenchman Julien Loisy who had previously worked with Fornaris at Peugeot.

Illmer: "The biggest technical challenge in developing the car has been to bring the car down to the minimum allowed weight and make the engine as driveable as possible. Financially there are the limits as to the total cost of the car and therefore what amount of money should be spent on materials as well, so there have been many compromises between financial and technical sides” .

The base engine for the Fabia S2000 is the all aluminium Octavia FSI two litre fuel injection petrol engine, with same basic 16 valves engine as was used in the VW Polo S2000. This is the longest stroke engine in the Super 2000 field. Whereas the Lehmann company in Liechtenstein prepares the VW engines, Skoda works with Oreca in France, who already have experience of this engine with the Seat Leon in the WTCC. This engine has four rather than five valve engines, chosen on account of what is available on a suitable production engine. Experience with WRC project showed that four valves can be more suitable than five.

Transmission is with Xtrac who now offer an alternative supply of FIA Super 2000 control systems, with the regulatory six speed mechanical differentials. Skoda already had good working relations with Xtrac in the WRC car, the design of which also provides a better location of the engine within the chassis. Suspension is with Reiger who not only as supplier of dampers but have helped develop the car during tests, although the actual suspension parts themselves are individually produced purpose supplied for Skoda. Rear suspension had to be purpose designed for S2000 as the Fabia is only produced as a front wheel drive car, but with no difficulties created. Other major suppliers for the project are Magneti Marelli for the electronics, AP for clutches and Brembo for the brakes. OZ provide the wheels and all the test work has been carried out with BF Goodrich tyres.

Dimensions show that the wheelbase makes the Fabia one of the shorter S2000 cars. Illmer again: "This creates the challenge of working out the optimum location for the centre of gravity but the dimensions are limited by those of the standard car although there is the opportunity with a short wheelbase of being able to alter the balance of the car to suit conditions more easily. A weight balance ratio of 50/50 is impossible in this category of car, but the final solution is expected to be satisfactory".

Drivers who have been working with the car are Jan Kopecky mainly for asphalt, Raimund Baumschlager for both surfaces and Sebastian Lindholm mainly for gravel, and it was also nice for us to have Carlos Sainz come and test with the team for two days. Lately testing duties were made by the trio Juho Hanninen – Jan Kopecky and Gilles Panizzi, the first two being the official drivers for the 2009 IRC season.

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