ŠKODA ready to win some more points in the Canary Islands

›  Kopecký & Dresler to make their first appearance in this year´s IRC in the Canary Islands
›  Asphalt event taking place on the island of Gran Canaria over March 15-17
›  The list of drivers to appear on the start line includes Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport
›  Up-to-the-minute news will be available on www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda

Mladá Boleslav, 12 March, 2012 – ŠKODA is ready to confirm its calibre in the second event of this year´s IRC Championship to take place in Gran Canaria and take another step to winning its third IRC title. Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler of ŠKODA Motorsport (factory team) will make their first appearance in this year´s IRC series. The Canary Islands will also see reigning IRC champion Andreas Mikkelsen in a Fabia Super 2000.

ŠKODA made a perfect start to the IRC season in the opening event in the Azores where Mikkelsen in a Fabia Super 2000 won and Juho Hänninen came second.

Jan Kopecký & Pavel Dresler are very much looking forward to their first appearance in the 2012 IRC: “Pavel and I can´t wait to appear in the IRC again. This championship offers top quality and exciting battles for every second, and we want to achieve the best possible result for ŠKODA”.

ŠKODA has always been successful in the Canary Islands over the past few years, winning a “double” in both 2010 and 2011. This year´s rally includes 15 stages (241 competition kilometres) and is expected to offer fierce battles as usual – last year Hänninen beat runner-up Kopecky by just 1.5 seconds.

The start list includes last year´s IRC champion and the winner of this year´s first IRC rally Andreas Mikkelsen of ŠKODA UK Motorsport. After his successful IRC debut (fourth place in the Azores), Sepp Wiegand of ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland wants to achieve another good result. Alberto Hevia in a private Fabia Super 2000 will be on his home ground.

ŠKODA has set up a video news service for the events that ŠKODA Motorsport takes part in. Highlights and interviews with drivers and other team members will be available on www.youtube.com/motorsportskoda .