przez Wilu » wtorek, 10 sie 2004, 09:50
Skoda driver Armin Schwarz is calling for a new Fabia homologation after a strong showing in Finland for the Czech squad.
The German, who finished 12th on last weekend's event, says: "In my view the Fabia is now at its maximum. I have the feeling that if we want a quicker car we have to homologate new components and technical solutions.
With 5 more events planned for this year Armin could be waiting quite some time until his team is reaching higher into the top 6 although there have been some suggestions Skoda will homologate a new car for the final round of the championship in Australia.
Although much detail and set up work has been carried out on the Fabia WRC, the car that guest driver Jani Paasonen brought to sixth place on his home event is still last years original Fabia WRC, indeed showing quite a remarkable turn around in fortunes since new boss Martin Muehlmeier joined from Audi, Didier Auriol left and Schwarz replaced him.
Schwarz continues; "Everything went according to our plans in Finland. Jani Paasonen and Toni were the ones to really go for it. My objective was to bring the car over the distance conservatively and safely. That was okay with me, because in order to be really quick in Finland you’ve got to be a Finn or have a lot of experience on the roller coaster express way through the forests. Jani Paasonen’s sixth place is a fantastic achievement; and it shows the potential of the Skoda Fabia WRC, that our team worked on so intensely over the last months."
With Armin's home event less than two weeks away, he is confident of a continued upturn in fortunes there after a successful "live" test on the Saarland Rally at the end of June: "The Finland result gives me a good and optimistic feeling. And I can’t wait to take the Deutschland Rally under the wheels with the Fabia."