Built to continue Skoda’s domination of the WRC’s support category, the new Fabia now gains the RS badge.
Category: WRC
Friday Video | Even closer to the edge – Ken Block’s Climbkhana
What’s the best way to tackle the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb? With a 1,400hp twin-turbocharged Ford Mustang, obviously. ESM doesn’t quite know what to make of Ken Block. Here’s clearly an immensely talented driver, and proficient businessman, yet success in top-level motorsport has eluded him. Maybe it doesn’t matter. He’s built up an empire…
Editorial | Volkswagen to end World Rally Championship commitment
Another week, another Volkswagen Group motorsport project gets canned. After the end of Audi’s Le Mans campaign, now comes the closure of VW’s highly successful rally programme. ESM’s Editor reflects. Just three days after winning the 2016 Rally GB, along with more World Championship titles, Volkswagen officially that there will be no 2017 WRC campaign. The official…
Opinion – Should we get that excited about the 2017 WRC Polo?
With changes afoot for the 2017 World Rally Championship, why is EngageSportMode’s editor failing to get excited about the prospect of a 380hp Polo? Here’s the deal. I’ve owned five different Volkswagen Polos in 14 years, including an R-Line and two different GTI versions. As such, it’s fair to say I’m something of a fan…
EngageSportMode Awards 2015 – Part Two
The EngageSportMode.com Awards for 2015 continues. No, we still don’t care that it’s now 2016, so just sit back and read which people and things caught our attention over the preceding twelve months. If you need it, you can find part one here. Person of the year – Max Verstappen You don’t need EngageSportMode to tell you that…
WRC – Second generation Hyundai i20 rally car is here
Although the World Rally Championship has already finished for 2015, Hyundai have got the jump on their rivals by showing off their new 2016 car now. We were always a little unsure as to why Hyundai began its second attempt at the WRC using a car based on the first-generation i20 model. Credit must be given…
Friday Photo – Colin McRae 20 years ago
Right now the cars competing in the 2015 Wales Rally GB are probably somewhere around Special Stage 3. But on this Friday Photo we’re looking back to the final round of the World Rally Championship two decades ago. Back in 1995 rallying was teetering on the edges of still being an endurance motorsport, with the Network…
Hyundai’s New Generation i20 WRC Car – Now due 2016
Although Hyundai has only been in the World Rally Championship with the i20 since last year, there’s already a new version on the way. It just might be a little later than planned. It did seem somewhat strange that Hyundai would introduce a rally version of a car already nearing the end of its production…
Friday Photo – Toyota Yaris WRC
Yes, we know last week’s Friday Photo was a WRC car too, but this is an exciting new one. So here you are; Toyota’s return to the World Rally Championship with the Yaris supermini. Don’t get too excited just yet; it’ll be another two years until the Yaris WRC officially hits the dirt in the 2017 World…
Friday Photo – 2015 Volkswagen Polo R WRC in action
By the time you read this, the 2015 Rallye Monte Carlo will already be under way, with the cars somewhere in Special Stage 5 right now. After two years of dominance, Volkswagen decided to refresh the conquering Polo R WRC with a new colour scheme. Here are the photos of it in action on shakedown for…
Friday Photo – Skoda Motorsport Fabia R5 Concept
Skoda has developed a successful reputation in rallying, stretching back to the days of the Felicia and rear-engined 130RS, but also more recently with the Fabia Super 2000 car. Here’s their latest offering based on the third generation supermini. At this year’s Essen Motor Show, Skoda is displaying the concept version of the R5 version of the new…
Friday Photo – Volkswagen Polo R WRC at 2014 Wales Rally GB
This weekend marks the final round of the 2014 World Rally Championship; one which Volkswagen has pretty much dominated proceedings throughout. What better way to celebrate than with photos of mud splattered Polo R WRCs from yesterday’s shakedown. Volkswagen Motorsport have dominated the year heavily; they had the Manufacturers’ championship wrapped up by Rally Australia with…
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