Goodwood forest rally stage presented by Skoda
As part of Skoda Motorsport’s 110th anniversary celebrations in 2011, Skoda UK is proud to announce that it will be an official partner to the Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 30-3 July) for the first time – and in doing so, have its biggest ever presence at the event.
The Festival theme this year is ‘Racing Revolutions – Quantum leaps that shaped motorsport’ and Skoda fits that title perfectly, having started off in motorcycle racing in 1901. Today, Skoda is synonymous with rallying. It is the reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) champions and its all conquering Fabia S2000 is widely recognised as the best Super 2000 car of the modern era.
To celebrate past and present rally successes across the globe, Skoda is working closely with the Goodwood Estate to develop the spectacular chalk loose-surfaced rally stage, which is an increasing popular element of the Festival. In 2011 the rally stage will be officially entitled the ‘Goodwood Forest Rally Stage presented by Skoda’ – with better spectator facilities planned for the rally paddock and special stage viewing, easier access to the top of the hill, improved opportunities to see the cars and drivers and prizes for seriously spectacular rally driving.
Skoda UK Motorsport driver Andreas Mikkelsen will be at the Festival during all three days of action, driving the team’s 2011 spec Fabia S2000 on the hill and on the rally stage. Skoda also plans to have some historically significant rally cars from across the decades in attendance too. In addition, rally officials will benefit from Skoda’s four-wheel drive vehicles, Yeti and Superb Estate, which will be used to keep the rally stage running like clockwork.
Skoda is also planning to run a number of rarely seen racing cars up the hill during the Festival – including its 1959 Skoda 1100 OHC Spider, which has only been seen as a static display in recent years.
For the first time, Skoda will also have a major display in the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s manufacturers’ arena, with its multi-award winning product range on show.
Robert Hazelwood, Director, Skoda UK said: “With such a passion for cars, a rich motorsport heritage and a desire to innovate and entertain, a partnership between Skoda and the Goodwood Festival of Speed was a very natural step for both parties. The Goodwood Festival of Speed will be a major event for Skoda in 2011 and we are looking forward to celebrating our 110th motorsport anniversary with the tens of thousands of motorsport fans who will be at Goodwood this summer.”
Lord March said: “I am delighted to welcome Skoda as our Forest Rally Stage partner. Skoda has a long and proud heritage in motorsport, with particular success in rallying, so it is highly appropriate that the marque has chosen to become involved with the word’s largest celebration of rallying and motor racing at Goodwood.”
