Škoda Motorsport presents the new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 competition car, which is based on the current generation of the Škoda Fabia model and its goal will be to build on the impressive competition success of the Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo special.
We can mention at the outset that the new racing car benefits from the best aerodynamics in its class and the high rigidity of the body of the production model. In addition, it offers significant improvements to the powertrain, electronics, safety, control and, above all, the newly developed 1.6-liter supercharged engine, based on the EA888 family of petrol engines.
But let’s start classically from the exterior, which impresses with its distinctive design and promises great aerodynamics. After all, the production Škoda Fabia already boasts the best coefficient of air resistance in its class, which experts from Škoda Motorsport used in the development of an extremely efficient aerodynamic kit for the Fabia RS Rally2. However, some elements have been preserved from the production car.
For example, the competition special retained a long roof spoiler with side finlets, flat and sharply cut headlights, a classic hexagonal radiator grille, rear lights with LED technology and also Air Curtains active blinds technology in the front bumper. These regulate the flow of air around the wheels and sides and, in conjunction with the new side sills and the new front splitter, increase the car’s downforce.
Of course, the competition special also received a number of specially developed aerodynamic components. In addition to the already mentioned splitter and sill extensions, these are mainly extended front and rear fenders, a suction opening on the roof or a newly developed rear wing. Its dimensions and location comply with regulations, but its interesting feature is a small hem, the so-called Gurney flap, which serves as a tear-off edge and also improves the pressure.
“Some aerodynamically important elements of the series model have also proven themselves in the rally car. We paid even more attention to aerodynamics than with our predecessor, and we carefully checked every detail. Our main goal was to achieve higher downforce for the possibility of higher cornering speeds and better driving characteristics, but also to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the car,“explains Lukáš Vojík, aerodynamics specialist from the Škoda Auto Technical Development Department.
In addition to aerodynamics, emphasis was also placed on the increased need for engine and brake cooling. The supply of fresh air to the upper part of the engine compartment, to the water cooler and intercooler of the turbo is solved by two large central air inlets at the front, while warm air is discharged through openings on the sides of the hood. The two inlets in the front bumper then lead the air directly to the brake calipers on the front wheels.
An interesting specialty of the new competition car is the new Mamba green paint shade, which refers to the Octavia RS and Enyaq Coupé RS iV sports series models, with which the new competition special shares the name referring to “Rally Sport”.
Major technical improvements
The most important thing in each competition special is the specific technical improvements, thanks to which the cars will withstand the stresses that the serial model would not withstand for a long time. The range of changes and adjustments is always remarkable.
We can start with brakes, for example, which can easily heat up to 700 ° C in a race car during sharp braking. The discs therefore have internal ventilation and a specially developed cooling system, which has been optimized for asphalt and gravel. There are different brake discs for each type of surface. Discs with a diameter of 355 mm at the front and 300 mm at the rear are prepared for driving on asphalt, the wheels are obligatorily 18 “with 8” x18 “rims. For riding on gravel, there are 300 mm diameter discs at the front and rear, the wheels on these tracks are mandatory 15 “with rims measuring 7” x15 “.
The fuel tank, which complies with FIA regulations, is also new. The tank is made of impact-resistant rubber, has a volume of 82.5 liters and is filled with a special foam, preventing gasoline leakage. In the lower part, it is additionally protected by a cover made of carbon-Kevlar composite with an absorbent layer. It is worth noting that in this year’s WRC 2022 season, gasoline will be 100% sustainable, based on modern raw materials and high-purity renewable components.
The classic safety features of production cars are replaced in the competition special by a protective cage developed by Škoda Motorsport engineers for the Fabia RS Rally2, which consists of a total of 35.8 meters of tubes made of high-strength chrome-molybdenum steel. The protective cage is welded to the chassis during body construction and only then are the side panels and roof attached to it. The aim of the procedure is higher accuracy, better connection of the pipes to the body and better adaptation of the pipes, which increase the rigidity of the whole body.
But there is one more thing in the cabin. The Fabia RS Rally2 is equipped with an enlarged main display, which can also play videos, and which allows intuitive operation during the rally. In addition, there is a new central control panel with a touch screen and integrated intercom control. The rider has better access to many functions directly via the buttons on the steering wheel, where the start button has now been moved, thanks to which the driver can reach it faster.
Of course, the chassis itself has also undergone modifications, which must meet the high demands of rally sport. For the Fabia RS Rally 2, Škoda Motorsport engineers therefore used a firmer suspension on both MacPherson axles and extended the shock absorbers. Based on a larger wheelbase, the designers designed a new chassis kinematics, increased component durability, reduced shock absorber friction, improved differential efficiency and increased transmission efficiency during shifting.
Thanks to the longer wheelbase of the fourth generation of the Fabia model, the carmaker also boasts better driving characteristics, the competition special should be calmer and its stern more stable. Compared to the Škoda Fabia Rally2, the location of the fuel tank was also changed, the engineers used more space between the longitudinal beams and overall there was to be a better weight distribution.
New engine, sequential gearbox and all-wheel drive
FIA regulations require a supercharged 1.6-liter power unit for Rally2 cars, which is based on a production engine. When developing the new engine for the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 competition special, Škoda Motorsport decided to use the 2.0 TSI engine with integrated exhaust pipes, which comes from the EA888 family of petrol engines, used, among other things, under the hood of Škoda road models marked RS.
The newly developed engine boasts an improved combustion process, thanks in part to newly shaped intake and exhaust ducts, improved pistons, cylinders, variable valve timing and a completely redesigned lubrication system. In addition, it also received an optimized exhaust system with a new turbocharger, a new intercooler, a redesigned cooling circuit with higher performance and new engine management software. According to the technical regulations of the Rally2 category, the engine is equipped with an intake restrictor with a diameter of 32 mm and its power should be approximately 214 kW (289 hp) and 430 Nm of torque.
The engine is mated to a five-speed sequential transmission, designed specifically for rallies, which allows you to change gears in the milliseconds without the use of a clutch. Although the Fabia RS Rally2 also has a manual clutch, it is only used when starting off, parking or driving slowly. The gear ratios are relatively short for the best possible acceleration in narrow and winding special stages, yet the Fabia RS Rally2 offers a top speed of up to 200 km / h.
Unlike the production car, the Fabia RS Rally2 is equipped with all-wheel drive, for which FIA regulations allow mechanical differential locks on the front and rear axles, but the use of inter-axle differentials with locks or any electronic assistants to improve traction is prohibited. A novelty is the hydraulically operated inter-axle clutch, which comes into play when the parking brake is applied. This solution is commonly used in rallies to steer the car faster into corners.
Better protection and a new screen
As mentioned above, the cab of the new Fabia RS Rally2 competition special is equipped with a high-strength safety frame, consisting of longitudinal, transverse and diagonal tubes at the door, under the car roof, around the windscreen and behind the seats, whose dimensions and material are defined by FIA technical regulations. . However, Škoda Motorsport with the new Fabia significantly exceeds these requirements, and reinforcements protecting the crew in the event of a side impact are also dimensioned for greater forces.
It is during side impacts that the driver and navigator are most at risk of injury. The protection is therefore provided by a protective frame with two door pillars and reinforcements, but in addition, the Fabia RS Rally2 has an energy-absorbing structure between the outer door skin and the interior, which consists of absorbent foam and composite door panels.
The composition of the composite panels is predetermined: five layers of carbon composite 280 and one layer of Kevlar 300, with the Kevlar layer closest to the crew to protect against possible sharp fragments of composites in the event of an accident. Absorbent foam must be approved by the FIA and its minimum volume is set by regulations.
In addition, specific racing seats, six-point seat belts and personal equipment such as the mandatory head and neck protection system (HANS) on the helmet with straps, which protect the crew from sudden head movements, also contribute to an effective reduction of forces. In addition, both sides of the car body are connected by a seat-holding structure and an additional profile to better distribute the forces arising from a side impact.
In addition, safety features include easy-to-remove polycarbonate side windows and a fire protection system. It consists of an automatic fire extinguishing system with nozzles in the cockpit and the engine compartment, which can also be activated from the outside in an emergency, and a hand-held fire extinguisher is available in the navigator’s footwell.
In conclusion, we can only remind you that during the preparation of the new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for the first race, the Škoda Motorsport team underwent an extensive test program on asphalt, gravel and snow, which lasted almost a year. Since the summer of 2021, test drives have taken place in the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Belgium and Spain, as well as in extreme winter conditions in northern Finland.
After numerous successes with the factory team, at the beginning of the 2020 season, Škoda Motorsport began to focus primarily on its extensive sports program for customers with comprehensive services. The offer includes, among other things, the supply of spare parts and inspection work on engines, gearboxes or chassis components. Teams that have purchased rally cars are also offered on-site technical support at many rally competitions. If teams so request, they may receive setup suggestions for upcoming rallies, technical bulletins, or training for engineers and mechanics.
