Norwegian John Haugland, who competed with Škoda vehicles, celebrated his 80th birthday in September, according to reports from motorsport publications.
Early Beginnings and the Shift to Rear-Engine Machines
Born in Norway, Haugland developed a childhood affinity for automobiles. In 1965, while training as an auto mechanic, he encountered several Škoda Octavia Touring Sport models—higher-performance variants of the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sedan. According to reports from the Škoda Motorsport portal, Haugland acquired one such vehicle and converted it into a circuit racer before crashing and selling the car. As newer rear-engine Škoda 1000 models began arriving in Norway, Haugland recognized their potential for loose-surface competition. Pressing his employer for a favorable price, he secured a rear-engine model to tackle snow and gravel stages.
Forging Ties with Czechoslovakia and Škoda Motorsport
Following his military service in the late 1960s, Haugland pursued rallying full-time. He connected with Karel Švábek, a representative of Škoda Auto, who facilitated testing opportunities and race entries inside Czechoslovakia. This relationship granted Haugland access to improved vehicles and components, culminating in a trip to Mladá Boleslav for a gathering of European Škoda drivers. Competing in a Group 5 Škoda 1100 MB equipped with a 1,150 cc engine, Haugland claimed victories in two circuit events and hillclimbs, drawing the attention of both Škoda and the foreign trade enterprise Motokov.
International Success Behind the Wheel of the Škoda 130 RS
Manufacturer backing soon followed. Haugland represented the Škoda factory team at the Nürburgring in 1970 and 1971, subsequently capturing class wins and strong overall finishes at the 1971 Austrian Alpine Rally and Tour d’Europe. In 1972, Motokov offered him a contract to drive for the official Škoda factory international rally team, an arrangement that lasted until 1990. During the latter half of the 1970s, Haugland secured three victories at Rally Bohemia and matched that feat with three wins at the Barum Rally. Although he piloted various machines late in his career—including the Škoda Favorit and competing in World Rally Championship rounds—he remains most widely associated with the Škoda 130 RS.
Navigating Political Upheaval and Training Future World Champions
Haugland’s tenure in Czechoslovakia also intersected with geopolitical turbulence. While visiting Mladá Boleslav, his journey toward Mšeno was abruptly halted by a military tank near a railway crossing during the invasion by socialist countries’ troops. Forced to retreat to his hotel, he remained confined for three days before driving via back roads toward Cheb and crossing into West Germany. Despite the disruption, Haugland maintained his professional ties to Czechoslovak motorsport. After retiring from active competition, he established a winter rallying school in Norway, where he coached rising talents who later claimed World Rally Championship titles, including Petter Solberg and Richard Burns.
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