It might be leading the World Rally Championship’s second-tier category right now but Škoda isn’t resting on its laurels.
New upgrades have arrived for its Fabia RS Rally2 challenger, with recent development work targeted at improving top-speed performance on fast gravel through changes to the gear ratios, dampers and aerodynamics.
“So far, we homologated only one set of ratios. But we are allowed a second set,” said Aleš Rada, technical head at Škoda Motorsport.
![Skoda-Fabia-Windkanal_195-1](https://www-dirtfish.imgix.net/2024/03/Skoda-Fabia-Windkanal_195-1.jpg?auto=compress&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=520&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=70&w=780&wpsize=entry-main)
Škoda is continuing to bring upgrades to its class-leading Rally2 car
In total two homologation jokers have been used by Škoda this month: one was used for couplers and the other for the rear differential disconnect, which in the absence of a centre differential on Rally2 cars allows the rear axle to lock when the hydraulic handbrake is used.
Even though Oliver Solberg won last month’s high-speed Rally Sweden, he was still tasked with testing improvements to the gear ratios and aerodynamics during a development test in Scandinavia.
Those aero updates remain in testing phase: there are no immediate updates to the aerodynamics package on the Fabia RS Rally2s competing in the hands of works-supported drivers just yet, though they’ll be “gradually deployed” during the Fabia RS’ lifespan.
![DSC_1951](https://www-dirtfish.imgix.net/2024/03/DSC_1951.jpg?auto=compress&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=439&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=70&w=780&wpsize=entry-main)
New dampers are among the recent upgrades to the Fabia's gravel package
Meanwhile, updated dampers were put through their paces by Erik Cais in Portugal: “The dampers for gravel show a big improvement compared to last year,” was Cais’ conclusion.
Four Škoda Fabia RS Rally2s are taking on this week’s Safari Rally Kenya: Toksport has two cars for Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith, while Polish duo Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Daniel Chwist are in the other pair of Fabias.