Skoda is back to World RX with Nerijus Naujokaitis

After almost a year out of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, the Skoda brand makes a return to the competition thanks to Motorsport LT from Lithuania and Nerijus Naujokaitis, the driver in charge of the Czech beast.

The Czech manufacturer always joined the World RX grid with privateer teams but judging by the fact that Naujokaitis will race in the next four events (Lohéac, Barcelona, Riga and Estering) aiming a possible full time participation in 2017 may mean that the Sakiai-based team may pose a threat to the current contenders.

On Naujokaitis’ side there are two European Autocross Championship titles, so he will at least make a good effort for what the team considers to be a realistic achievement right now at Lohéac, which is conquering at least a single point. Tests in the car were already made at Czech Republic, so they are going to France knowing at least a bit of what the Fabia can do.

Rimvis Mati, Motorsport LT boss, said that the R5 based Fabia that they will use has the best Lithuanian and Czech engineers behind it, but this year’s adventure will be more like a test of the capabilities of the car rather than all-out competition, especially with the tough competitors that the World RX has.

The last participation of the Skoda Fabia in the World RX was last year at Lohéac too, with Tamás Kárai finishing 25^th out of 35 entries, and the best result of the Fabia RX was a sixth place with Joni-Pekka Rajala, at Kouvola, Finland, in 2015.

PHOTO: FIA World Rallycross