The World Championship Winning Škoda Fabia R5

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

Base Car: ŠKODA FABIA III

Length: 3,994 mm

Max. width: 1,820 mm

Min. weight: 1,230 kg

Bodyshell: Modified for 4×4 drivetrain

Safety roll-cage

ENGINE:

Turbocharged 4-cylinder: 1,620 cm3

Direct injection

Max. power: 210 kW

Max. torque: 420 Nm

From a mass-produced engine to a racing one:

The mass-produced engine, from which the racing engine of the ŠKODA FABIA R5 is derived, was originally introduced in the Volkswagen Lamando and ŠKODA Superb cars for the Chinese market.

The engine in the rally car is different in the following ways:

• Due to the reduction from 1.8 l to 1.6 l, there is a completely new crank mechanism, specially developed for rally conditions
• The valve distribution and cylinder replacement system has been completely redesigned in order to ensure ideal conditions for replacement and cylinder filling
• The fuel system (high-pressure pump and injection nozzles) was also adjusted
• The racing engine is equipped with a modified turbocharger from the Audi S3 to ensure the necessary supply of air
• Due to the new engine position in the car, the oil system and the engine ventilation system have been completely redesigned and optimized

Such an engine in rallying must be reliably controlled and therefore a special engine control system has been developed to provide, in addition to performance parameters, reliability in case of the failure of some electrical components.

Everything has limitations and rules:

The engine must,  of course, comply with all FIA regulations for the R5 category and also with the special rules given by national associations in the countries where the ŠKODA FABIA R5 competes. The power of the engine is limited by FIA rules, which means there is a prescribed maximum operating pressure of 1.5bars or a 32mm diameter restrictor. For a considerable number of parts used in the engine, there are price limits or a requirement that parts must come from a mass-produced car.

CHASSIS:

Both axles have a McPherson suspension designed for extreme conditions that cannot occur in regular traffic. On jumps, the force on every wheel equals multiple the weight of the car.

A pure rally car without electronic assistance:

The ŠKODA FABIA R5 does not have any auxiliary electronics for driving. Of all possible sensors, the car only has the sensors required for engine control and sensors for brake pressure, steering wheel position or fuel level – but these are not related to the engine control and are to provide information only.

WHAT FUEL ŠKODA FABIA R5 USES:

Special Fuel Tank: Volume 82.5 l

Consumption: 0.6 l/km of a special stage

To store fuel, the car has a special fuel tank according to the FIA regulations. It is made of Kevlar fabric and puncture-resistant rubber. The tank is filled with a special foam to prevent the spilling of gasoline. From the bottom, the tank is

protected by a glass-kevlar fibre cover and an absorbent layer. The cover has a minimum thickness of 10 mm according to FIA regulations.

The FABIA R5’s tank is filled thanks to a pair of quick couplings located directly on the top of the tank.

RIMS AND TYRES:

Tarmac: 8‘x18‘ – min. weight 8.9 kg

Gravel: 7‘x15‘ – min. weight 8.6 kg

For tarmac WRC events, competitors are currently allowed to use three tyre compounds, differing in their hardness and suitability for different types of asphalt or atmospheric conditions (including rain).

For gravel WRC events, competitors are allowed just two compounds (soft and hard). Extreme and challenging rally conditions can be very hard on tyres, but nevertheless, the number of tyres teams can use during a rally is limited and is set by the rally organizer according to the length of the event – usually, it is around 28 pairs for the whole rally.

Join us in cheering on Aakif Virani in this year’s WRC Safari Rally Kenya, via our social media handles, from 23rd – 26th June 2022. 

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