From Laurin & Klement motorcycles at the start of the 20th century to the modern Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, Škoda vehicles and riders have scored landmark results across international races, rallies and endurance events.
Highlights include early wins at Paris–Berlin and Brooklands, multiple Alpine and Monte Carlo successes, endurance podiums after World War II, the 130 RS touring-car era, and Fabia Rally2 evo WRC2 titles culminating in the 2019 WRC2 Pro world championship.
In 1905 Václav Vondřich won the Coupe Internationale at Dourdan, an early international triumph for Laurin & Klement motorcycles and a sign of the marque's competitive strength.
Laurin & Klement cars achieved a rare streak at the Alpine Rally, recording five unpenalized finishes and unmatched consecutive successes in the event before World War I.
Since 2015 the Fabia Rally2 evo and its predecessors have accumulated dozens of international and national wins, multiple WRC2 team titles and the 2019 WRC2 Pro world championship.
Since the days of Laurin and Klement, machines built in Mladá Boleslav have thrived in international racing. Let’s take a look back at at least some of the motorsport successes that the Skoda brand has enjoyed over the past twelve decades.
1901: Podsedníček receives moral victory at the Paris–Berlin race
Narcis Podsedníček rode the 1,196‑kilometre Paris–Aachen–Hannover–Berlin route. The event was brutal, with many accidents and only 48 of 110 cars finishing. Podsedníček was fastest in the motorcycle and tricycle categories but finished at night without an official witness; organisers did not recognise his time, yet he claimed a moral victory.
1905: Václav Vondřich becomes unofficial world champion
Laurin & Klement machines dominated early motorcycle racing. On 25 June 1905 Václav Vondřich won the Coupe Internationale at Dourdan, clocking the best times across long laps and securing a top international title for the marque.
1908: Speed record at Brooklands racetrack
In December 1908 an L&K FCS four‑cylinder car made history at Brooklands in England. After successive drivers took the course, chief engineer Otto Hieronimus set a record average of 118.72 km/h in the four‑cylinder class.
1914: Five consecutive Alpine successes
The Alpine Rally challenged manufacturers; Laurin & Klement achieved five top unpenalized finishes across 1912–1914, a run unmatched by other makers at the time.
1936: Skoda Popular sport runs from Prague to Monte Carlo
In January 1936 Jiří Pohl and Jaroslav Hausman drove a ŠKODA POPULAR Sport from Athens as one of the Monte Carlo starting points. They covered thousands of kilometres through a series of stages and finished without penalty, placing second in the up to 1,500 cm³ class.
1948: Three Tudors finish together at Spa
After World War II Skoda expanded production and campaigned the 1101 "Tudor". Three Tudors completed the 24‑hour race at Spa without penalty, covering 1,972 km in heavy rain. That year Skoda also scored wins in South America, boosting its international reputation.
1961–1963: Octavia hat‑trick at Monte Carlo
The Skoda Octavia TS proved highly competitive in the early 1960s. Private crews achieved class wins at the Monte Carlo Rally, including a string of top results culminating in repeated victories in the 1.3‑litre category.
1981: 130 RS and touring‑car success
The ŠKODA 130 RS, nicknamed the “Porsche of the East,” evolved from rear‑engined designs and produced strong performance on track. It delivered touring‑car victories and won class honours at events including Monte Carlo and Rally Acropolis; in September 1981 Skoda cars contributed to a European touring‑car championship win.
1991–1994: Four class wins at Monaco with Favorit
The front‑wheel‑drive Favorit hatchback marked a modern era for Skoda in the 1990s. Drivers such as Sibera and Gross won their class at the Monte Carlo Rally repeatedly (1991–1994), and Skoda also claimed the FIA cup in the F2 category in 1994.
2001: Safari Rally podium with Octavia WRC
At the start of the millennium Armin Schwarz drove the Skoda Octavia WRC to an impressive third place at the grueling Safari Rally in Kenya, demonstrating the car’s robustness over extreme terrain and long stages.
2015 to present: Fabia Rally2 evo collects dozens of wins
Following success with the Fabia Super 2000 and other versions, the Fabia Rally2 evo began a new era in 2015. It helped Skoda Motorsport and customer teams secure WRC2 team titles, multiple national and continental championships and, in 2019, the WRC2 Pro world championship with Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen. More than 320 Fabia Rally2 cars were operated by private teams worldwide, contributing to a broad list of customer and manufacturer successes.