Promising tests for new Skoda Fabia.

For most drivers, the end of a rally is a chance to go home and catch up with family and friends, and the almost six weeks long break between the Rally of Turkey and the forthcoming Propecia Rally New Zealand seems to be an excellent opportunity. For Didier Auriol and Toni Gardemeister though this has not been the case.

Both Skoda Motorsport drivers travelled to the Geneva Motor Show in order to reveal their new challenger, the Skoda Fabia WRC, and bring it to France and Italy for its first road tests.

Auriol says it is a new era for Skoda Motorsport, with a car that has all the necessary premises to become a very successful car in the World Championship rallies.

"This car is very interesting and exciting for me," said Auriol. "It represents everything which is good about Skoda - both speed and reliability. There's still a lot of development work to be done but I have a lot of experience in working with new cars, and I know I can use that knowledge to Skoda Motorsport's advantage. The Fabia WRC has so much potential."

There is a noticeable buzz of enthusiasm for the whole project at Skoda Motorsport. "It looks fantastic!" says Gardemeister, grinning from ear to ear. "I think this car will make a big difference, and I can't wait to drive it on a rally."

So on to the big question - when will Skoda Motorsport's new baby appear on the stages? Chief engineer Dietmar Metrich says: "This is a very important project for us and we don't want to rush it. We will only compete with the car when we are ready. Right now we are targeting the last quarter of the year."

The Fabia WRC is an all-new design, and the drivers are keen to get into it straight away. But Metrich points out: "We still have a very long way to go with development. We started with a blank sheet of paper and we carried out just initial tests of functionality. The most important testing is yet to be done."

In Geneva, the drivers revealed the car, signed hundreds of autographs, and attended a cocktail party for the world's media. But a couple of weeks later, Gardemeister got to drive the new Fabia WRC in anger at a test in Tuscany, Italy. It was both fast and reliable out of the box.

"I had a very good feeling with the car straight away" said Gardemeister. "My first impressions were that it felt very different to the Octavia WRC. At lower speeds the handling was very responsive, and at high speeds the car felt more reactive. I think the car will be quick, but we need more time to see exactly how quick. The engine feels very good too. I'm very encouraged."

The all-new Fabia reminded Gardemeister of the pace-setting Peugeot 206 WRC that he drove on selected occasions during 2001. Auriol also has experience of the all-conquering Peugeot, and he believes that the cars of this size are the ones which will fight for a win in the World Championship rallies.

Auriol and Gardemeister will initially concentrate on gravel testing, before moving on to sealed surfaces when they feel the time is right. "I am eager to drive the car on asphalt as well," says Auriol. "I think with the Fabia we could succeed on both surfaces."

Both drivers know that a lot of hard work is ahead before the Fabia WRC makes its debut during the last quarter of this year. But equally, they relish the prospect of writing the most exciting chapter in Skoda Auto's motorsport history to date.