Schwarz tips Skoda for long-term success.

Armin Schwarz has said he is confident that Skoda will be able to achieve its long term aim to become a regular winner on the World Rally stage.

Speaking to Crash.net at the Stade de France in Paris, the German star said that he saw no reason why the Fabia WRC would not be able to win events over the coming seasons, and admitted that his run in the Race of Champions - where he had the chance to driver both the Citroen and Peugeot WRC cars - could help in the development of the Czech machine which makes a full-time return to the series in 2005.

"I'm sure [the car can win], there is nothing on the car that should stop that," he said. "The car just needs a regular and steady development. We are in the middle of our development for 2005 homologation of the new Fabia WRC and any input we can get now will help us in 2005.

"You don't know how they [Citroen and Peugeot] are getting to the result of how the cars are driving here, but when you are feeling them and getting a guideline of how the cars are driving, then you can always change something on your own car."

Schwarz will spearhead the Skoda challenge in 2005, competing in all 16 events, while the second car will be shared by Jani Passonen, Janne Touhino and Alex Bengue, following the departure of Toni Gardemeister to Ford.

Schwarz believes the mix of experience and youth will help make the Fabia more competitive again next year after some encouraging performances in 2004, and the German feels that a first podium for the car could be just around the corner.

"I think it will give us good competition within the team," he said. "The youngsters are pushing hard and of course I have also got to push hard; it's good motivation for me to have young and fast teammates. I will try to use all the experience that I have gained over the years and the main job I have to do besides driving in the rallies is to help develop the car.

"We had quite a lot of highs and lows this year, we had some good stage times and some good results but we need to stabilise that into regular results in the points and in doing that maybe we could reach the podium, that would be a good target for next year."