2016 Skoda Fabia R5
Number Plates:
1GNA766 > MPD29 > NNG765 > BACKTN
Driver/Ownership:
2016 - 2017: Skoda Motorsport:
2016 - Esapekka Lappi
2017 - Pontus Tidemand
2017 - 2018 Race Torque Engineering
2017 - 2018: Ritchie Dalton
2018 - Adrian Coppin
2018 - Current: Kingsley Jones
2023: Richie Dalton (Leased)
2024: Zeal Jones
History:
Built by Skoda Motorsport, Chassis 71 started its life in the official factory team in the WRC2 where Esepekka Lappi would debut it at Rally Poland 2016. In its first event, it achieved a podium result in the WRC2 class and would subsequently go on the dominate the rest of the championship netting three wins for Lappi at Finland, Germany and Wales GB. In doing so, the car would take out the WRC2 title in what was a breakthrough year for the young Finnish driver in Finland’s quest to break the French dynasty in the WRC. Wales Rally GB was also notable for Lappi punting the rear end of his car in the first stage and not only getting away with it but going on to win the event.
That result would earn a promotion for Lappi into the top flight class with Toyota for 2017 and the car was then used by the next Skoda junior off the rank, Pontus Tidemand. For Tidemand’s WRC2 campaign that year, it was used in flyaway events, taking two wins at Mexico and Argentina, also contributing to his WRC2 title that year.
This car along with other works Skoda's were purchased by Perth based RaceTorque Engineering and was used by Ritchie Dalton at 2017 Rally Australia, coming an incredible 8th place. It would then be used by Adrian Coppin in ARC events and once again by Richie Dalton before being sold to Kingsley Jones in NZ along with the “sister” R5 of Raana Horan’s.
Stepping up from his previous Evo which is now in the hands of Adam Bligh, the R5 would be a big jump for Jones. After improving event by event, the breakthrough would come at Rally Waitomo in 2019 with Jones cementing himself amongst the top competitors of the sport.
The car would suffer a significant crash at Rally New Zealand 2022, subsquently being rebuilt over the rally off season. Ritchie Dalton would lease the car for the 2023 Rally Otago but unfortunately hit a post on Day 1 and would retire from the event.
1GNA766 > MPD29 > NNG765 > BACKTN
Driver/Ownership:
2016 - 2017: Skoda Motorsport:
2016 - Esapekka Lappi
2017 - Pontus Tidemand
2017 - 2018 Race Torque Engineering
2017 - 2018: Ritchie Dalton
2018 - Adrian Coppin
2018 - Current: Kingsley Jones
2023: Richie Dalton (Leased)
2024: Zeal Jones
History:
Built by Skoda Motorsport, Chassis 71 started its life in the official factory team in the WRC2 where Esepekka Lappi would debut it at Rally Poland 2016. In its first event, it achieved a podium result in the WRC2 class and would subsequently go on the dominate the rest of the championship netting three wins for Lappi at Finland, Germany and Wales GB. In doing so, the car would take out the WRC2 title in what was a breakthrough year for the young Finnish driver in Finland’s quest to break the French dynasty in the WRC. Wales Rally GB was also notable for Lappi punting the rear end of his car in the first stage and not only getting away with it but going on to win the event.
That result would earn a promotion for Lappi into the top flight class with Toyota for 2017 and the car was then used by the next Skoda junior off the rank, Pontus Tidemand. For Tidemand’s WRC2 campaign that year, it was used in flyaway events, taking two wins at Mexico and Argentina, also contributing to his WRC2 title that year.
This car along with other works Skoda's were purchased by Perth based RaceTorque Engineering and was used by Ritchie Dalton at 2017 Rally Australia, coming an incredible 8th place. It would then be used by Adrian Coppin in ARC events and once again by Richie Dalton before being sold to Kingsley Jones in NZ along with the “sister” R5 of Raana Horan’s.
Stepping up from his previous Evo which is now in the hands of Adam Bligh, the R5 would be a big jump for Jones. After improving event by event, the breakthrough would come at Rally Waitomo in 2019 with Jones cementing himself amongst the top competitors of the sport.
The car would suffer a significant crash at Rally New Zealand 2022, subsquently being rebuilt over the rally off season. Ritchie Dalton would lease the car for the 2023 Rally Otago but unfortunately hit a post on Day 1 and would retire from the event.
2016
Rally Poland - Esapekka Lappi
Rally Germany - Esapekka Lappi
Rally Finland - Esapekka Lappi
Wales Rally GB - Esapekka Lappi
2017
Rally Mexico - Pontus Tidemand
Rally Argentina - Pontus Tidemand
Rally Australia - Ritchie Dalton
