Dakar Rally News: Armin Schwarz’s Fondness for the Skoda Octavia
In the world of rally racing, where legends are forged, Armin Schwarz has carved out a remarkable career that has graced the World Rally Championship (WRC) podium with four different manufacturers. While the Toyota Celica GT-Four, with which he claimed his sole WRC victory in Catalunya in 1991, could have been an easy choice as his favorite car, Schwarz’s heart lies with a different machine – the second-generation Skoda Octavia.
Joining Hyundai in 2002 to develop its MSD-built Accent WRC, Schwarz fondly recalls his time with the Skoda Octavia, a car that never won a WRC event but provided him with a truly enjoyable rallying experience. As the 61-year-old German acknowledges, “the Octavia never was highly rated a potential winning car from all the other teams and drivers,” but in 2001, it managed to deliver a few giant-killing results and challenge for podiums, despite its persistent lack of torque.
Schwarz’s Standout Moment with the Octavia
Schwarz’s standout moment with the Octavia came on the grueling Safari Rally in 2001, where he secured a podium finish, setting the fastest time on the opening stage to give Skoda the lead of a WRC event for the first time in the team’s history. This performance, Schwarz believes, was the product of extensive testing that reminded him of his days with Toyota, a marque that had long regarded Kenya as an important priority.
The Octavia’s Handling Characteristics
The Octavia’s handling characteristics, particularly its long wheelbase, were another factor that endeared the car to Schwarz. “Compared to a Peugeot, a Citroen or a Subaru, it was a quite easy car to drive,” he observes, especially in the mixed conditions of the 2001 Monte Carlo Rally, where the Octavia’s ability to adapt to compromises proved invaluable.
“If it would not dry up on the last two stages on Sunday in Monte Carlo, still today I’m pretty confident we would be on the podium, not Francois,” he states, reflecting on his close battle with Francois Delecour’s Ford Focus.
Schwarz’s tenure with Skoda may not have yielded the same level of success as his time with other manufacturers, but his passion for the Octavia and the team’s dedication to development and durability have left an indelible mark on the German driver’s rally legacy. As the Dakar Rally continues to captivate fans, Schwarz’s story serves as a reminder that in the world of motorsports, the heart often yearns for the underdog that defied expectations.
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