A ?kodA year in review - Skoda Auto

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MotorsportsNight shift: Duringnight stages, serviceteams also haveto work after dark(above and centre) –and the work doesn’tend when the carscross the finishingline. Here the ŠKODAracing team at anautograph session(below).already made quite a name for himself in rallying: His seven wins overthe course of 2012 have earned him the Finnish Rally Championshipand a certain recognition in the rallying arena. However, this timeeverything is new for the likeable Finn: the car, the team – and thecourse. What follows is a clear demonstration of class: NewcomerLappi and co-driver Janne Ferm secure the win in Poland first timeout. The new team wins 10 out of 13 special stages. Victory, it seems,was never in any doubt.ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 teams not only compete in internationalraces – in 2012, ŠKODA also won a total of six national championships:Reigning Czech champion and ŠKODA driver Jan Kopecký successfullydefended his title with co-driver Pavel Dresler, and five otherŠKODA Fabia Super 2000 drivers also won national competitions:Raimund Baumschlager (Austria); Mark Wallenwein (Germany); AleksHumar (Slovenia); Luca Rossetti (Turkey); and Dimitar Iliev (Bulgaria).What makes ŠKODA Motorsport so successful? Team spirit and a willto win are important, without a doubt – as well as having someonelike Michal Hrabánek in charge, to draw together the many individualstrands into an effective whole. But there seems to be ano ther,barely quantifiable and yet still extremely effective element thatgoes into the winning combination, something that is taken forgranted, and that habit has made an unspoken truth: the power ofthe brand’s own history. When ŠKODA celebrated its 110-year involvementin motorsports in 2011, Chairman of the Board of ManagementProf. Dr. Winfried Vahland talked about how its commitment tomotorsports helps convey the message of the ŠKODA brand. Withtoday’s drivers like Jan Kopecký, Andreas Mikkelsen and EsapekkaLappi, there can be little doubt that its message is being heard andunderstood. Winner of three internationalcompetitions and six nationalchampionships, and once againchampion in the prestigiousIRC manufacturer’s category:ŠKODA raises the bar witha string of successes in 2012.52 2012 – A Škoda year in review
InterviewMichal Hrabánek, Head of ŠKODA Motorsport“Tradition-minded, team-spiritedand hungry for success”2012 brought comfortable victories for ŠKODA in the IRC, European Rally Championshipand Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, not to mention six national rally championships.Michal Hrabánek heads ŠKODA Motorsport. Under his leadership it has become the dominant force on theinternational rallying scene. He talks about responsibility, passion and an uncompromising will to succeed.Michal Hrabánek has beenat the Head of the ŠKODAMotor sport division, with itslong tradition, for more than fiveyears. Before that, the 44-yearold,an expert in technical development,was responsible forthe global sales of ŠKODA GenuineAccessories. ŠKODA sentthe first clear signal of things tocome back in 2009. 2010marked wins in the manufacturer’sand driver’s championshipsof the Intercontinental RallyChallenge (IRC). The ŠKODAteam then went on to repeatthose victories in 2011, and alsoadded the world championshiptitle. 2012 brought even moresuccess for ŠKODA Motorsportthan the previous years, makingit the most successful year todate in long history of ŠKODAMotorsport.Mr Hrabánek, if you had todescribe the special qualities ofŠKODA Motorsport, what wordsspring to mind?Tradition-minded, team-spiritedand hungry for success.What role does the almostlegendary motorsports traditionof ŠKODA play in its sustainedwinning streak over the pastthree years?Tradition may not be a tangibleaspect of our everyday work, butit is still important. ŠKODA Motorsport’long history essentiallygives us the strength and composurewe need to master dayto-daychallenges.How do the mostly youngdrivers handle this tradition?The drivers tend to concentrateon the job at hand. Being a rallydriver is one of the toughestjobs around, and there’s notmuch time for contemplation orreflection. What tradition doesmean to them is this: They knowthe entire team has decades ofrally experience behind it, andthat they can rely on that in thefuture – tradition provides a kindof security, so to speak.What does this job mean foryou personally?It is, quite simply, the realisationof a long-standing personaldream. I couldn’t imagine anybetter job! I can contribute myown experience, I have a toprateteam and the best workingenvironment I could possiblehope for.And what about the successesof recent years – what do theymean to you?Of course, they mean a lot to me.But most of all, they are importantto the team, as confirmationof its outstanding work. ButI’m aware that success is alsoan obligation: As they say, afterthe race is before the race. Wecan’t afford to take things easy.As soon as you get too comfortable,that’s when things start toget difficult. We’ve worked hardto get where we are today. But itis just as much of a challenge tostay at the top – and we will doeverything we can to stay there.ŠKODA took part in the Asia-Pacific Rally for the first time in2012. What was the aim of that?First of all, curiosity and love of anew challenge. Second, it was astrategic decision: Our aim wasto raise the visibility of the ŠKODAbrand in this important growthmarket. Winning on our first timeout should have achieved that.What makes ŠKODA Motorsportso strong?There are many aspects: For astart, the ŠKODA Fabia Super2000 is a first-class, race-provenrally car that is now in itsfifth season. We also have topdrivers and an outstanding serviceteam. But the most crucialaspect, I believe, is the smoothinteraction between all our processes:Much of our strengthcomes from established, welloiledprocesses, combined withthe ability and willingness toimprove that rally racing alwaysrequires. Another importantfactor is our close cooperationand consultation with ŠKODAAUTO – with Technical Development,in particular – and withthe relevant departments of theVolkswagen Group. Here also,our work is characterised by astrong team spirit. That is basicallywhat successful rallying isall about: working as a team onall things, big and small, at nationaland at international level.What are your goals for ŠKODAMotorsport over the comingyears?We always focus on what comesnext – and that means upcomingraces. We want to be as successfulas possible again in 2013.That will require all our attention.We aim to stabilise our currentlevel of performance and, ifwe can, improve on it. Motorsportwill for sure continue toplay an important role in the future.We are all working veryhard in order to make the successstory of ŠKODA Motorsporta lasting one. 2012 – A Škoda year in review53
Page 1 and 2: 2012A škoda year in review
Page 3 and 4: Contents2012 - A Škoda year in rev
Page 5 and 6: ‘Simply Clever’ also applies to
Page 7 and 8: We continue to invest in new produc
Page 9 and 10: For ŠKODA, the third generation of
Page 11 and 12: Reinterpretation of a modern classi
Page 14 and 15: 14 2012 - A Škoda year in review
Page 16 and 17: Expansion of production capacity at
Page 18 and 19: Opening of new ‘Lean Centre’ in
Page 20 and 21: Expansion and modernisation of part
Page 22 and 23: SustainabilityFor a greener futureS
Page 24 and 25: SustainabilityProduct responsibilit
Page 26 and 27: 26 2012 - A Škoda year in review
Page 28 and 29: Modern, minimalist design with lots
Page 30 and 31: InternationalisationBreaking downbo
Page 32 and 33: Internationalisation2011 - 2012+ 14
Page 34 and 35: InterviewŠKODA Board of Management
Page 36 and 37: Highlights 20120102 03March 2 More
Page 38 and 39: Highlights 20120708 09July 5 A succ
Page 40 and 41: InterviewŠKODA Board of Management
Page 42 and 43: History of ŠKODA AUTORestoring for
Page 44 and 45: History of ŠKODA AUTOThe fascinati
Page 46 and 47: History of ŠKODA AUTOThe fascinati
Page 48 and 49: The fascinationof traditionŠKODA a
Page 50 and 51: At home on rallycourses around thew
Page 54 and 55: ŠKODA model seriesProduct portfoli
Page 56: ŠKODA Media Services- the app fori

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