Skoda UK commits to IRCposted in RSCOT29 | 10 | 2010

LESS THAN two weeks after Skoda clinched the Intercontinetal Rally Championship with victory in RallyScotland in the hands of Juho Hanninen, Skoda UK has confirmed it will contest next year's series; though it's expected it will need to find a new driver with Guy Wilks set to join Peugeot for 2011.

Building on its debut season in this year's IRC, the Skoda UK team will again operate as a satellite team with official ties to the Skoda Motorsport factory operation.

The UK team has won one IRC event, the inaugural RallyScotland in 2009 when Wilks inherited the victory after Kris Meeke's Peugeot was disqualified for a minor technical infringement. Wilks though was on course to win again a fortnight ago before transmission problems forced his Skoda to retire in the Perthshire forests.

"We had some great results in 2010," Robert Hazelwood, Skoda UK director, said. "Our entry in the IRC has generated a lot of excitement for the brand among our customers, retailers and staff and we're keen to continue that in 2011.

"We are proud to be part of the Skoda Motorsport team, as they take the 'double' — IRC drivers' title with Juho Hanninen and manufacturers' awards — in 2010, with unassailable leads in the manufacturers' and drivers' championships and we're looking forward to a strong assault on the top in 2011."

With Wilks surprisingly jumping ship, no decision has yet been made when an announcement will be made on the identity of Skoda UK's replacement driver.

One man who has proved himself more than capable of mixing it at the highest level of the IRC is Scotland's Alister McRae. The Lanark ace has impressed with his unreliable Proton and would surely push for the overall IRC title if given reliable, and fast machinery.

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Jim McGill