The chinese market is a scenario very attractive for brands, is no secret. Different automotive manufacturers have set their sights on Asia and the sports programs have almost a must stop in China, Japan and southeast asian countries. In this aspect, Citroën, Volkswagen and company have achieved their goal with the integration of the Rally of China at the WRC, test that will be disputed a priori, between days 9 and 11 of September of 2016. This event will take place in Huairou, 70 kilometers from Beijing and it will be a rally completely on asphalt.
however, the arrival of China to the WRC a trip to ‘throw’ for the manufacturers, very different from the bet that you made in your time Skoda Motorsport. The Czech manufacturer took the decision to conquer Asia, and in spite of having a programme officer in the IRC and later European Rally (ERC), consolidated a computer semi-official in the Championship Rally of the Asia-Pacific region (APRC) in 2012. Training MRF Team has enjoyed the official drivers of Skoda that have made journeys of thousands of miles to conquer this championship one year after another.
In 2012 the title went to Chris Atkinson. The trend was broken in 2013, as the indian driver Gaurav Gill got beat to the Finnish Esapekka Lappi. Although the title remained in the home, since Gaurav has been part of the Team MRF since 2007, was the only year that an official driver of Skoda, which was travelling from Europe to contest all the appointments for the Asia-Pacific would lose the title. In 2014 all came back to your site with the title added by Jan Kopecký and in the present season, Pontus Tidemand has been crowned champion of 2015.
El Rally of China has been part of the APRC since its first edition, in the year 1997, with the only absence of 1999 (it was part of the WRC) and 2003. With the inclusion of the Rally of China in the World of Rally is very likely that this test will again fall from the calendar of the Championship of Asia-Pacific, although technically are two separate tests and developed in different zones. The test of the WRC will take place in Huairou, on asphalt, and the latest edition of the Rally of China in the APRC is contested over sections muddy in Longyou.
In any case, Tidemand and Skoda are recent colonizers of China. With the title decided in your favor from the Rally Hokkaido (Japan), the swede has become the latest winner of the Rally of China before the invasion of the World Rally Car. And has not done anything in any way. Skoda Motorsport debuted the Skoda Fabia R5 in the APRC in Longyou, getting the last outbreak of mass appeal in a country in which the next year will speak the language of the World Rally.
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