VIC RS-P at Targa

[Mike-RS-P]

Joined the forum to say hello to all the Skoda fans and thank posters for their kind words re our efforts in Octavia RS-P at Targa Tasmania last week.

Our Octavia performed brilliantly and despite a very tight trunaround on its buld and no pre-event testing was 100 per cent reliable. It posted times that more more than competitive and surprised many who thought it was a token entry.

You can read more about Team Skoda Carsales at Car Reviews - Read Car Reviews, News & Car Advice Online - carsales.com.au and view our in-car videos at carsales.tv

Here a link to our in-car of the RS-P on the Sideling stage on Leg two of the event

[Manaz]

Hi Mike,

I was down in Tassie for Targa, it was great to see the Octavia go around, just a shame they wouldn't let you compete with the bikes on top!

How'd you find the FWD nature in the wet stages, particularly on the last day (coming out of Strahan/Queenstown, etc?

[Mike-RS-P]

Slippery when wet

The Octavia was virtually standard in terms of driveline and as such suffered in the wet -- but even in the dry you really need a LSD to get the best out of a front-wheel drive car in competition. Various estimates among those who should know reckon that the RS-P's 'open' front diff was costing us between 0.75 and 1.5sec a kilometre depending on the conditions and type of stage.

Strachan was nice and grippy even though it was wet and we did ok there. The problem in the Queenstown stage wasn't so much the rain as the amount of oil on the stage... We had a huge moment just a few corners in and that slowed us down. On Arrowsmith the rain was so heavy that at times we just couldn't see. The RS-P was having trouble hooking up even in the fastest corners.

But gee it was fun. It's a 'can do' sort of car that's quite forgiving near the limit. I hope we get an opportunity to campaign it again sometime.

MikeS

[Manaz]

Sounds like fun.

Is an improved diff within the limits of the showroom class (Quaife, Peloquin or one of the new Wavetracs if they're suitable for the DSG boxes)? I'm pretty sure ECU and TCU tuning is allowed too - for not a lot of effort, you'd probably get significant gains!

[goodfella]

Either way, you've done Skoda a huge favour in the Marketing stakes!

In anticipation of an upgrade due to growing family, the Octavia RS wagon has been on the potentials list, and now has moved up a few places!

[Mike-RS-P]

Skoda did itself the favour

Thanks for the kind words but the praise should go to the ones who fronted up with the budget to go to Targa.

We came up with the idea, but it was Skoda Australia's management who had the faith in their own product and the imagination to see what the RS could do down at Targa. Chapeau to them...

There was genuine goodwill towards the car from other competitors and the general public in Tassie -- probably in a large part due to our bike 'stunt' which kicked the awareness off. I'd like to think that the goodwill/awareness will carry over to a sales result for the brand. It deserves it.

We're hopeful we'll get more chances to show off the RS-P... And yep we have a few more upgrades planned

Cheers

MikeS