In 1995 a small car from the Czech Republic took a lot of satisfaction in world and European rallies. It was the Skoda Felicia Kit Car, originally envisioned for pilots and navigators with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. The unit was later replaced by 1.5 engines (the homologation one) and 1.6. In the 2-liter WRC championship he was the protagonist for two consecutive years, with three class victories.
Indeed, the Felicia was an important model for the automaker, not just as a production vehicle. In the 1990s, it was common for rally cars to be based on production models. However, the model had many more modifications than its predecessor – the Favorit – to meet the requirements of the new category reserved for kit cars. The entire skeleton of the body, as well as the roof, doors, bonnet and windows were taken from the production model. The external dimensions were also practically identical to the standard version, the only differences were the wider fenders to accommodate larger wheels and slightly modified bumpers. The dashboard was the same used in the production model, but specific controls were mounted instead of the usual instrumentation. The brakes were from AP Racing and the shocks were supplied by Proflex.
The most significant changes from the production car had come under the hood. Over twenty-five years later, the 156 horsepower may seem modest; but the engines were reliable and light. The car had been fitted with an OBR multipoint injection system, and there were Bosch injectors, Jenswey throttles, Champion spark plugs and specially designed sports catalytic converters, which did not detract from performance. The McPherson front axle was freely adjustable and all configurations had been tested in advance during the road tests. The reinforced rear axle was based on the one used in the Skoda Pick-up model.
In 1995, the Skoda team participated in a total of twenty-four rallies, four of which were part of the world championship. Reaching the third place in class was a surprise; the Felicia was only beaten by the Peugeot and Renault teams, who had more powerful vehicles. For this reason, in 1996, the car was prepared to accommodate a 1.6-liter engine again with multipoint injection. Volkswagen itself had never used this engine in racing, so Skoda was almost entirely responsible for the development. The resulting power of 174 hp meant an increase of eighteen horsepower, compared to the heavier 1,500 cm3. Legendary Stig Blomqvist achieved his biggest success with the Felicia at the famous RAC Rally in Great Britain; in addition to a class victory, he also won third place in the overall standings.
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