Carlos Sainz recently tested the Skoda Fabia S2000 but states has no desire to return to special stage rallying

Posted by RallyScott 19 June, 2008

Carlos Sainz has stated to Motorsport News that he has no plans to return to special stage rallying. Sainz commented that he is now retired from competitive rallying but was happy to accept the invitation to test the Fabia as had never driven a S2000 car before. He was testing the Skoda Fabia S2000 recently in Austria along with Skoda's regular test pilots Jan Kopecky and Raimund Baumschlager. No results were made public but Sainz did say he was able to give some ideas on how to improve the car. Sainz was authorised to take part in the test by VW. A famous name also present was Hans-Joachim Stuck from the VW Motorsport Department, he was there to see how the project was coming along.

Speaking about the project, Dr. Eckhard Scholz, Škoda Auto BOD Member responsible for technological development, said: “The involvement of experienced competitors such as Carlos Sainz and Hans-Joachim Stuck highlights the importance the Volkswagen Group attributes to Škoda’s motor sport initiatives and gives valuable stimuli to the development of the new Fabia Super 2000.“

Sainz with his cross-country navigator, Michel Perin (pictured left) of Skoda Motorsport

The statements by Sainz, about not returning, would possibly appear to rule out a run as course car on this years Shalymar Rally in Spain, but he could still yet as only said he had retired from competitive rallying. Sainz won the event last year in a Fabia WRC, where he competed on the event as a favour to the organisers. The event was where Sainz made his competition debut back in 1980 in a Seat Panda.

It looks as though the Fabia won't be homologated until January next year though it will possibly run as course car on the Bohemia Rally in July and the Barum Rally in August.

Sainz testing the Skoda near Graz, Austria

skoda-fabia-s2000-2 Carlos Sainz drives the Skoda Fabia S2000