Skoda: Paupers reaping rewards

Skoda has done well on a tiny budget

This is the first season of world championship competition for the new Octavia, and the car has shown potential.

Although it looks bulky, the car is no heavier than its rivals, and despite a budget that probably would not keep the top teams in sandwiches, it has put in some promising performances.

The car is well balanced, and the engine has plenty of power. But Skoda does not have the resources to give it the advanced electronics that would provide the necessary torque and low-end power, or the advanced differentials that are now so crucial in rallying.

With the withdrawal Seat for 2001, it will become VW's prime focus in the WRC, which should help push its performance closer to the top teams.

That, though, is a huge gap. Mitsubishi, the fourth best team this season, has nearly four times as many points as Skoda this season, which merely serves to illustrate the massive task facing those outside rallying's elite.