Skoda: Struggling on

The Skoda is reliable, but not fast

Skoda's Octavia made its debut in the world rally championship in 2000, and the car showed potential.

Last year, it continued to show some progress, and lead driver Armin Schwarz notched up a handful of points over the season.

However, no-one thought this indicated that the team were about to break into the big time.

The car is well balanced, and the engine has plenty of power.

But Skoda do 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.

The end result is that it lacks pace, so has continued to struggle to make an impression.