Emil Lindholm tried out a rare version of the Octavia on a racing circuit. The champion thoroughly enjoyed driving a beautiful example of this unusual version of the first-generation Octavia RS. See how the car performs and what the champion thinks of it.
This year, Škoda Motorsport division is celebrating 125 years of motorsport tradition at the Mladá Boleslav-based carmaker. But this is far from the only important anniversary that Škoda can celebrate this year. Also worthy of attention is the 30th anniversary of the launch of the modern-day Octavia, which went on to become a bestseller for the carmaker for many years. It was also the first Škoda production model to bear the RS designation, thus ushering in an era of sporty production models for the brand.
Emil Lindholm, the 2022 WRC2 champion, took one of these exceptional Octavia RS models for a spin around the track. “This Octavia RS was created to celebrate 100 years of Škoda Motorsport,” explains the champion, recalling the origins of this exceptional car, which is a quarter of a century old. Only 100 of these cars were produced, 75 with left-hand drive, 25 with right-hand drive, making it one of the rarest Octavia models ever produced.
According to Lindholm, it is still a car that is great fun to drive. “To my amazement, we are talking about a car that is 25 years old, but it still feels so fresh,” he says of the example, which is in excellent condition. He says the gearshift is still precise and firm, while the steering gives the car a very precise direction. “Yes, compared with modern cars, you can feel a little more body roll, but I think it drives brilliantly,” he says, praising the car’s handling. The engine, he adds, has plenty of power, even from low revs, while the throttle response is superb.
“It may be a little front-heavy, but that only becomes apparent when you are not working the steering with complete precision. On the other hand, it is possible to get the rear end moving a little as well, so the weight distribution works well,” he says of the car’s balance. In his view, the first-generation Octavia RS is still a very enjoyable car, offering an unusual combination of speed, driving fun and comfort. “But driving this one was something completely different,” Emil Lindholm says with a smile.
The rare Octavia WRC Edition was a relatively expensive car even in its day. “Even today, you could buy a solid car for that kind of money,” the driver says. The exceptional Octavia RS edition, produced in a limited run of just 100 examples, is a genuine collector’s item with a large following among enthusiasts. They appreciate not only its characteristics, but also its appearance, which references the Octavia WRC rally car of that era, adding to the car’s uniqueness.
