Team MRF has decided to make use of the Skoda Fabia S2000 as it makes its quest for securing the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC 2012). Team MRF has been able to win the APRC three times in the past. In the last ten years, it has been competing in the championship using Mitsubishi Evolution cars. The decision to make a change of cars has been made following its performance in the championship in 2011, when the team surrendered its competitive advantage to the Satria S2000 of Team Proton. The Skoda Fabia S2000 weighs 300kg lesser than other competing cars in the race category. The car also comes with the reputation of being the winner of the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) as well as the Super World Rally Championship (SWRC) in the year 2011.
The Skoda Fabia S2000 has been built with the main purpose of serving as a rally car. The only common feature it has with the road-version of the Fabia is in its outer shell. This rally version has been provided with a naturally aspirated 1.6L engine that has been provided with parts that exhibit high endurance that is an absolute necessity for performing in the tough conditions of car rallying. The car has been designed as a four-wheel drive and its engine has been provided with a peak power of 270PS. The cars, however, have been provided with limited torque.
Gaurav Gill, who secured the runner up position in the APRC of 2010, has been retained by Team MRF. However, his teammate from Japan, Katsuhiko Taguchi, has been replaced as per the contractual clause with Mitsubishi.