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Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp (Fribourg) has collaborated with  (Plazy, Czech Republic) to integrate natural fiber composites into the Škoda Enyaq RS Race and Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, marking a new chapter for the use of innovative, sustainable materials at Škoda Motorsport. 

“While motorsport is often about all-out performance, sustainability is integral to the long-term relevance and success of racing,” Michal Hrabánek, head of Škoda Motorsport, says. “When we started working with Bcomp on the Fabia RS Rally2, we quickly realized that it was possible to achieve our performance metrics while embracing ‘sustainable lightweighting’ with natural fiber composites. Now, we have built upon this success with the Škoda Enyaq RS Race.”

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The Škoda Motorsport projects uses Bcomp’s flax fiber ampliTex technical fabric and powerRibs reinforcement structure technologies. Both solutions have been proven in several other motorsport and automotive collaborations. In addition to producing parts with high stiffness and optimal damping properties, ampliTex and powerRibs are reported to offer up to 85% CO₂ emission reduction from “cradle to gate”; at the end of their life, parts can be used for thermal energy recovery without residual waste in the standard waste management system.

The Škoda Enyaq RS Race is a fully functional electric SUV concept car from Škoda Motorsport based on the Enyaq Coupé RS production model but with several modifications to improve its performance and efficiency. This includes the use of Bcomp’s materials, which contribute to a 316-kilogram reduction in the car’s overall weight compared with the standard Enyaq Coupé RS. It is the latest project to come from the collaboration with Bcomp, benefiting from the success and lessons of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 program. 

The vehicle is powered by two electric motors producing a combined 340 horsepower, all-wheel-drive, carbon discs and sport suspension to create a compelling high-performance package. The car has a reinforced body structure, and just like the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, it features numerous parts made from Bcomp’s sustainable flax composites, including the roof, fenders, bumpers, sills, rear wing, co-driver footrest and leg rest, and more.

For the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 program, Škoda Motorsport and Bcomp collaborated to identify potential applications. This resulted in the extensive use of flax composites throughout the interior and exterior of the rally car, including bumpers, mirror housings, footrests, padel box, leg rests and gearshift grommets. Conventionally, these parts would be made from carbon fiber, resulting in high lifecycle emissions. 

The Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 received homologation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in September 2022, and even won its competitive debut at the Lausitz Rally in Germany. According to the company, it has been a mainstay of WRC2 ever since. So far, more than 100 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars have been delivered to customers and the total number of Škoda Fabia cars in the Rally2 variant produced since 2015 has exceeded 600.

“Our collaboration with Škoda Motorsport has demonstrated what is possible when an OEM maintains an open mind about material selection and more sustainable alternatives,” Johann Wacht, key account manager, automotive and motorsports, at Bcomp, adds. “The Škoda Enyaq RS Race builds upon our success with the Fabia RS Rally2. It is laying the groundwork for race-to-road technology transfer, bringing sustainable composites into production models.”