Monte Carlo versions of ŠKODA cars drove through the city that gave them their name. As well as contemporary models, one rally legend was part of the procession.

The main star of the press event in the streets of the Principality of Monaco was the new FABIA MONTE CARLO, but it was impressively seconded by the KAMIQ MONTE CARLO and the SCALA MONTE CARLO.

It’s no coincidence that ŠKODA chose the name of the famous territory on the Côte d’Azur for the sporty versions of some of its models. It originates from the ŠKODA car company’s roots and successes in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally.

That is why one of the featured cars was the ŠKODA 130 RS, which took the top two places in its category at the famous rally in 1977.

In the early months of 1975, one of ŠKODA’s many racing legends was born in the Mladá Boleslav factory: the ŠKODA 130 RS coupé. By the end of the year it had received homologation from FIA, the international race authority, which was a prerequisite for participation in prestigious sporting events. And in its first racing season, the new ŠKODA model took the top three places in the overall standings of the Peace and Friendship Cup circuit races, a demanding series staged in the then socialist countries.

But that was just the beginning: in the following season a rally version of the ŠKODA 130 RS was launched. Its high point came in January 1977 and the traditional Monte Carlo Rally.

The ŠKODA works team prepared meticulously, with each of the crews driving around 500 kilometres a day in training on the course. Once the event had officially begun, one of the four ŠKODA 120 LS escort cars and one 130 RS always completed the stage just before it was closed, and the 130 RS driver then recommended the best tyres from the Czechoslovak brand Barum to the service crew.