Skoda Auto has appointed 40-year old Martin Muehlmeier to head the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team. He joins the team on March 1 after six years with the Audi Sport team that claimed successive Le Mans victories between 2000- 2002.

Mr Muehlmeier said: “This year is a big challenge for the Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team. The Škoda brand has a great motorsport heritage but no one can live looking only to the past. Our priority is to make swift and precise development to enable us to quickly reduce the gap to the leading WRC teams. This will not happen overnight. We must review development in a wide range of areas, ensuring that all of the Škoda Fabia WRC components work together as one efficient unit.”

The appointment of Mr Muehlmeier enables Škoda Motorsport to draw more closely on the extensive technical resources throughout the entire VW Group while retaining complete autonomy over its activities. He will report directly to Harald Ludanek, Škoda Auto Corporate Director R&D. Former head of motorsport Petr Kohoutek is to take up other duties within the VW Group.

The Škoda Motorsport World Rally Team, led by Armin Schwarz/ Manfred Hiemer and Toni Gardemeister/Paavo Lukander, will begin its 2004 competition activities at the Acropolis Rally in Greece on June 4-6 and will then undertake a programme of selected WRC events during the remainder of the season.

MARTIN MUEHLMEIER CURRICULUM VITAE

Date of Birth: March 8, 1963

1983-1988: Studied vehicle dynamics at the Technical University of Braunschweig.

1989-1991: Graduated at the Volkswagen research department.

1992-1996: Development engineer at VW in Wolfsburg.

1997-2003: Audi Sport head of vehicle dynamics testing and simulation department. Was part of the Le Mans winning team 2000-2002.