Car versus motorcycle: Skoda Octavia WRC versus KTM 525 EXC Racing in rally test

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Car versus motorcycle: Skoda Octavia WRC versus KTM 525 EXC Racing in rally test
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Car versus motorcycle

Skoda Octavia WRC versus KTM 525 EXC Racing in rally test

When a World Rally Car and a KTM 525 EXC, i.e. off-road driving machines of the highest dynamism, collide and then two professional drivers are at the wheel, the air burns and the gravel patters. Which dirtiest was faster?

Crackling gang

S.Atte 300 PS, hardly believable 600 Nm, and all from just two liters of displacement. Of course, a turbocharger helps with the performance development, it may also be that the part is street legal. But it has to roar, screech, rage, it can’t go off without a deafening noise at the highest speeds. Think, it all works very well with only moderate tubes and impeccable running culture.

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Car versus motorcycle: Skoda Octavia WRC versus KTM 525 EXC Racing in rally test

Car versus motorcycle
Skoda Octavia WRC versus KTM 525 EXC Racing in rally test

KTM 525 EXC Racing he was supposed to compete against Matthias Kahle and his Skoda, on a 1.8 kilometer circuit, located in a brown coal opencast mine near Lauchhammer in Brandenburg. Long straights, wide and narrow curves, a nasty chicane, a hearty jump and a passage through a small forest that is only car-wide – that should be fair and selective enough.

In addition to the fabulous performance data of the Skoda, those of the KTM sound more sloppy than fair. With a 510 cubic centimeter naturally aspirated engine, it generates 54 hp and 53 Nm. A high specific power and torque yield, but this comparison is about absolute power. On the other hand, the Austrian is slim and lean, weighs less than a tenth of the WRC and therefore throws a far better power-to-weight ratio into the off-road competition.

After the first flying lap – which is also to be understood literally here – it becomes clear that the Skoda is difficult to crack on this route. The team Kahle / Gobel burned 1.16.91 minutes into the loose ground, which means an unofficial lap record. Didi still has to digest the previous test lap as a co-driver in the Skoda, feels his way to the limit for two laps, then he picks up the KTM as hard as it can take it.

On the straights he is at a top speed of almost 140 km / h against the Skoda, which sometimes glows through the pampas with over 180 things, at a losing position. He can’t make up for anything in acceleration out of corners, which is otherwise a great discipline for motorcycles. The all-wheel drive Skoda brings its performance to the loose ground too efficiently.

At the jump there is stalemate, in the chicane Didi could drive circles around the car if necessary. But this advantage doesn’t tear it out either. With a personal best of 1.24 minutes, the clock stops. Didi estimates that with more training, sleeping over it for a night and trying again the next day, 1.22 times would be possible. He’s sure of that, but it would only bring him a bike with more pressure.

A comparison with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI from Group N, a class under the WRC bullets, shows what its time with the KTM is worth. It was driven by last year’s Junior Cup winner Maik Steudten. He did not miss the opportunity for a training session and skidded with his 265 hp and 400 Nm strong car in a time of 1.24.05 minutes.

Master Matthias Kahle himself took care of the final surprise: with
Provisionally equipped with cross goggles borrowed from Didi Lacher, a breast shield and cross boots, he got on the KTM, drove it sideways and at the same time with the front wheel slightly raised around the curves, drifted and jumped heroically at 1.30s. This performance can partly be explained by the fact that Kahle owns a motocross machine and diligently does fitness training with it.

In addition, Didi certifies that his competitor has above-average skills and regrets that he lost an excellent motocrosser. He only wanted to know his judgment of rally drivers that they were all madmen in relation to their driving. And at the same time, however, ponders that you could drive the race with a real rally motorcycle. That would do well over 180 things on loose ground. So much for insane.

Technical data: Skoda Octavia WRC

engine
Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two overhead, toothed belt-driven camshafts, five valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters, injection, exhaust gas turbocharger with charge air cooling, hydraulically operated two-disc carbon dry clutch, sequential six-speed transmission, permanent all-wheel drive with front and center differentials.

Bore x stroke 82.5 x 93.5 mm

Cubic capacity 1999 cm3

Compression ratio 8.7: 1
rated capacity
221 kW (300 PS) at 5500 rpm
Max. Torque 600 Nm at 3250 rpm

landing gear
Front and rear MacPherson struts, front disc brakes, Ø 304 mm (asphalt Ø 376 mm), water-cooled six-piston fixed calipers, rear disc brakes, Ø 304 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, power-assisted rack and pinion steering.
Aluminum rims 8.00 J x 15 (asphalt 18 inches)
Tire 225 / 65-15 (asphalt 18 inches)

mass and weight
Wheelbase 2512 mm, track width front / rear 1580/1576 mm, empty weight 1230 kg.

Price around 500,000 euros

Technical data: KTM 525 EXC Racing

engine
Water-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine, an overhead, chain-driven cam-
shaft, four valves, rocker arm, dry sump lubrication, flat slide carburetor, Ø 39 mm, electric and kick starter, hydraulically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, six-speed gearbox, chain.
Bore x stroke 95 x 72 mm
Cubic capacity 510 cm3
Compression ratio 11: 1
Rated output 40 kW (54 PS) at 8100 rpm
Max. Torque 53 Nm at 6600 rpm

landing gear
Tubular frame made of steel, bolted rear frame made of aluminum, upside-down fork, Ø 48 mm, adjustable rebound and compression damping, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, front disc brake, Ø 260 mm, double piston – Floating caliper, rear disc brake, Ø 220 mm, single-piston floating caliper.
Spoked wheels with aluminum rims
1.60 x 21; 2.50 x 18
Tires 90 / 90-21; 140 / 80-18

mass and weight
Wheelbase 1481 mm, steering head angle 63.5 degrees, caster 112 mm, spring travel f / r 300/335 mm, seat height 925 mm, weight 114 kg, tank capacity 8 liters.

Two year guarantee
Service intervals every 5000 km
Color orange
Price 8110 euros

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