Armin Schwarz
Germany (D)
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CAREER
PROFILE1983: Started
rallying with Fiat 131
1988: His WRC debut in RAC with Audi, 5th overall 1989: 8th in Greece and Finland with Audi 1990: Joins Toyota, 5th in Monte Carlo 1991: Drives with Toyota, 3rd in Australia, 1st WRC win in Spain, 6th WRC for Drivers1992: 5th in Corsica and Spain with Toyota 1993: Move to Mitsubishi, 3rd in Greece 1994: Drives with Mitsubishi, 2nd in Greece, 7th WRC for Drivers 1995: Back to Toyota, 4th in Portugal and New Zealand 1996: 1st in RAC with Toyota (only F2 event), European Champion 1997: Six WRC events with Ford, 3rd in Portugal, 8th WRC for Drivers 1998: 7th in RAC with Ford 1999: Contract with Skoda, seven WRC events 2000: Drives with Skoda, 5th in Greece 2001: Drives with Skoda, 4th in Monte Carlo, 3rd in Kenya 2002: Move to Hyundai 2003: Drives Hyundai 2004: Back to Skoda, 8th in Corsica 2005: Drives Skoda |
| Date of Birth: 16/7/1963 at Oberreichhenbach Marital status: Hobbies: World Drivers' Champion: |
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In recent years Armin Schwarz has been Germany's top rally driver competing at the highest level for many of the top teams including Audi, Toyota, Mitsubishi and most recently Ford. Having initially earned his reputation on home ground by winning the German Championship in 1987 and 1988, Schwarz was signed by Audi to join its World Championship team. He made his debut in an Audi 200 quattro on the 188 RAC Rally and immediately made his mark by finishing a fine fifth overall in his first ever World Rally Championship event. Armin's next breakthrough came in 1991 when he was signed by Toyota as team-mate for Carlos Sainz. His first victory came in Spain which helped him to sixth in final World Championship positions. After joining Mitsubishi in 1993, he contested selected World Championships rounds including second place on the 1994 Acropolis. He then returned to Toyotain 1995 before the manufacturer was excluded for engine irregularities. Despite this set back Schwarz took the 1996 European Rally Championship with Toyota and ended the year on a high note winning the non-championship RAC Rally. These results were rewarded by a Ford factory drive in 1997 but the relationship turned sour mid-season leaving the German to contest selected rounds of World Championship events in a privately entered Escort WRC. Armin's vast experience played a crucial part in the development and competition success of Skoda Octavia World Rally Car. In Spain 2000 he took the first ever special stage win in the World Rally Championships event for the Skoda and in Greece he placed fifth taking Skoda´s only top five result during the season. Season 2001 started well, when Armin was fourth in Monte Carlo and in Kenya he placed third place taking the Skoda's best ever world championship result. After three years with
Skoda he decided to move Hyundai. Many technical problems and own mistakes
prevented the good results. In 2003 he continued with Hyundai and started
his second year in the team hoping to achieve something more. The season
was a big disappointment. The Korean manufacturer decided to stop its
involvement in the World Rally Championship.
For the
season 2004 he returned to Skoda after a two-year absence.
In 2005 Armin Schwarz is to lead the Škoda Motorsport throughout the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship contesting all 16 rounds as part of a Skoda´s two-car team. |
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