Long-time Škoda Motorsport team manager Pavel Hortek passes away at age 76
A respected and familiar presence in the service park for more than two decades, Hortek played a key role in Škoda’s rise to prominence in the modern era of rallying and was instrumental in guiding the Czech manufacturer through one of the most successful chapters in its history.
Hortek’s rally career began in 1969 and included success as a competitor. He claimed the Czech national rally championship as a co-driver in 1974 and later represented the works Škoda team in the iconic 130 RS. That experience inside the cockpit shaped the management style he would later bring to the service park - measured, precise and grounded in a deep understanding of the sport.
He joined Škoda’s contemporary motorsport programme in 2001, working during the Octavia WRC and Fabia WRC campaigns before being appointed team manager in 2007. Alongside Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek, Hortek oversaw the development of Škoda’s hugely successful Super 2000 and later R5/Rally2 machinery, programmes which delivered multiple WRC2 world titles and established the Fabia as a benchmark car in its class.
WRC Promoter Senior Director of Sport Peter Thul, who worked closely with Hortek, paid tribute.
“Pavel was an institution within the service park and a driving force behind Škoda’s success in modern rallying,” said Thul. “He combined absolute precision with calm leadership and genuine passion for the sport. Those qualities earned him enormous respect across the championship. Our thoughts are with his family and everyone at Škoda Motorsport.”
In a statement, Škoda Motorsport described Hortek as “an integral part of our team” whose precise work contributed to some of the greatest successes in the company’s 125-year history.
The WRC extends its sincere condolences to Pavel’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
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