The British Automobile Racing Club season is well underway with the majority of championships having launched their season with at least the first round under the belt. The racing variety is obvious and clear to see and what we love is poking around the paddock to take a look at some of the more different projects and cars taking to the grid. On the first meeting at Brands Hatch on Sunday morning we spotted a fresh-looking Skoda in a racey livery – we just had to go and take a look!

The car in question is the Skoda Octavia raced and owned by Paul Roddison who is competing in Track Action this season. The large, roomy Czech saloon is a completely unusual, yet welcome sight in the championship – with the car making its competitive debut just a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday.

The paint was almost wet to the touch as the car was just about ready for the new season, with Paul now picking up the story .

“It was finished a couple of weeks before the start of the season at Brands Hatch,” said a relieved Roddison. “We made some adjustments to the back suspension as late as Friday morning before the first race on Sunday but we got it there. We started to build the car 12 months ago. Because there aren’t many Skodas out racing in the world, a lot of things took longer to make or took longer to find. Things like the polycarbonate windows – you couldn’t buy off the shelf so we had to send all the original glass away to get a template mate for the new windows. It’s the same with the brakes. We thought VW Scirocco ones would fit but they didn’t so that was another six weeks to have them made – everything has been a learning curve but we were delighted to get it racing.”

Running new cars is never easy – but Roddison and his team have plenty of experience in national racing and uphill challenges!

“I raced Mazdas for a long long time. Prior to that I raced go karts as a young lad. I was racing in the Mazda but after COVID they never came back in the same way and in terms of being the first – I built the first MK3 MX5 that raced in the UK and built the first MK4 MX5 that raced in the UK. I came to Track Action with the Mazda and found it could do well in qualifying but struggled in the races – so I bought a VW Scirocco and did well with that. I have driven front, rear – you name it. If it has steering wheels and pedals I will give it a go!”

But why a Skoda of all cars? To some, perhaps even the younger generation know the Fabia model as a hot-hatch and rallying icon – but the larger Octavia is better known to the older generation…

“The last few years I have raced with Track Action, I have been trying to get to and race at the front. I love winding up and taking the mickey out of the young guys. I am 60-years-old and tell them, ‘when you go home, tell your friends – you got beaten by an old bloke with grey hair.’ Then at the end of last year when we wanted a new project – we wanted the wind-up to continue further. Now it’s ‘how do you feel being beaten by an old bloke with grey hair in a Skoda!’
“That’s how the car came about – as a bit of fun but the love for this car online and at Brands has been amazing. I have never seen so much interest in a race car. Anyone from five years of age to 85 came along to take pictures and ask questions. I even had guys walking up to me showing me their Skoda car keys telling me they have one – the passion for the brand is clear to see!”

Turning heads in the paddock wasn’t the only thing Paul and the Skoda did on its opening weekend. The grey missile rocketed to the top of the timesheets on several occasions in qualifying but had to settle for second behind the Honda Integra of Adam Shepherd. In the race – despite a small excursion and fuel pump woes, fourth place was a strong start to 2025. But Paul has eyes on the Hampshire speed bowl up next…

“Brands was a good first weekend – We were quite surprised with how well it went and to be so quick out the box is pleasing. Brands was never going to be its favourite due to it being a little bigger than the more nimble cars. I am looking forward to Thruxton with the long wheelbase and slippery shape through. Church corner is something I am looking forward to!

The next round of the Track Action series is this weekend at Thruxton (3-4 May) and you can watch all the action LIVE on the BARC YouTube channel.