With the likes of Formula E and the widescale adoption of sustainable fuels, competitive motorsport appears to be ahead of the curve when it comes to going green. And if the old adage “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” is anything to go by, motorsport is set to play a pivotal role in encouraging die-hard petrolheads to adopt tomorrow’s performance cars.

With that in mind, Škoda has unveiled the Enyaq RS Race, a track-ready, all-electric concept inspired by the Fabia RS Rally2 WRC car. But we see something more – a glimpse into the future of touring cars, where the RS Race could one day be swapping paint with rivals from Brands Hatch to Bathurst.

The mission of the Enyaq RS Race is not only to cut mass – one of the biggest hurdles facing modern electric performance cars – but to do so in a green way. Using cutting-edge biocomposites in place of carbonfibre, Škoda has trimmed an impressive 316kg from the production Enyaq vRS. Developed alongside Bcomp, Škoda’s motorsport partner, key areas such as the bumpers, wings, and roof are crafted from flax fibres. Sharing the 250kW (335bhp) dual-motor powertrain with the road car, the lighter RS Race now reaches 0–62mph in under five seconds – placing it on par with current BTCC cars.

In order to create the new bodywork, individual parts were taken from the car, redesigned from scratch, then reassembled by hand. In true touring car fashion, the dimensions of the concept are pushed to the limit, with the Enyaq RS Race sitting 70mm closer to the ground, featuring tracks widened by 72mm at the front and 116mm at the rear. Motorsport-spec springs and dampers are fitted, complemented by “a completely new high-performance braking system”. The progressive EPAS has also been replaced with a linear rack, which is better suited to motorsports.

With its large rear wing and aggressive front diffuser, the RS Race immediately calls to mind the Aussie V8 Supercars series. The aerodynamics package includes a NACA air intake channelling air into the interior, whilst small winglets at the rear of the roof direct airflow straight onto the rear wing. The front section is now completely solid, with air drawn in through the lower part of the bumper, feeding a re-engineered radiator. The new front bumper also features two additional air curtains, while a new rear diffuser combines with the wing to significantly increase downforce.

Elsewhere, turbulence around the wheels is minimised by wing-shaped air-guiding elements, and ventilation grilles in the front and rear wheel arches both minimise drag and aid brake cooling. Škoda says the concept can also be fitted with aerodynamically optimised wheels, hinting there are bigger plans for the car to come.

The interior of the Enyaq RS Race has closer links to the Fabia RS Rally2 than DTM. Alongside the competition-spec bucket seats with six-point harnesses, a roll cage, and a bare-bones dashboard is a rally-style hydraulic handbrake and switches to modify the fully adjustable suspension on the fly. One oddity is the retention of the in-car entertainment touchscreen and sound system, which has been retuned to incorporate a digital sound amplifier to deliver ‘characteristic motorsport’ noises within the cabin.

Whether or not the RS Race sees the grid, its technological advancements and eco-conscious design provide a reassuring glimpse into the future. Another motorsport trope is ‘racing improves the breed’ – as regulations and environmental concerns increasingly shape the future of racing, the RS Race is a potential solution to the question: can high-performance motorsport embrace sustainability without sacrificing excitement?