Q&A: Tomas Kostka, Barum Czech Rally Zlin podium hero

omáš Kostka stunned the Intercontinental Rally Challenge establishment by leading Barum Czech Rally Zlín before eventually settling for a hugely impressive third place overall.

Where does this performance rank against your previous appearances on this rally?

“For sure it’s the best. We were quite okay on the tyre choice and that’s the basic thing. I was thinking position eight would be fine for us but this position after these hard stages is really incredible. But I am still driving to keep the car on the road and not taking any risks. But I have been quick and that’s really impressive for us.”

How much has your local knowledge of the stages helped?

“We have an advantage because we are at home and some of the stages I know from before because this is my seventh Barum Rally. I know where are the tricky places and where I can be faster than the others. But it has also been down to the perfect tyre choice, very good work from my co-driver and the car is quick.”

And you made no mistakes either?

“Not so much. I hit some tyres on one junction but no big mistake. This is really good because if you lose 10 or 15s on this rally it’s really hard to get them back against the factory teams. Also it is not our goal to fight with them. Honestly finishing position five would have been perfect for us.”

What are the chances of some more IRC events for you?

“I will finish the Czech rallysprint championship with my C4 but I would like to take experience from another country and another race. I’m driving normally on the circuits and the rallying is just on the side. This year is a little bit different because I didn’t find any good job on the circuits so I am driving more in the rally and also the rallysprint can help me to be really quick.”