Circular route to Formula
Filip, when did you start with the carts?
I was 11 years old when my father organized my first tests with the cart and next year I started to race. I was keen on motor-sport since I was a kid especially because of my father who has been working in car racing for many years. I had been spending all my free time with him on the races.
Could you list some of your top achievements gained during your cart’s career?
Back in 1996 I became the champion of Czech Republic in comer category. Comer is the cart with 80cm3 engine. But my biggest achievement was a title of International Champion of ICA 100 3 years later on.
When did you have a chance to experience the touring cars for the first time and how did you like that?
In 1999 I passed the exams in the racing school with Mr. Patera in the city of Most. One year later (2000) I have started to race with Opel Puma. It would be easier to continue with formula straight away at that time, because the touring cars have got different wheel drive then carts, but I think that despite that fact the swap from carts to touring was without any significant problems. Besides other differences, the most challenging difference was maximum speed. In the cart you can go about 100 km/h max, but with the touring car the max. speed is about twice as higher.
Your name has been known from the Česká pojištovna Cup with Škoda Octavia.
Škoda Octavia was already larger race car with the sequential gear-box and better performance behavior. I finished on 3rd place in the first race but since that time we wrestled with many technical problems of the engine so the final place of the season was 13th.
Was Skoda Octavia Cup your last race with the touring cars? Do you consider that as a mistake or negative experience to drive touring cars before formulas or was it helpful at all?
Frankly: When I’m thinking about that from today’s prospective, it could have been considered as negative experience to drive touring cars at the beginning as I had to learn everything again when I finally decided to continue with formulas only, however I believe that some experience will make you to be a better pilot in a long term.
Has it been your the last race with the touring cars? Wasn´t the mistake to race with touring car before your formula´s career?
When I´m thinking about it now, it could have been mistake because I had to learn everything again. Formula BMW was already powerful car with different behiver in the corners. Touring car and formula has got many different points…when you race with touring car.
Why did you choose the formula BMW?
In short, Formula BMW was interesting championship with crowded grid and many good drivers. All circuits have been near to my home country so it was the best alternative for our budget.
Your choice was the step to unknown place. You didn’t know all circuits so well as others competitors.
It was my handicap at the beginning. Some of them had more experiences from test drives, but it’s racing. You have to break down all barriers and run at full power.
How many kilometers do you do in the test within one year?
5 or 6 thousand km within first year, now it’s over then 7 thousand km. We are testing especially in the city Most or in the city of Brno, because the tests on all circuits which are authorized for formula BMW races are closed from May for all competitors.
What do you focus for?
We are trying to make the best setting of a whole car and the best setting of the wings. The technical rules are relatively benevolent and opened to many changes.
Have you already been capable to say to your mechanics what does your car need?
I have been capable to find out which stabilizer or what pressure of tires I need, but I’m still learning many new things and details of the car itself.
Who from your competitors did attract your attention?
Definitely, Nico Rosberg in the first year. I thing, that he has been really great candidate for F1. I know that many other drivers could be faster then him but his chances and potential have already been on his side.
Sebastian Vettel is my favorite for this year. He is only 16 years old and he has already have lot of experiences for this age.
And what can you say about Natascha Gahang?
She is more media star then good driver. Her advantage is that she is a girl and this fact is still attraction in the racing world. I don’t like her racing style, she is a rapacious driver but very dangerous.
O.k. And what can you say about you and your own work?
Before the start of the season I wished and thought about better final position, but the first race we had problems with engine power and for a long time we couldn’t realize where the problem is. For the explanation, our engines are sealed up, it’s impossible to take the apart to pieces. You can only put them on the break or send it for the repair to the factory or buy the new one. We have decided for the last alternative and I could profit from it in the next race in Norisring. I finished on 2nd place during the test drive and could stand on the podium for the first time.
By the way, how did you feel in Norisring circuit between all concrete walls?
It wasn’t so bad. It’s really strange racetrack in the city, but it is only one place in the all championship where you can reach the maximum speed on the straight ways. The crucial point is to find the right moment when you start to break. Otherwise the atmosphere is really nice there. Lot of visitors, sponsors….I really like this race.
Won’t you want to supersede formula BMW for the stronger and bigger formula in the next season?
Probably yes, I would like to start in my father’s team in the Formula 3 championship. We have bought 2 cars, one (Dallara 303 from Robert Kubica) from Prema Team and second one is older type (302) from British F3. I would like to finish around 20th place in my premiere season with F3. Of course I will do maximum to get some points but it will not be as easy. I will have to learn everything again; because the car will be completely different to what I was used to.
