Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Kostka getting ready with Sagan and Kreuziger before Barum Rally

14. 8. 2016 - Evžen Gargulák, Roman Ordelt

Tomáš Kostka, originally a circuit driver, is a 2012 rally sprint champion and on Barum Czech Rally Zlín he finished twice third, in 2012 and 2014. He achieved his first podium with Škoda Fabia S2000 and the second one with Ford Fiesta R5. This season, not only did he compete in rally but in road cycling as well and with world superstars like Peter Sagan and Roman Kreuziger. On Barum Rally 2016, he will be representing Slovakian team Rufa Sport with Škoda Fabia R5 from Austrian racing stable champion Raimund Baumschlager. Having no. 16 on its door, he is according to experts the dark horse of the event.

'I spent the last two years testing and developing circuit cars mostly for Audi Sport. As for rally, this year we participated in Rally Vyškov, which was on our main partner Rufa sport's request. Last few weeks we are preparing for Barum Rally,' said Kostka. Tomáš as a domestic driver is a constant part of Barum Rally start list. But this year he focused on circuits and other activities. Since Rally Vyškov, he only started in rally sprint Pačejov at the end of July. 'I'm really looking forward to Barum Rally. I'm hoping to finish on the podium despite the strong competition,' said the thirty-one-year old driver. Just like in Pačejov, on Barum Rally he will be steering Škoda Fabia R5, which is being prepared by a former great driver Raimund 'Mundl' Baumschlager. 'I've decided to compete on both events with the same car. I'm very happy that Raimund will go to Zlín and assist me. I'm certain that such figure of European rally sport has after many years still lots of fans there,' said the Czech driver on the winner of Barum Rally of 1993.

Tomáš is not only a successful circuit and rally driver but a keen cyclist as well. So keen, that he participated in Czech and Slovak championship in road cycling in Hodonín at the end of June. He was in the company of great cyclists and Olympians like Peter Sagan, Roman Kreuziger, Leopold König, Petr Vakoč and Jan Bárta. 'I enjoyed cycling and did some races. Because I don't have that many car races, I had some time and wanted to try something new. I received a full race licence, so now I'm a cyclist. But I'm still new to this. The result at the championship was not very good. Two kilometres after start we were in a scrum, I got hit from one of the cyclist and electric derailleur cable got damaged. So before the first hill, I couldn't change the gear thus the hill meant the end for me,' said the versatile athlete.

From all his starts on Barum Rally, the one he remembers most is the first one in 2004. 'Even though I twice got on the podium and other times technical issues prevented me from reaching good results, I have the best memories from my first start there. That race was something special for me. Maybe in the future I'll be focusing little bit more on circuits and cycling, but I always go to Barum Rally,' said the father of a four-year old Matthias.