Filip Kohn: I long for the season with Fabia RS Rally2

Czech rally talent Filip Kohn only started racing three years ago. He has quickly made a name for himself and is building a promising career. After cup racing and seasons behind the wheel of a Rally3 category car, this year he got the opportunity to drive in several races with the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 special. And he longs for a whole season behind the wheel.

Although, in his own words, he has been involved in motorsport since he was a child, Příbram native Filip Kohn tried rallying on the threshold of adulthood, when he completed a rally sprint in Pilsen at the age of 18. Now, three years later, he is a regular in the European Rally Championship, where he secured the Rally3 title before the end of the season.

He showed his talent, thanks to which he was also able to taste the atmosphere of the World Championship. Thanks to the BRR Baumschlager Rallye & Racing team, he has already tried out the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in several regional rallies. After driving it, he says clearly: "Driving the Fabia RS Rally2 is my dream and goal for next season."

How do you feel about driving it now after several competitions?
I got used to it quickly, but it's clear that its limits are different than I initially drove. We've chosen a path in the team of gradually learning, getting faster and gaining confidence in the car and feeling good about it, and I think that's working well. It's taken me quite a while to get my head around how the car works, and I think it's going to take me a little longer still.

So, what is the biggest difference between a Rally3 and a Rally2 special?
It's especially in the fast sections, where the car in fourth and fifth gear still goes all the way to the limiter. In such situations, the Rally3 car loses its breath a bit. Also, compared to the Rally3 car, which is driven by such a power slide, the Fabia RS Rally2 drives like on rails.

What brought you to the rally in the first place?
I've been close to motoring since I was a child, at the age of five I fell in love with quad bikes. Over the years, my dad and I started trying cars, motorcycles and other different things. I didn't think of trying rallying until I was eighteen and I completely fell in love with it. We started quite quickly in the cup competitions, in the first race I didn't know what I was doing, in the third we finished on the podium. That was probably the turning point when I really started to enjoy it and found the desire to look for hundredths and tenths to just get better and better.

What do you enjoy about rallying?
I enjoy the changeable conditions the most. I enjoy the fact that it's not just about driving, but also about the pace notes, about cooperation, about the car, about its setup. There are an awful lot of things that must fit together to achieve a good result. It's not just about getting in the car and driving. Everything must come together and when it does, it's the best feeling in the world.

How much is rallying about taming emotions?
Of course, a driver must have talent, he must be fast, but it's also a lot about the head. We get into mentally demanding situations; we need to think a lot and adapt our driving style to reach the finish line. That's quite challenging, at first it was extreme for me. It was hard to listen to the pace notes, read the road and concentrate on driving. Gradually, it became automatic, and I also started to work on my fitness, so I'm not that exhausted during competitions. This helps me to concentrate better and move forward.

Which do you prefer, gravel or tarmac?
I enjoy gravel more. Even though I come from a tarmac environment, I like gravel. It's a different feeling, you must feel the car more, work with it more, you drive more sideways, it's a completely different driving style. However, I only did the first test with the Fabia on gravel, otherwise I have been driving tarmac rallies so far, so I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to drive it on gravel as well.