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Michał
Kościuszko we don’t
know
He
drives the wheel for the
adrenaline and turns discs
for pleasure. We’re
talking about Michał Kościuszko,
who after a year’s
break has come back to the
country’s stages,
announcing competition with
Bryan Bouffier. When he
has a spare moment, he doesn’t
mount a racing bike or a
quad, but he gets behind
a console and mixes music
in Cracow’s clubs.
You take part
in world and Polish championships.
Which of those series is
more important for you?
The
world championship is a
priority. Especially this
year, when I’m representing
the colours of the Suzuki
Sport Europe team. Having
the best equipment at my
disposal I’ve been
given a big chance for further
development. I don’t
want to waste it. So I’m
not taking part in the last
round of the Polish Car
Rally Championship –
Dolnośląski Rally –
in October, because it collides
with Rally Corsica. After
the first round of the JWRC
I’m in the third place.
The fight for the top positions
in the further part of the
season is going to be really
hard, but I believe that
having a good car and some
experience from previous
years I can compete for
a position among the top
three.
Why have you
come back to Polish stages
after a year’s break?
Six
events in the JWRC series
is not enough for the whole
season. This year I’ve
been offered a chance to
drive a S2000 car in the
PCRC. I think it’s
a great opportunity to check
my skills in a four-wheel-drive
vehicle.
Can
you see any changes in the
racing situation here at
home?
I do, and a
lot too. When I was competing
two years ago, it was all
about Leszek Kuzaj –
he dominated everybody and
there was no one to challenge
him. Now there are young
competitors who have earned
themselves some reputation;
they have very good cars
and they know a lot about
driving. The changing of
the guard is going on, it’s
only natural in any sport.
Let’s talk
about the world championship.
At present you are competing
in the colours of the Suzuki
Sport Europe team. To what
extent is the team backed
by the manufacturer taking
into account the SX4 WRC
model’s participation
in the racing events?
These
are two independent teams.
They have got the same roots
and the same boss, but completely
different people work in
each of them. We feel the
pressure from the WRC team,
but our project is developing
at the same speed as before
the other team came into
play. It’s a natural
stage – Suzuki has
decided to move to a higher
level and to develop cars
in the royal category of
WRC. I know, though, that
for marketing reasons S1600
cars are equally important
for Suzuki, and we are going
to continue developing them.
A lot of your
driver-friends try to prove
themselves in other motoring
sports. How about you –
you don’t get the
kicks from that?
Only
recreationally. I ride motorbikes
very rarely. I like water
scooters and motor boats
but I don’t take part
in races in them. The rallies
provide me with enough adrenaline.
My passion is mixing music
as a DJ, and for the last
three years I’ve been
spending a lot of time doing
that. I’ve got sound
mixing equipment at home
and I practise mixing music,
mainly house. When I have
an opportunity, I play in
some clubs I’m on
friendly terms with. That’s
my way of dealing with stress
and chilling out. Frankly
speaking, playing for a
full house I’m sometimes
more nervous than at the
starting line of a special
stage (laugh).
Interview
by Wojciech Garbarz
The
full version of the interview
was published in issue no
80 of the WRC monthly magazine
www.wrc.net.pl
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