Michal Kosciuszko - Q&A

Michal Kosciuszko looks ahead to next week's Rally Poland, the ninth round in the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship, where he will be competing in front of his home fans in a Fiesta R5 with LOTOS backing, despite nursing a broken vertebra...

Q:
Michal, how ready are you for Rally Poland and your first start in this year's ERC?

Michal Kosciuszko:
Not so much because I have a fracture of one vertebra following a heavy landing on Rallye Deutschland last month. It's not so easy to drive but I have a special protective belt for my chest to keep my position upright more than usual. It's not so comfortable but it makes driving possible.

Q:
Did you fear you wouldn't be able to take part?

Michal Kosciuszko:
I've had many medical tests and the first reaction was I cannot compete, it's a fracture and it's not safe to do it. Then I made check after check after check and finally they decided it's not dangerous, just painful and I have to live with that. But I really want to do this rally.

Q:
So not competing was not an option, right?

Michal Kosciuszko:
Exactly. I couldn't imagine not being on the start. It's a very beautiful rally sponsored by LOTOS, my main sponsor. I've put all my energy to be ready. I've had only 10 days to recover and normally the doctors say it's six to eight weeks of recovery time. In testing the first feeling was terrible and I couldn't find my rhythm. I felt really uncomfortable but after a few runs I get used to it.

Q:
You're driving a Ford Fiesta R5 for the first time. What are your impressions of the car?

Michal Kosciuszko:
It's a very good car, with a strong engine and five-speed gearbox. You drive it like a Group N car, not sliding as much and you approach the corners not at such high speed and more in a straight line. You then need to throw the car in the corners but you have the power to exit.

Q:
Poland hosted the ERC's first Qualifying Stage last season and it's back for this year. How important is road position on this event?

Michal Kosciuszko:
It's very important but every driver has a point of view about what works better. It depends on the weather for sure but usually you don't want to be far from the first place because the ruts will appear quite soon. I have experience of qualifying but this stage is not representative of the rally, it's on a track with a hard gravel base and the set-up of the car will be different.

Q:
How have you prepared for Rally Poland?

Michal Kosciuszko:
I have two days of testing, then a short gravel rally on Saturday 100 kilometres from Miko?ajki. Then I have an additional day of testing then it's the rally. We will be quite well prepared but I won't be 100 per cent fit and I will need to check what my limits are when I am driving.

Q:
What do you think of Eurosport showing four stages of the rally live?

Michal Kosciuszko:
It's amazing. We never had it on Rally Poland before. It's really, really good and a great chance for the region and for the rally for the drivers to have an audience all around the world.