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Bartosz Groszek has returned to the TCR Eastern Europe championship this year, once again competing with Aditis Racing. He aims to replicate his success from 2022, when he won the championship title. The former Polish champion will regularly be seen behind the wheel of an Audi RS3 LMS TCR, and he’s already completed the opening race weekend at the Red Bull Ring, finishing second and fourth.
Bartosz, welcome back to TCR Eastern Europe. How are you enjoying your return so far?
I’m really enjoying being back. I had quite a long break from professional racing, so I was genuinely looking forward to the first qualifying battles against the clock and the initial race at Red Bull Ring. The competition’s pace is very high, so you really have to push yourself—and I love that.
You finished second behind Adam Kout in the first race at Red Bull Ring. However, Giacomo Ghermandi initially ran in second position but received a time penalty, making it clear he would drop behind you in the results. How did you approach racing him?
Our strategy for the first race was mainly to conserve tires and brakes, as we had some braking issues during practice and qualifying. The goal was to have a good start and then manage the car. I made a good start and got right behind Ghermandi. Around the fourth or fifth lap, I learned that Ghermandi had received a drive-through penalty, so I was hoping he would head into the pit lane. He probably didn’t notice the penalty and ended up receiving a time penalty instead. Because of this, I decided not to risk an overtaking maneuver and potential contact. I kept a safe distance, making sure not to overheat my brakes and tires. This became slightly complicated when my teammate Martin Kadlečík caught up to me, but we ultimately secured second and third places, so I’m happy.
Adam Kout is considered a favorite for this year’s championship. Do you think you can challenge him during the season?
Adam is a very fast driver. At the Red Bull Ring, he was particularly quick in the second sector, whereas we benefited from our straight-line speed. Our overall pace matched the top three finishers. We’ll see how it goes—success ballast, which is integral to TCR championships, will definitely play a role. It’s still early to predict how things will unfold.
And what about your teammate Martin Kadlečík?
Martin is also very quick, which is great for the team standings. There are many excellent drivers in this championship, and although I prefer not to take unnecessary risks, I’m not going to give up without a fight. I think we have a really exciting season ahead.
