Blog
Martin Kadlečík is making significant progress in his career. After racing in the Twingo Cup and winning the championship in the Clio Cup, he now takes on the challenge of competing in a full season of TCR Eastern Europe, having participated part-time last year with Audi RS3 TCR in Aditis Racing team. For 2025, he remains with the Czech team and is ready to build on last year’s momentum, as he expressed in our interview.
Martin, you’re continuing in TCR Eastern Europe this year. How would you rate your performance last season, what did you learn, and what would you like to carry into this season?
I consider last season successful. Even though I only took part in three race weekends and didn’t have much practice in the car, I was pleased to achieve some podium finishes. Jumping from Clio Cup to TCR is quite significant, and adapting quickly isn’t easy. I’ve improved my understanding of how to manage tyres, I now have a better feel for what to expect from the car, and I’ve learned how to make adjustments to suit my driving style. However, I still need more seat time—my starts, for example, weren’t great last year, so I know exactly what to work on.
You’ve progressed through Twingo Cup and Clio Cup. How did these series help you adapt to TCR cars?
Each series taught me something valuable. In Twingo Cup, I learned how to handle close wheel-to-wheel racing, and those experiences gave me greater confidence and awareness on the track. Before that, I’d mainly raced autocross on loose surfaces, so adjusting to the grip and forces of asphalt racing was a challenge. Clio Cup was considerably faster, so it required learning how to brake properly, how to approach corners correctly – essentially mastering front-wheel-drive technique, which largely transfers over to TCR.
What are your goals for this season?
I’d like to build on last season’s momentum and consistently finish on the podium. If I could add a win or two, that would be fantastic. But I need to stay realistic; TCR Eastern Europe has top drivers and top teams, so it definitely won’t be easy.
Your teammate for this year will be Bartosz Groszek. How much of an advantage is it to have a TCR Eastern Europe champion alongside you?
Bartek and I became friends last year, and I have to say he’s an excellent driver and a great guy. He helped me out a few times last season when he acted as my engineer, offering valuable advice, so it’s fantastic to have someone in the team I can collaborate with closely. I’m genuinely looking forward to working with him this year.
How are you preparing for this season? How much time do you spend on the simulator driving TCR cars?
Since simulator driving is part of my daily routine, my preparation is essentially continuous. The Red Bull Ring is very popular among sim racers, and I already have plenty of experience there from both the Twingo Cup and Clio Cup, so I should be well-prepared for the circuit. Still, I hope we’ll get some real testing sessions in, so I can get a better feel for the car before the season kicks off.
