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The Czech team Expres Auto Racing has confirmed its participation in another season of TCR Eastern Europe with drivers Petr Čížek and Vít Smejkal.
Petr Čížek will continue competing in the series, where he has been racing since its inception in 2019. This makes him the driver with the most starts in the championship. As he enters his seventh season, we asked him about his plans for the year.
“We don’t really set specific goals for the season’s outcome. Our main aim is simply to make this season better than the last one,” explained Čížek, who remains loyal to the Cupra brand. In 2025, he will be driving the newer model, the Cupra Leon VZ TCR.
His teammate, Vít Smejkal, will also be racing in the championship, confirmed Čížek. However, Smejkal’s race program will be slightly different. “Vít won’t be participating in all the races due to his work commitments. He will join us for some events, but we’re not sure which ones yet. What’s certain is that he will be on the grid at our home track in Most,” said Čížek, who is always competitive at Most and frequently finds himself on the podium there.
Petr Čížek’s best results in TCR Eastern Europe include a couple of second-place finishes and a third-place in the drivers’ standings in 2022.
“I started my career in front-wheel-drive cars, and given my age, I guess I’ll probably finish with them too. I like TCR Eastern Europe for many reasons: for example, because of the promoter, Mr. Křenek, the fact that all the race tracks are relatively close to my hometown, and because the budget for competing is still manageable,” Čížek commented on his connection to the championship.
Last year’s calendar introduced a new addition, the fast and unique Salzburgring circuit, which is both highly risky and personally rewarding for those who drive on the edge. Čížek finished fourth and fifth there in September 2024.
“It’s an oldschool track—fast, dangerous, and with guardrails very close to you. I feel very confident driving there, but taking risks on such a track is something you need to approach carefully. There’s a very thin line between a fast, safe drive and risky moves that can end in a serious crash. Some of us have already experienced that,” added Čížek.
