Ultimately, I do what I enjoy and what makes me happy, and in the end I do not mind whether I am third or first.
How did you get into motorsport? Were you always interested in cars, or did you find your way to them later?
I found my way later, when I was 25. I am not from a racing family, but cars always appealed to me. I wanted to know how to drive and kept persuading the guys to teach me.
Then a chance encounter showed me the way. I cashed in my building savings, arranged a loan and bought a racing car. Then lots of friends helped me so that I could do it. I sacrificed everything for it: free weekends, holidays and a lot of money.
What is it like being a woman in a predominantly male sport?
Among the other racers, we regard each other as equal competitors; nobody gives us women any allowances. I do not expect any either. In the end, the measured time always decides.
The beginning was harder, when I was not yet racing and wanted the guys to teach me to drift, for example. They told me to go and chat with the girls instead, saying they would not lend me a car. So I had to wait for my chance, then ignore those comments and jump in head first, whatever anyone might say.
Ultimately, I do what I enjoy and what makes me happy, and in the end I do not mind whether I am third or first. Of course, the higher I finish, the happier I am. But the race ends at the finish line, and the journey itself is a goal and an achievement too.
What car do you use in everyday life?
The Duck at the moment… I need to master it completely. And for work trips and the mountains I have a Škoda 4x4 estate, so I have room. In recent years I have practically been “living in the car”, as I am always travelling somewhere, whether for work or races.
Why did you start racing in rally specifically?
Because that was where an opportunity opened up for me. The Citroën Women talent competition was announced then, and I entered it, so I stayed with rally and Citroën.
When I applied, there was supposed to be a slalom, and I had no idea how to drive it or how it worked.
The second round was in Bělá pod Bezdězem, using pace notes and a real racing car, and I was completely lost. I did not know what to expect, how to write pace notes, how to drive by them, what it was like to drive with a helmet on, and so on. I did not win then, but I found my own way to do this sport.
Where and when did the idea of racing Dakar arise?
Dakar is probably every racer's dream. I want that medal from the finish podium at home, to look at it every day and tell myself I did it. I finished the world's toughest race. And that if you really want to, you can achieve a lot. That gives me tremendous energy and strength.
I will still be paying off this dream for a while, though. I now have to take out a loan to finance it too; I cannot cover it from my wages.
It all began in autumn 2022, when I met Ollie Roučková, who already had 3 Dakars behind her then. I finally decided to go for it, whatever the cost, in February this year.
We will not take it easy; we will give it everything.
Where did you meet Lucie Engová, your navigator for the Dakar rally?
We have known each other for a long time, from rallying. Lucka raced with her dad, opening the historic-car field, while we drove near the end of the modern-car field, so we chatted at the starts. Then we met at Legendy in Prague in the spring, and it struck me that Lucka would be the right partner for this challenge. On top of that, we would become the first Czech all-female crew ever at Dakar.
What is your goal at Dakar?
To reach the finish: that is the main goal. We are going with the Duck, probably the weakest car in the field, with minimal modifications… so our main goal is to finish!
And then, of course, with the best possible result. We will not take it easy; we will give it everything.