Škoda Motorsport engineer: building cars was my childhood dream

Miloš Vrba is proof of how Škoda Motorsport engineers literally live and breathe for the team. He had dreamed of building his “own” cars since childhood, and thanks to his work for the Mladá Boleslav-basedcarmaker’s motorsport department, his dream has come true. He is a big fan of motorsport and finds his work very fulfilling. 

The fact that the Škoda Motorsport team is generally very enthusiastic about motorsport is not just an empty phrase, as most of them literally live and breathe motorsport. Proof of this is, for example, engineer Miloš Vrba, who works primarily in the field of transmissions in the department. In addition to the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 special, he has recently been involved in the Enyaq RS Race electric prototype project. 

The path to motorsport often begins in childhood. Was that the case for you? 

I wasn't actively involved in any branch of motorsport when I was young. However, my parents bought us a go-kart, a homemade construction with a Pioneer engine, which my dad, uncle, and I put together. My brotherand I would then organize our own "grand prix" at our cottage on a dead-end road leading to the neighboring village. This year, I took the go-kart out after many years and let my sons drive it. So far, they're really into it, so we'll see if that lasts into the future. 
 
What motivated you to pursue a career in engineering? 

When I was young, I had this somewhat naive idea that as a mechanical engineer I would build my own cars or motorcycles. Quite unexpectedly, this dream became a reality. Today, my team and I are able to build a car from scratch, both in terms of design and with our own hands in the workshop. 

Did you follow any motorsports when you were younger? 

Of course, I followed rallying, Formula 1, Moto GP, which was still two-stroke 500cc at the time. I played Colin McRae Rally and similar games on my console. I liked anything where you could hear the engine and it wentfast. 

How did your career begin? 

I would say that the main part of it began at school. During my final year, I spent six months doing an internship at the Czech car manufacturer Kaipan in Smržovka. They hand-build replicas of the Lotus 7, which was a very nice car at the time. 

What exactly did you do and what did you enjoy about the job? 

I was involved in design, but I really enjoyed being able to run down the stairs and make something in the workshop, weld something or take measurements. 

And what do you enjoy about working for Škoda Motorsport today? 

It's mainly the environment and the people who are similarly motivated to come up with and improve things. I find it fulfilling to search for better technical solutions. Generally speaking, I come up with something in the morning, draw it at noon, inquire about it in the evening, and in a few days I see the actual part on the car and can take it out for testing. You don't get that kind of experience many other places. 

What challenges do you face in your position? 

We work under time pressure. From the initial assignment or idea of what to try, do differently, or come up with, to the expected deployment of the finished part in testing, it may only take a few weeks, but it could alsobe just a few days. But that's what makes our work so appealing. We're constantly working on something new.

What project are you most proud of lately? 

Of course, the Fabia RS Rally2 and the various technical details I managed to get into it. I've spent the last few years of my life working on this special, so it's quite expected. I am also very proud of our Enyaq RS Race electric project, which we put together as a small team, in what we call a “lunch break project.”