After six years, Libor Milota is bidding farewell to the ESET Cup. The multiple winner and champion in sprint racing in 2022 has decided to trade his Mercedes AMG GT3 for an Audi R8 LMS GT3 with the Czech ISR team, with which he will compete in the GT Open next year. Libor Milota is leaving the GT2 Motorsport team, but he will always look back with joy and respect on his time in the ESET Cup and the GT3 category.
Libor, you are leaving the ESET Cup after six seasons. How have you progressed as a driver during that time?
The ESET Cup is an excellent series led by great people, and I will always fondly remember my involvement in this championship. Over the six seasons, I have gained a lot of experience, especially in terms of composure behind the wheel, judgment, and better estimation.
But initially, you competed in motorcycles. How did you transition to cars?
I simply missed racing. I stopped racing motorcycles in 2009 and returned to the racetracks in 2015. I started with a modified Nissan GTR, then moved on to a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup, and eventually began racing in multiple cars simultaneously. I was looking for a path that would lead forward in terms of sporting performance, as well as the quality of support and racing technology. I was fortunate to have great people around me. Milan Galáš has helped me a lot in my racing endeavors, and at the very beginning, Lukáš Karhan and the Lukamotorsport team also played a role. We are still friends, and I will always remember them fondly and be happy to collaborate with them.
And the subsequent transition to the GT3 category and racing with a Mercedes is evidence that you have taken motorsport seriously…
Yes, I love GT3 cars. Aside from their beauty and technical perfection, I consider their driving dynamics to be truly brilliant. I perceive motorsport as a special discipline consisting of many aspects – the team, technology, economics, racing politics, and, of course, driving itself. Then there’s the preparation on and off the track. I could talk about it for a long time; it’s not easy. In motorsport, you cannot focus on just one thing and think that you’re doing it well. I see it as a comprehensive competition where we strive to be the best in all areas. I care about being successful in all aspects, and above all, I want to have a good feeling about it. When I see enthusiastic people in the team, satisfied partners, mechanics, fans, my family, it brings joy.
What kind of driver are you? Strategically patient or immediately attacking?
That’s more of a question for those who watch the races. However, I used to be much more impulsive in the past, trying to solve everything immediately, and it didn’t always lead to a happy ending. I would like to say that I have learned to be patient now, but in a racing car, you have very little time for everything, and immediate decision-making is crucial. I already know that it’s crucial to be under control first, and everything else is secondary. I try to think in this manner during races.
You have experienced a lot in the ESET Cup over the past six years. Can you highlight one moment that has stuck in your memory?
The race at Slovakia Ring, where we fought side by side with Štefan Rosina in a BMW M6 GT3 from start to finish in the sprint race. It was a considerate, fair sports battle where we exchanged positions several times and leaned against each other in the corners.
During the awards ceremony of the 2023 season, you gave a beautiful speech about your involvement in the ESET Cup. What does this championship mean to you in your career?
It’s a part of my life. I have devoted a great deal of energy to it. I personally know almost all the drivers and teams participating in this series. It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows since we are competitors and want the same thing. However, we managed to win the championship honorably while remaining friends with many people around us. Not only do these things hold immense value in terms of sportsmanship, but also morally. I am proud of the whole team and the results we achieved in all areas.
In the upcoming season, you will face a new challenge in the GT Open with Filip Salaquarda and the ISR team. How excited are you about this opportunity, and how important is it for you to constantly move forward?
Moving forward is essential for me. Engaging in motorsport at this level without clearly defined goals is, in my opinion, not the right approach. I don’t race for the experience alone; I strive to achieve good sporting results and have the chance to look back with a sense of accomplishment. If I see that I can’t keep up with the pace and havethe potential to improve, I will search for new challenges. The opportunity to join the ISR team and compete in the GT Open is exciting for me. Filip Salaquarda is an experienced driver, and I believe we can work well together. The GT Open is a highly competitive championship, and I look forward to testing my skills against strong opponents.
