He used to race on a bicycle, but like everyone born in Zlín, he was also drawn to the world of rallying. In 2018, he made his debut with the Peugeot 208 R2, a year later he was runner-up in the European Championship in the two-wheel category ERC3. In 2020, British automotive weekly Motorsport News named him as one of the current TOP 10 world rally talents. And in 2021, he was surprised driving into his Barum Rally with a twenty second lead over Jan Kopecký, only to crash several hundred meters short of the finish line.

In 2023, though, we’ll be hearing and reading about him a lot more, because he’s really going to push it full throttle. The current changes and ambitious plans for next season are just the realization of the strategic plan that has accompanied Erik Cais since his entry into the world of rallying. After gaining experience and then success in the two-wheel class, he switched to competition in Fiesta Rally 2 on four-wheel drive and quickly demonstrated that even this class was no problem for him. “I’ve spent the last three seasons behind the wheel of the Fiesta Rally2 and I already have quite a bit of experience with four-wheel drive. I am very happy that my team and I can continue with the 2023 season,” Cais said honestly.

And that shift is nothing more than a move to a higher league. He is one of the first to switch to the new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 competition car and will also start seven WRC2 world championship competitions, one of which will also be held in the Czech Republic. The challenging 2023 schedule also includes a minimum of five starts in the ERC European Championship.

The name Cais has been associated with the Orsák Rallysport team for a long time and he will also be driving it in 2023. “We took over the new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, the first client example with production number 7, at the end of November ,” reveals team boss Jaroslav Orsák. “We will start in January in the Monte Carlo Rally, then we will ride in Croatia, Portugal, Sardinia, Finland, Greece and we also want to perform in the Central European Rally. The goal is to gain experience in the WRC2 class. In addition, we will be going to at least five European Championship competitions, where the aim is to be on the podium.”

According to Orsák, the Fabia RS Rally2 is the car that should help them succeed. “We are full of hope. Returning to the Škoda brand is a big challenge for the whole team. We want to do a test two days before the Christmas holidays so that Erik can get to know the new Fabia RS Rally2. The mechanic will then disassemble the whole car to learn how to work with it and get to know the where to go when needed. After the New Year, we have a two-day test scheduled before the opening of the WRC2 Rally Monte Carlo. The demanding program also requires a second car, which has been promised to us for the start of the 2023 season. Many thanks to Škoda Motorsport and in personally to Mr. Michal Hrabánek.”

“The new Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 will be the key to success,” Cais confirmed. “We have technical support from Škoda Motorsport and I am really looking forward to starting with the new car. We are representatives of the Czech car club AČR and the Czech Republic, so I enjoy driving Czech cars. And of course I am also happy that I am the only Czech four-wheeler directly sponsored by Red Bull. These are all great opportunities, challenges and commitments.”

Cais’ rearmament was also noticed by overseas media. And not only you. “Factory teams watch young talents for a long time before including them in their Rally1 special. They observe how tenacious, consistent and mentally skilled they are with the media. But results speak for the person in the first place,” explained Cais for Red Bull.

Erik, congrats and good luck!