Igor Skuz: the racer helping Ukraine's frontline – 'He's a fighter'

Touring cars

Igor Skuz was known to be a determined, no-compromise warrior in touring cars – now he's using the same qualities in the battle for Ukraine

Igor Skuz touring car driver

Skuz: a fighter in and out of the car

DPPI

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Motor sport heroes having to use their racing skills to fight their nations’ cause in conflict is nothing new. The fearless trio of Robert Benoist, William Grover-Williams and Jean-Pierre Wimille were all part of the French Resistance in WWII after already performing heroics in the grand prix world.

However, modern conflict means athletes are still being forced to make similar decisions today – Igor Skuz, a Ukrainian touring car champion, is doing so right now, using skills honed at the racetrack to help fight off Russia’s invasion of his country.

Speaking to Motor Sport from Kyiv, he says that being under artillery fire and frequent missile attacks leaves himself regularly feeling “hatred, powerlessness – but I will never give up,” whilst his old team boss describes him as a “fighter – an incredible person.”

Skuz established himself in his home country’s domestic touring car scene in the late 2000s before winning races in European Touring Car Cup while continuing to take class wins in Ukraine.

Now 46, Skuz runs his own car modification business, which has been put to use by Ukrainian army on military vehicles in the battle for the country’s independence.

Igor Skuz touring car driver 2

Skuz made his name on the European touring car scene

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When Russia did invade on February 24 of this year, Skuz didn’t think twice about answering his nation’s call to arms, despite the implications of doing so.

“The attack was unexpected, and it was very difficult to make a decision,” he says.

“First, I registered with the military. Secondly, it was necessary to evacuate my family and elderly parents.

“Thirdly, I am the head of a company with 60 workers, so it was necessary to support them and coordinate further actions. Since only the military was subject to mobilisation, I was sent home pending further orders.”

It wasn’t long however before Skuz’s skills and business were utilised by his country in its time of need, with all fully dedicated to the cause.

“I started to receive the requests for the preparation of special transport for the needs of the army, which were used on the front line of hostilities,” he explains.

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“So my team and I began to implement the projects that were urgently needed to support fast logistics in the conditions of hostilities.

“I’m in Kyiv now and I’m doing what I do best, which is to run a company that prepares cars suited to certain conditions.”

As proved by the racing heroes mentioned above, and in modern examples such as F1 team producing ventilators to help tackle the Covid pandemic, the multi-faceted skill set required to be successful in motor sport can often be put to good use in other circumstances.

“I am an athlete, all my life I have overcome obstacles with my head held high, I never give up,” says Skuz. “I am always looking for nonstandard approaches to solving problems, I have a good technical education and a high ability to analyse – also the understanding that without the work of a large number of people in the team, it is impossible to win.

Igor Skuz touring car driver 3

Skuz says the value of teamwork learned in racing has supported him in the fight for Ukraine

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“This experience was given to me by participation in races. I have no fear, I adapt quickly and am ready to take risks in order to win. I use all these racing skills now to support my country in this war against Ukraine.”

Joan Orus, now COO of electric road vehicle and racing company QEV, was formerly Skuz’s team boss at Campos, when the Ukrainian finished third in the 2014 European Touring Car Cup.

The Spaniard, who is now helping Skuz by housing his family in Barcelona whilst the Ukrainian continues to help the war effort from Kyiv, concurs that his former driver is now utilising the same characteristics which drove him forward in racing.

“He really is an incredible person,” says Orus. “A real determination, so professional – maybe not a driver that can learn in one lap, but he would do so by practising lap after lap. That’s how he achieved results.

“If he’s not improving, he’s not satisfied, and this is really the Ukrainian character – they are proud.

“They really want to prove to the rest of the world that they are good. Igor is a person that will never compromise, that is the spirit I feel now from Ukraine. It is impossible that they will stop – they’ll fight until the end.”

Whilst racing a tin-top monster on the international stage is not for the faint hearted, Skuz articulates how finding yourself in the midst of warfare doesn’t even compare.

“It was scary at the beginning, because you didn’t know what was waiting ahead,” he says.

“Before the war, we lived happily as a large family, making plans for the future. I have three children who had to grow up very quickly.

Igor Skuz touring car driver 4

As in racing, Skuz is only focused on victory in the fight for freedom

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“When you see the flight of a drone from the window of your own house and you can’t do anything, you feel hatred and powerlessness at that moment.”

Incredibly though, the galvanised nation has pushed Russia back on land it had claimed. Skuz and his employees are a strong example of this.

“After 9 months, adaptation has already taken place, and we Ukrainians are united, all working to speed up the victory over the enemy, to drive this evil away from our land,” he emphasises.

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“And now I am sure more than ever that the victory will be ours. After massive rocket attacks on infrastructure facilities, 80% of Ukrainians are without electricity, water, or the Internet for about 12 hours a day.”

Despite the hardship, Skuz says he, the army is he crucial in helping and his compatriots are more determined than ever to win out.

“Many military men come to my office and tell me what incredible efforts they are making at the front to liberate our land,” he says.

“What wonderful and strong warriors die for our children to have a future. The best representatives of the nation die.

“But our children will grow up, return home from evacuation and Ukraine will be reborn. We all believe in this now and it inspires every soldier, every volunteer, everyone who works in Ukraine, supporting the economy.”

Orus is only full of admiration for what his former charge is now doing in the battle for freedom.

“Obviously, he wants he wants to go to his family, but the most important thing for him is to keep pushing and save the country,” he says. “And that is that is incredible – he has that fight, they will not give up.”

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