Czech driver Roman Kresta started his career with his country's car manufacturer, Skoda. After obtaining rally experience in his country, Kresta competed for the first time in a 'foreign' event, the Croatia Rally in 1999. Roman achieved an encouraging result, finishing in fourth place at the wheel of a Felicia kit car.

Kresta stayed with Skoda and took part to the Czech Republic Championship in 2000 and 2001. It was a good choice since Kresta won the title twice at the wheel of an Octavia WRC. His collaboration with Skoda also gave him the opportunity to win several European Rally Championship rounds, including the Barum Rally and the Rally de Bohême.

However his first race in the World Rally Championship - the 2001 Acropolis Rally - was at the wheel of a Ford Focus WRC (Jolly Club). A first experience that ended prematurely with a retirement. Kresta continued his World Rally Championship efforts with Skoda, taking part in three events: Safari, Sanremo and Great Britain. Unfortunately, the young Czech driver did not reach the finish line in any of these three races.

Despite this setback, Skoda still believed in him and offered the young driver a six-race programme for the 2002 World Rally Championship. Kresta retired once again at the Monte Carlo but finished the Tour de Corse in fourteenth place. His best performance was a seventh place at the Safari Rally; a good result that did not reward him with any points since only the top six were allowed to score points at that time.

The following year Kresta decided to leave Skoda to join Bozian Racing and took part in seven rounds of the World Rally Championship. Roman accomplished good results with the French team and achieved his first and only point in the championship with an eighth place at the Rally of Great Britain.

Roman Kresta competed in only three WRC events in 2004, each time at the wheel of a different car. Roman drove a Hyundai Accent WRC at the season opener, the Monte Carlo Rally and switched to a Focus for the Acropolis Rally. He joined Skoda Motorsport once again for his final 2004 WRC event, the Deutschland Rally. Three rallies and three more retirements... but his quick stage times incited Malcolm Wilson to offer him a contract to join the Ford World Rally Team in 2005.