Křenek Motorsport Team's Drivers Before Leaving for Sicily

- 3. 7. 2013, Prague, CZE -

What awaits the Křenek Motorsport team's drivers are two final events of the FIA ETCC. Topping the standings now is Petr Fulín who has scored 45 points. This season is the first to be complete for 23-point Michal Matějovský, taking the forth place at the moment, just a bit behind a Swiss racing driver, Peter Rikli (27pt). Before the racing weekend in Pergusa, Italy, where the next round is held (13th-14th July), they gave an interview about the course of races, and the aim they have set.

How do you appraise your performance in this year's European Cup? Petr Fulín: "All Křenek Motorsport team, I guess, have been doing a perfect job so far. Luckily, the technical stuff is running well, so I made win all practice sessions and qualifying I'd entered. Regarding the results, I just do not feel content with the Austrian round at Salzburgring as I'd met there with a nasty accident, therefore just took points for Q.".

Michal Matějovský: "For me, naturally, taking part in the whole championship is new experience but also huge challenge. Change from Seat, I was only driving one round in the last year's FIA ETCC, to a rear-wheel-drive BMW did not pose a big problem for me, I suppose. I've got used to the new car quickly, and thanks to the perfect cooperation with the Křenek Motorsport team I made be among the best three just in Round 2 on the Slovakia Ring. Looking at it now, I just regret that unlucky event on the Salzburgring. I scored a few points for Q I'd made perfectly, but I didn't finish the race as I'd went off the track ... Anyway I'm not going to think about that, the crucial race is before us ..."

One of the last two FIA ETCC racing events is held on Sicily whose result is undoubtedly going to be highly important before the final round in Brno, the Czech Republic. Leaving for Italy, what aim have you set yourself? Petr Fulín: "It'll be important to finish the race, twice, for being in with chance 'to battle for the title'. Just Brno you've mentioned must change my viewing on this event. Anyway, I'm going in last but one round, which may radically affect the final standings of this year's ETCC, not in one separate event I'd like to win at all costs. To exaggerate a little, I'd like to drive 'Prost alike ...' :)." Michal Matějovský: "I'd like to follow all the good things from the previous races. My main aim is to get as many points as possible, and ensure a good position for the final weekend of the FIA ETCC, which is the round in Brno early in October."

The circuit in Pergusa is a sort of the great unknown for most drivers. How are you preparing yourself for this race? Petr Fulín: "Because of that distance, the only thing I can do is the Internet probe, and, naturally, physical exercise. I'm doing the both of them at the moment. I've already seen a few races and onboard videos; I'm afraid that Pergusa, indeed, is not the track of BMW. It has no turns with common radius, which is made up by a few chicanes in terms of profile. They're bordered by high old kerbs, which my car doesn't like that much. What I see as a virtual certainty is mixing the two classes S2000 and SMT during Q, thus the both of the races. Turbo Seat is gonna have advantage while cutting chicanes, but due to turbo also when exiting turns, which in fact, turned out in Chicane 1 at Salzburgring. Another reason for fulfilling my aim, as I've already mentioned. I'm not gonna pay for aggressive behaviour of some drivers of the SMT class." Michal Matějovský: "I'm preparing myself both physically and mentally. I'm not busy with the school as I've passed final exams of this term, and I'm fully concentrating on oncoming races on Sicily. I regularly exercise. Me and my trainer are searching for the best recipe for maximum stamina to stand that hard hot environment, which will be there, we suppose."

You are expected to be "alone" on Sicily due to that enormous distance. What words would you send your fans, who may watch your performance "live" on TV channel Eurosport? Petr Fulín: "First, I'd like to thank them for their existence. Czech hockey and football nation doesn't leave too much room for motorsports. So, it seems highly important to cherish any fan, so I'd like to invite them to the final in Brno, where we're drawing up a special programme for them. Regarding Pergusa, we're gonna have again "report-service" on my facebook profile." Michal Matějovský: "We're moving on to Pergusa in the middle of the next week. I'll try to inform our fans about news in the team on my facebook, and I'm happy the race is going to be in TV Eurosport live broadcast, so we'll be in touch with our fans. So, I'd like to ask them to watch the programme and cross their fingers for us. We'll definitely do our best to get as best results as possible."

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