Lull Before Brno’s Storm

There are just a few hours before the FIA ETCC round held in Brno. The organizers were lucky to "cram" the programme just into two days therefore quietness is reigning on the Masaryk Circuit today. Only scrutineering and admin checks have been done, and selected drivers, including Michal Matějovský attended the press conference.

Due to that, there is enough time left for taking into consideration technical matters, including the weather that has important role to play, too. "The weather forecast calls for occasional showers, which means changeable weather. However, the decisive factor is how much water will finally fall. I would prefer the dry, but I’m ready to put in a hundred-percent performance even on the wet track," says Michal, who is going to defend his leading position in Super 2000 TC2 class.

However, it is going to be extremely hard - and heavy. According to the FIA ETCC regulations he has been "awarded" fifty-kilo ballast he has to carry due to his top place. "It’s a piece of metal that is fixed on the passenger seat," explains Matějovský who does not trouble himself about that "passenger". "Since also my nearest rival, Peter Rikli has to carry the same ballast, therefore it’s not likely to affect our battle against each other."

The Křenek Motorsport team are busy with BMW 320si car final preparations, the car that a twenty-year-old pilot from the city of Hradec Králové will sit in and drive at speed of up to 230 kilometres per hour. "Proper transmission must be adjusted for this track; slight modifications have been made to chassis. Otherwise, it’s a good car. There isn’t too much to be improved, only dampers in case. No changes have been made to the engine or transmission, they are still the ones that engineers of the BMW sports department have originally designed," was the comment of the Josef Křenek team’s boss.

The ETCC programme on the Masaryk Circuit:

Saturday, 5^th September
09.10 – 10.10 a.m. Practice Session 1
11.30 – 12.30 a.m. Practice Session 2
02.45 – 03.15 p.m. Free Practice
05.00 – 05.30 p.m. Qualifying

Sunday, 6^th September
09.30 – 09.45 a.m. Warm-Up
12.00 – 12.25 p.m. Race 1
13.10 – 13.35 p.m. Race 2

Standings, Super 2000 TC2 category:
1^st Michal Matějovský (CZ, BMW 320si) 65 pts
2^nd Peter Rikli (CH, Honda Civic FD) 55 pts
3^rd Ibrahim Okyay (TR, BMW 320si) 34 pts, ...