ETCC Brno Is Not Just Racing Cars
The FIA European Touring Car Cup round taking place in Brno is one out of six ones this European championship consists of. Racing drivers have entered four events so far. Besides Brno, also Hungary (Hungaroring, 3rd May), Slovakia (Slovakia Ring, 21st June) and France (Paul Ricard Circuit, 28th June) hosted the FIA ETCC events. Drivers are just about to take part in the racing weekend in Zolder, Belgium (20th Septemeber); the final one will be at Pergusa, Sicily (11th October). However, home fans consider the last FIA ETCC round on the Masaryk Circuit in Brno to be peak of the season; it did give them a good deal of breathtaking views and enjoyment last week...
"Any home event is a sort of landmark for us; well, it hasn't differed anyhow this year as well, what is more, the Czech circuit hosted the event after a two-year break. All rounds of the FIA ETCC took place beyond the Czech Republic last year, so we could meet most of our fans no earlier than now, that's after two years. Therefore, the team had devoted more attention to preparing their facilities or spectacles. I really am feeling happy about over three hundred motorsports fans who came to our facilities to support us, and who could watch racing along with thousands of spectators either from the terraces or on TV in VIP boxes. I believe they all enjoyed themselves. I'm glad the round in Brno was a success, so, I could express in a certain way my gratitude to fans for coming and supporting us," said Michal Matějovský after the races in Brno.
Options the team's guests were offered in Brno were not limited. Three spacious VIP lounge rooms boasting lovely view of the racing track and equipped with a great deal of TV sets were available for them, so they could watch events on the racing track, and see the running standings provided from the control office. All races were commentated on by a local commentator, whose report was added by Martin Pouva, a TV Nova presenter. There were many hostesses and a catering company to help provide guests with comfort.
The company Stratos Auto spol. s.r.o. helped arrange for the team's guests a display of cars Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and a new BMW, BMW i8. Also visitors got opportunity to get familiar with them or take a ride along the racing track. árka Strakoová, the director of the Stratos Auto, sat behind steering wheel of the BMW i8 within taxi rides, whereas the Chevrolet Camaro was driven by Michal Matějovský. Both drivers of the ČESKOSLOVENSKÝ MOTORSPORT, Michal Matějovský and Jiří Forman, gave many interviews during the racing weekend, and took part in the press conferences or gave autograph sessions.
A koda Octavia, the car intended for an Octavia cup contest, which is being in hand for next year, was presented in the exhibition area behind pits. The contest is expected to consist of five or six racing events including two races each, and to take place in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, or neighbouring countries. A racing calendar will be published no later than at the end of 2015, after the negotiations that are being conducted at the moment.
Invited by the Křenek Motorsport team, whose car was Michal Matějovský driving in Brno, also children from a local home visited the team's facilities on Saturday, 5th September. They could watch the race but also go to the headquarters to get acquainted with the management of that international event. Besides, the children went to car show pits that are run by Mr. Mičánek there.
Apart from his racing duties, Michal Matějovský managed to go in one kart race. "It was about pitting strength against the best amateurs who had been practising on the karting track in Brno for a year. It was me and Petr Fulín who took part in that race, and to be honest, those young promising drivers were giving us a hard time during the ten-minute race... Nevertheless, I finally won; but I feel happy about those young boys, they were good, indeed..." was Michal Matějovský's comment on the race.
The visitors to Michal Matějovský and Jiří Forman's team facilities had been provided with a rich programme for both days, which accompanied the events on the track. Both drivers' results prove they are among the top European drivers in their categories, so all guests were leaving Brno feeling satisfied.
