Matějovský fared very well in the qualifying at Adria |
- 27. 10. 2007, Adria, Italy -The O2 MOTORSPORT team were pretty busy at the pits before the qualifying for the FIA ETCC races at Adria, Italy. 'We were working at night to repair the engine, that is, a new camshaft had to be fitted. However, we managed well,' the team's general manager, Stanislav Matějovský, explained in the morning. At half past eight, Michal Matějovský set off for the first free practice session. Despite the fact that the weather was improving and the rain gradually stopped, the practice was held as a wet practice session, and the times achieved corresponded to these conditions. For the second free practice, Michal's car was fitted with tyres for dry conditions. He set out shortly before noon, and ranked 12th, by clocking a time of 1:31.029, only 3.326 seconds behind Nykjaer, of Denmark, with a Seat, who was in the lead. A similar situation occurred in the important afternoon qualifying session, which was to determine the order on the starting grid of the first Cup race on Sunday. Naturally, the drivers accelerated. Matějovský set an excellent time of 1:23.878, only 1.808 seconds behind the leading driver (!), and took the very good 13th spot of the grid, among 37 drivers who took part in the qualifying session in the end. He achieved this fine result despite the fact that his car is somewhat out of date (the 2003/2004 model), though comparable, in terms of horse power, with the cars leading the field. 'I am satisfied with the course of the qualifying. It was shortly after the change of tyres that I managed to set the fastest lap time. In the face of great competition of drivers of whom many - for example, Engstrom, of Sweden, with a Honda Accord Euro R, Ceresoli, of Italy, with a SEAT Leon, O´Brien, of Ireland, with a BMW 320si, etc. - take part in this year of the FIA WTCC, I succeeded in achieving a comparable lap time, even with a somewhat old car. I would like to thank the mechanics and the whole team for their efforts in preparing the car for the qualifying and I hope that I will make a good start tomorrow and that I will manage the two Cup races,' said Michal Matějovský, satisfied after the qualifying. Sunday's program will begin with a short warm-up, at 9.15, and then, the two 19-lap Cup races follow (one lap at the Adria circuit equals 2.702 km); the first race will be started at 12.35, the second one, at 15.35. |
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