Seesaw
A sort of seesaw is the situation that Michal Matějovský, a racing driver, must have found himself in in Brno last weekend. He was going to win bronze there; everything was going on smoothly at the beginning. First, he and his team-mate, Petr Fulín, were moving at the top of pack during free practice sessions. Scheduled for Saturday was a timed practice session - Qualifying. Michal set the fastest time, his team-mate second best. Michal got three points for the first place in Q, so was losing just five points to his competitor, a Serb Borković, and would take the fourth place in overall classification.
The first trouble, however, came after the timed practice session ... While coming to pits, Michal found out he had to get his car weighted and measured in the middle of the Qualifying. This is what he had not done ... After the Stewards' consultation, the penalty was imposed: a shift backwards in the staring field, that means from Row1 to Row2. "It was my own fault. Unfortunately, I had failed to notice a Technical Delegate's signal, and underwent the weighting procedure after the Q, not immediately after finishing the fastest lap, which would have been the pole position. Finally, I paid for that by losing the first position on the start line in Race1 ... Everything could have worked out differently, however, I might have been concentrated much too hard on the time, to clock up as best time as possible in the Q, moreover I did not reckon that something like that might happen; it's fairly unusual ... Despite losing the pole position the important thing were those three points I'd got for setting the best time in Q, as didn't lose them," Michal Matějovský commented on the course of events during the timed practice session.
After a good start on Sunday, Michal was moving close behind Borković, but while having the second go at overtaking him he failed, and went off the track finishing in gravel trap, but would not be able to get back on the track. Therefore, he finished in the sixth place in overall. In Race2 he started from the last position. After a perfect, now standing start, he fought his way into the front, and after many battles he finished in the fifth place; the fifth place went to him also in overall standings!
Petr Fulín: "This season was first Michal took part in all FIA ETCC rounds. It's hard, I know it myself. When I finished in third place last year, I learnt valuable lessons, so did Michal. What's important is that the points he had gained enormously helped us as to overall standings, and thanks to his points we're both in the European TOP FIVE standings, and it helped us win the Cup in the Nations (FIA European Touring Car Nations' Cup 2013)."
Stanislav Matějovský: "I'd like to express my congratulations to Petr Fulín on his title, Champion of Europe, which he undoubtedly deserves; and also to thank Josef Křenek for the perfect team management, and mechanics for the car service. During all season the car wasn't withdrawn due to any technical problems; and it does do great credit ... Special thanks also go to our partner companies we try to present - as best as possible- at all racing circuits, and other events we've been organising."
Michal Matějovský: "Me too thank ´Fulda´ (his nickname for Petr Fulín) for the teamwork, and for giving me a hand with ´learning´ - for me new - BMW. I also want to express my thanks to the team boss, Mr. Křenek, for being helpful, and all-year friendly attitude to me. These thanks, naturally, go to our mechanics, and team's partners who secured, together with me, this year's series of the FIA ETCC."
