Blog
Slovakian driver Maťo Homola from the Hyundai Janík Motorsport team clinched his second title in the TCR Eastern Europe after leading from the very first weekend of the season, though the title wasn’t secured until the final chequered flag of the year.
This year’s competition seemed much harder than last year, don’t you think?
Yes, it was much tougher this year. I had strong competitors—my teammate Adam Kout and Attila Bucci. I had to stay really consistent and fast throughout all the weekends. Before the last weekend at Salzburgring, I knew I had a comfortable lead, so I was a bit conservative in both races. But I managed it, and I’m really happy, not just for me, but for the whole team, my partners, and my family. I really want to thank everyone.
How do you approach racing when you’re fighting for the title against your teammate? Is it different?
It is a little different, yeah. We take care of each other on the track. In the last race, I saw that he was willing to risk it all, but I wasn’t in the same position. So I was really cautious with every other driver and every possible overtake. But we know each other really well, and we’re friends. I’m glad that throughout both seasons, we didn’t have any major clashes—maybe just a small one here and there, but nothing serious. I think it shows a lot about our personalities and our behavior behind the wheel.
You mentioned that this year was harder than last. What made it more challenging?
Last year, I had the championship secured by the penultimate round, but this year it went down to the last race, which made it a bit nerve-wracking. Still, I think my approach was the same: I aimed for consistency, tried to win in qualifying, and performed well in the Saturday races—I won five out of six. For the reverse grid, I was always very cautious with overtakes. Maybe I was too cautious compared to last year or previous seasons, but in the end, the approach worked out.
Was the Salzburgring a good choice for the season finale? Do you like the track?
Maťo Homola: Oh yeah, I really like this track. The last time I raced here was in 2017, so it had been a few years. I love the atmosphere and the nature surrounding this historic track. It’s pretty cool. There aren’t many corners, but the ones that are there are really fast. It was a great place for the finale. You need to be brave to be fast here, and it was fun. I think it’s a better finale location than, say, Brno. These kinds of more aggressive tracks are for brave drivers.
What about next season? Can you share any information?
I can’t really say much because I honestly don’t know. We’ll have to see what happens next year—what the possibilities are. But I’m just really glad to have finished this season the way I did. To be a double champion of TCR Eastern Europe is pretty cool. Thank you again, and thanks for the congratulations.
