Testing begins after the winter break. The Carpek Service team was among the first to arrive

After February's track modifications, testing is starting again at the Most Autodrom and the racing teams are getting ready for the season. Among the first was the Mělník-based Carpek Service team, which completed the first day of testing before the 2024 season on Friday. Not only new reinforcements David Dziwok and Filip Bartoš were in action, but also the team boss Tomáš Pekař. In addition to the Clio, he also got into the Cupra Leon Competicón TCR, which Petr Čížek lent him.

"It was great. We booked the track and invited some of our friends. There were about 10 cars on the track, which is not a big number. In addition, the weather was also kind to us. It was a bit cold in the morning, but otherwise the sun was shining. So it was ideal conditions for testing," Pekař describes his team's first day on the race track this year.

The three-time champion of the Clio Cup Central Europe series spent the day mainly driving his fifth-generation Renault Clio, with which he wants to attack another title in the ESET Cup series (2-4/08, Autodrom Most) this year and also complete selected events in the prestigious Clio Cup Series.

"The main goal was to get back into the rhythm after the winter break and set consistently fast times. That's what we focused a lot on. We tried to simulate racing conditions as much as possible. This meant that we went on about thirty-minute runs and during them we tried not only to squeeze the most out of the car and set the fastest times possible, but also to make as few mistakes as possible. We had telemetry and video available and based on that we tried various things," he explains his test program.

At the same time, Pekař went back in time. After a long time, he drove the fourth-generation Clio, with which he had achieved a lot of success in the past. "I needed to check if everything was working after the winter maintenance. The four is a little faster than the five, so it took me a few laps to adapt to it again. The behavior of this car is different. I've been driving it for a long time, so I'm already used to it," he admits.

However, the rider from Mělník did not only polish his own form. He also focused on David Dziwok and Filip Bartoš. These two talented youngsters will be regular participants in the ESET Cup this year along with Pekař.

"I rode in the car with both of them, as driver and passenger. We communicated via intercom and were able to discuss the ride directly on the track. During breaks, we then focused on video and telemetry. This is how we pushed each other forward," says Pekař, who was delighted with both of his charges.

"I'm satisfied with them. They both listen to what we tell them and behave well towards the whole team. Their dads were there for everything, and they only supported this good atmosphere. It's important when there's a positive mood and correct relationships in the team. Something like that only adds to your appetite for racing," he says.

Five laps with TCR

On Friday, Tomáš Pekař wasn't just racing around the Most Autodrom in Renault Clio cars. He was also able to test the Cupra Leon Competición TCR for five laps. Petr Čížek made it possible for him. The participant in the TCR Eastern Europe series, who took part in the test with his team EXPRES AUTO, gave Pekař a ride for his recent 40th birthday.

"It's always nice to ride in a TCR car, so I was happy to get back in it after a long time. Thank you Petr for the nice gift," he said, pleased by Čížek's gesture.

Let us remind you that TCR races are not a foreign environment for Pekar. In 2019 and 2021, we could see him in TCR Eastern Europe, first with Renault Mégane and then with the older generation Cupra Leon. He shone the most in the 2021 season, in which he won the title of vice-champion. He scored a total of five victories, with which he still holds third place in the all-time standings, which he shares with Maťa Homola. Only Serbs Dušan Borković (8) and Milovan Vesnić (6) are ahead of this pair. Petr Čížek is also a familiar face in the Carpek Service team. In 2017, he competed in the ESET Cup and Clio Cup Central Europe series with a car borrowed from the Mělník team.

The Carpek Service team's preparations for the new season do not end here: "On Tuesday, March 19, we will test again in Most. If, for example, someone from the ESET Cup is interested, they can join us again," concludes Pekař.

text+photo: Carpek Service, ADM