Best rookie Matěj Pavlíček

Best rookie Matěj Pavlíček

Matěj Pavlíček from RTR Projects team was one of the biggest surprises of last season. The 19-year-old driver became dominant GT4 sprint winner with the KTM X-Bow GT4. He won eight races in his debut season and decided about his championship even in the penultimate round at Slovakiaring. He also won GT4 class in endurance championship. His teammates were Erik Janiš and Tomáš Enge in Poznan.

Why did you start your circuit career in the Eset Cup Series?
My father, who has known Tomáš Miniberger, the owner of the RTR Projects team, helped me with this decision. We listened him carefully. According to him, the Eset Cup Series is the best school for my entry into car racing. And as it turns out, he was right. I can only agree that it is a suitable championship on first-rate circuits and it´s for drivers who have experience in karting.

Did you set a goal before the start of the season?
No, I did my last go-kart race in 2018. Then came health problems and the break lasted until 2021. We arranged the start in RTR team at the last minute, so I didn’t think about any ambitions. I knew that I would mainly learn and gain experience. The excellent atmosphere in the team and also the perfectly prepared KTM X-Bow GT4 helped me. Of course, I am maximally satisfied with the results, but I don´t think about it much.

How did you work with experienced racers Erik Janiš and Tomáš Enge?
The cooperation was excellent because they are great people and great professionals. They have a lot of experiences and they gave me a lot and moved me forward. Although each in a slightly different way. Erik and I focused more on telemetry. Tomas carefully watched my onboards and then stopped at every detail. Their driving style is also different, so even car setup was different. Tomáš is more aggressive. But both ways suited me and I quickly got used to it.

What are your plans for next season?
We have agreed on further cooperation with the RTR Projects team and will focus on the German ADAC GT4 Championship. I would be happy to also race again in Eset Cup as well.