NEWS
Top 10 for I.S.R. Racing at the Hungaroring
Top 10 for I.S.R. Racing at the Hungaroring
The Czech crew of the I.S.R. Racing team consisting of Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota took ninth place in Sunday's International GT OPEN Championship race at the Hungaroring. Both team drivers went to the Hungaroring hoping to capitalise on their knowledge of the circuit. Friday's practice sessions confirmed that, as the Audi R8 GT3 of the Czech team was in all sessions at the sharp end of the timing list. For Saturday's qualifying, the weather had prepared a surprise, sunny skies were replaced by a strong thunderstorm and then a very wet track. "From the first corners I felt that the car was not working correctly, normally we are very strong in the wet, but this time it didn't turn at all," explained Salaquarda after setting 12th time in the PRO-AM class. The mechanics soon figured out the cause in the form of the differential and started their race with time to get the car ready for the race, as the entire gearbox had to be removed, and work was completed just minutes after pit lane exit was closed.
Top 10 for I.S.R. Racing at the Hungaroring The Czech crew of the I.S.R. Racing team consisting of Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota took ninth place in Sunday's International GT OPEN Championship race at the Hungaroring. Both team drivers went to the Hungaroring hoping to capitalise on their knowledge of the circuit. Friday's practice sessions confirmed that, as the Audi R8 GT3 of the Czech team was in all sessions at the sharp end of the timing list. For Saturday's qualifying, the weather had prepared a surprise, sunny skies were replaced by a strong thunderstorm and then a very wet track. "From the first corners I felt that the car was not working correctly, normally we are very strong in the wet, but this time it didn't turn at all," explained Salaquarda after setting 12th time in the PRO-AM class. The mechanics soon figured out the cause in the form of the differential and started their race with time to get the car ready for the race, as the entire gearbox had to be removed, and work was completed just minutes after pit lane exit was closed. Salaquarda was eventually able to start the race from pit lane and had many dramatic battles as he moved forward. "I put up a good fight today, even though it's hard to overtake here, I managed to move forward. However, just before the scheduled stop, the gearbox oil temperature light came on and we preferred to stop to avoid risk destroying it completely," added Salaquarda. Sunday morning started with the second qualifying session, which was disrupted by two red flags. Milota gradually improved his times, eventually resulting in a ninth-place finish in the PRO-AM class. He improved on that at the start and kept within sight of the top five. "I was quite happy with qualifying, I improved my personal best by more than half a second. The time could have been even better, in the best lap I caught a slower car in the last sector and lost a few tenths," Milota looked back. "I had a great start, got to the front and found a very good rhythm. I still improved in some sections of the track, especially the upper chicane and also the last sector. Together with Hockenheim, these were probably my two best stints this season." The driver change mid-race went without a problem, but that was not the case for the tyre change. The left front wheel nut couldn't be loosened and a spare tightening gun had to be used, which meant valuable seconds were lost. In addition, after finishing tyres, the exit was blocked by another car and the mechanics had to push the number 75 car back several metres. After the successful overtaking manoeuvres, Salaquarda moved up to 9th in the PRO-AM class. "I had a blocked exit, together with a wheel change it cost us about six or seven positions. The car behaved perfectly and I had a great race. There were a lot of battles and I tried to move forward as fast as possible without taking too many risks. I had a very good feeling behind the wheel, it was definitely our best weekend in terms of speed," Salaquarda assessed, with Milota adding. "It's good to be in the top 10, but we have higher goals. We have to grit our teeth and work hard, the reward will be that much sweeter." "The Hungaroring weekend is hard to swallow because in terms of speed it would be our best weekend yet and we were hoping for a better finish. On Saturday we were hit by technical problems with the gearbox, we suspect the cause and we will do our best to make sure it doesn't happen again. Libor did well in qualifying on Sunday and had a very good start. He drove fast and without mistakes and we were fighting for the top five. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the left front wheel loosening during the stop, which cost us valuable seconds. Filip was making strong progress against his rivals and we got at least into the top ten. However, this is bittersweet result, looking at the lap times we could have fought for the podium," said Igor Salaquarda, the team boss. "The weekend is done and we can’t change it, we can only prepare as best as possible for France. The Paul Ricard circuit will be challenging, it will be a new track for Libor and we can expect very high temperatures in July, so the track will be quite slippery." The next International GT OPEN Championship race weekend is scheduled for July 20-21 at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France.
Belgium round did not bring points to the Czech team
Belgium round did not bring points to the Czech team
The Belgian circuit Spa-Franchorchamps hosted the third round of the International GT OPEN championship, the Czech crew of Filip Salaquarda, Libor Milota started the first endurance race with the Audi R8 GT3 from sixth place. The race ended prematurely for the I.S.R. Racing team, who had to retire with a damaged car before halfway through the race.
Belgium round did not bring points to the Czech team The Belgian circuit Spa-Franchorchamps hosted the third round of the International GT OPEN championship, the Czech crew of Filip Salaquarda, Libor Milota started the first endurance race with the Audi R8 GT3 from sixth place. The race ended prematurely for the I.S.R. Racing team, who had to retire with a damaged car before halfway through the race. The Ardennes circuit is not only famous for its beautiful track, but also for its unpredictable weather. And so it was during the International GT OPEN race weekend, where the first endurance race of the season awaited the competitors. Friday's tests were accompanied by showers, which made it very difficult to work on the set-up of the car, and it was a completely new track for Milota. The starting order was decided by two qualifying sessions, the total of the times of both drivers. Milota entered the first qualifying session and took 10th place in the PRO-AM class on a dry track. In the second qualifying, Salaquarda set the 9th time in class and the result was a very promising 6th place in the PRO-AM class on aggregate times. Sunday's race welcomed the players with a dry track, the riders were facing their first endurance race of the season at 500 km or two hours and 40 minutes plus one lap. The start was not a happy one for the Czech crew, with several cars colliding at the front of the field, two of which were left stationary at the exit of the La Source corner, and further contact was made in an attempt to avoid the stationary cars. One of these involved Milota, who had the wall on one side and the car of one of his rivals on the other. The Audi R8 GT3 sustained some damage on contact, but the Czech driver continued on and gradually got within sight of the top ten in the class. "Despite the changeable weather, the weekend went well. The start was very hectic, there was a collision and maybe I should have been a bit more restrained given the length of the race and allowed myself more space in front of me. I tried to move forward, but unfortunately there were a few minor contacts," Milota sums up and adds. "The car lost downforce on the front axle and there was a risk of serious damage to the radiator, which would have terminally damaged engine. Filip tried, but it didn't make sense. These moments are also part of racing, it's a new series for me, new circuits and we are constantly learning and the important thing is to persevere and learn. I'm even more sorry because it was on a beautiful and challenging circuit." Salaquarda returned to the track after the first mandatory stop on the verge of a top ten class finish, but the race was soon over for him. "As soon as we came out of the pits it was obvious that the car was not working well, we were losing a lot of time with the damage. After a few laps I pitted and after inspection it was clear that the race was over for us. The repair didn't make sense and without it we had no chance of a result and instead risked damaging the engine," says Salaquarda. "There's no point in thinking what if, there are more races to come. The next stop is the Hungaroring, which we both know well from the ESET Cup race, which should help us a bit as we will be able to concentrate on the car." It's been a busy weekend for team boss Igor Salaquarda. "Our opponents knew the circuit from last time, Libor was here for the first time, we were on Michelin tyres for the first time and the changeable weather from practice made learning and tuning the car difficult. Nevertheless, we had a promising starting position for the race and considering its length, Libor could have been more careful at the start, on the other hand, everything was triggered by a collision of PRO drivers at the front of the starting field. It is what it is, it is still about gaining experience. We are not even halfway through the season yet and we are facing tracks that both riders know, which could help us to break the bad luck," said the head of the Prague based team. The International GT OPEN championship continues in Hungary at the Hungaroring circuit, where the classic two-race system will take place on 22-23 June.
Salaquarda and Milota in fight for the podium at Hockenheim
Salaquarda and Milota in fight for the podium at Hockenheim
Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota, driving the Audi R8 GT3 in the colors of the Czech team I.S.R. Racing, were fighting for the podium in the second round of the International GT OPEN. Unfortunately, a collision during the battle for third place ended their promising race.
Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota, driving the Audi R8 GT3 in the colors of the Czech team I.S.R. Racing, were fighting for the podium in the second round of the International GT OPEN. Unfortunately, a collision during the battle for third place ended their promising race. The second race weekend of the International GT OPEN championship took place at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany. I.S.R. Racing had a strong start during Friday’s practice sessions, with Salaquarda and Milota securing third and second positions in the PRO-AM class, respectively. Milota also performed well in the practice session reserved for AM drivers, finishing fourth. Saturday’s program began with the qualifying session. Salaquarda represented the Czech team and secured fifth place in the PRO-AM class. He held a promising position during the race, and thanks to a good strategy, a podium opportunity was within reach. “Qualifying was decent; it could have been even better, but unfortunately, I encountered slower cars during what could have been a faster lap,” said Salaquarda. “In the race, the car performed exceptionally well, and our well-timed pit stops helped us move up the order.” Milota continued the strong performance, battling for third place. However, with only 17 minutes remaining in the race, a collision occurred between the two rivals. The American driver, Hash, returned after a collision with another car unexpectedly to the racing line and hit the Czech driver’s right rear, resulting in a crash into the barriers. Milota expressed his disappointment: “Until that unfortunate moment, I had a very good feeling in the race. We were fast in practice, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. Unfortunately, the collision changed our fortunes.” The I.S.R. Racing mechanics worked tirelessly late into the night to repair the damaged rear of the Audi R8 GT3. Fortunately, the white car, number 75, was ready for qualifying the next morning. This time, Milota took the wheel and secured the 14th position in the PRO-AM class. During his stint, Milota managed to move within sight of the top ten. “I approached qualifying more cautiously, considering the late-night repairs. In the race, I found a good rhythm and moved our car forward, aiming for valuable points,” explained Milota. Reflecting on the entire weekend, he added, “Despite not scoring points, I’m pleased with our improved performance. We’ve fine-tuned some aspects and strategy, our pit stops worked out.” Salaquarda, after all cars completed their stops, found himself in the tenth place in the PRO-AM class. He was part of a group of fiercely competitive cars vying for sixth place, with minimal gaps. “After the pit stop, I rejoined the race among closely matched competitors. Overtaking at Hockenheim is challenging, which has its pros and cons. Unfortunately, brake issues arose later in the race, forcing me to pump the brake pedal and brake earlier. The car became nervous at the rear as well, and ultimately, I had to retire,” said Salaquarda. Looking ahead, he emphasized, “We need to put this behind us, forget about the bad luck, and focus on the upcoming race at Spa. It’s probably the toughest race of the season, but we’re determined to break the jinx.” “In terms of speed, we made significant progress compared to Portimao. Our pit stops were also fine-tuned, which is a definite improvement. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side in both races. Despite that, the podium was within reach on Saturday until Libor was spun by one of his competitors.” "It was a weekend of two faces. In terms of speed we managed to move even further to the front comparing to Portimao, we also tweaked the pit stops, so that's a definite improvement. Unfortunately our luck wasn't on our side at all in both races, the podium was within reach on Saturday, Libor was spun by one of his rivals who was ruthless after his previous collision and returned to the racing line. We worked late into the night to repair the car. In the second race we were fighting for points, but unfortunately technical problems appeared and we had to retire," said Igor Salaquarda, the team boss. "The next race is in two weeks, so we have to prepare the car quickly. Spa-Francorchamps will be another tough weekend for us, with only one endurance race. It will be another new track for Libor, the circuit is challenging, but hopefully we will have some racing luck." The International GT OPEN Championship continues on 24-26 May at the famous Belgian circuit of Spa-Francorchamps with notorious unpredictable weather. The challenging track, featuring the legendary Eau Rouge corner, measures over 7 kilometres and for the first time drivers will have to cope with an endurance format weekend. Instead of two races of 70 and 60 minutes, they will have a single 500km endurance race, with a maximum time of 2 hours and 45 minutes plus 1 lap.
Salaquarda and Milota fought for the top ten in Portugal
Salaquarda and Milota fought for the top ten in Portugal
Prague, April 24, 2024 - The Czech crew of Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota in the Audi R8 GT3 of the I.S.R. Racing team entered this season of the International GT OPEN championship with 10th and 11th places in the PRO-AM class. They are 13th in the standings, with the next race being hosted by Hockenheim in Germany on the second weekend of May.
Prague, April 24, 2024 - The Czech crew of Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota in the Audi R8 GT3 of the I.S.R. Racing team entered this season of the International GT OPEN championship with 10th and 11th places in the PRO-AM class. They are 13th in the standings, with the next race being hosted by Hockenheim in Germany on the second weekend of May. The Portuguese Algarve hosted the first round of this year's International GT OPEN championship and the starting field also included Czech crew of of Filip Salaquarda, Libor Milota starting in the Audi R8 GT3 of the I.S.R Racing team. There were 35 crews entered in Portugal, the strongest with 20 cars was the PRO-AM class, where the Czech crew also starts. The first tests were held on Thursday, followed by official practice sessions on Friday. On the first day, the Czech team had to solve solve a small problem with the gearbox and missed the second part of the runs. On Friday, the car was running without a glitch, however, the main role was played by the Portuguese weather, which brought rain showers complicating the learning of the circuit, with which none of the drivers had much experience, and the adjustment of the car to the specific track. Salaquarda qualified the car on Saturday and got the 7th pace on the grid in the PRO-AM class. He improved this a little more in the very first metres, but despite his best efforts there was no further overtaking until the mandatory stop. "I felt good in the wet qualifying, unfortunately the red flags fell early. I got a good start, then tried to get further ahead but my opponent made no mistake and overtaking is difficult in Potimao," Salaquarda assessed Saturday's session from his position. The driver changeover at the pit stop itself was uneventful, the only issue occurring with a too-early exit under minimum pit time. "We practiced the changeover a lot to fit the time limit. We were too quick on the pitstop and I missed the timing display on the exit. It's a shame because I had a good feeling behind the wheed," regretted Milota. In the final standings, the Czech crew with the number 75 finished 10th in the PRO-AM category. Milota entered Sunday's battle for starting position and on a dry track he took 9th place in the PRO-AM class , which was a very good start point. "I had a very good feeling from qualifying and I was confident going into the race. The start was strange, one of the riders at the front jumped the start and there was a bit of chaos in which I was maybe a bit too cautious. I enjoyed the rest of the stint, there are some good battles and the racing is very sharp," said Milota, adding: "It confirmed my expectations that the starting field is really tight and the differences are minimal. It's real racing, where small details make the difference. Unfortunately, we couldn't take advantage of both Thursday tests, and were playing catch up for the rest of the weekend. I'm pleased with the cooperation with Filip and how the team is working, we're constantly pushing ourselves. We can see that even in tough competition we have good speed and if we put everything together we can fight for the podium." Salaquarda moved forward after exiting the pits, but soon the safety car was called on the track. Even after the restart, the race didn't last long and the yellow phase came out again. "The safety car didn't help us, the starting field came together, but even after the restart the race didn't last long. It's a shame because the car was working perfectly and there was a chance to move into the points," summed up Salaquarda, who brought the car to 11th in the PRO-AM class. "I was hoping for a better result, the speed was there but we couldn't put the weekend together, even on Sunday we had a pitstop four tenths quicker than the minimum limit. We know what we need to work on and we are looking forward to Hockenheim." "We knew we were going into a very competitive championship with even more competitors compared to last year, especially in our PRO-AM class. There are a lot of fast pros here, and a lot of the AM category riders are also very fast, many of them with years of experience on the international scene," said team boss Igor Salaquarda, who has over three decades experience on the race tracks. "I won't disguise the fact that in terms of results we were hoping for more, in the end the speed was there, but unfortunately we couldn't put the whole weekend together and that's unforgivable in such a competitive field. Minor gearbox issues cost us valuable kilometres with car set-up including the logger for the pitstop time, the changeable weather didn't help either. However, the conditions are the same for everyone and the speed and behaviour of the car gives us hope for the next races. We know Hockenheim fairly well, having raced there in an Audi R8 GT3 in previous years, unlike the Algarve, so it will be a little easier in the build-up. The important thing is that the team is motivated, Libor has adapted very well and we want to show everything in three weeks in Germany." The next race weekend awaits the International GT OPEN participants on 11-12 May at the Hockenheimring in Germany, which is easily accessible for Czech fans as it is less than four hours drive from the Czech border. Full results, livetiming and a link to live streams and race recordings are available at www.gtopen.net
Ready for the start of the GT OPEN season
Ready for the start of the GT OPEN season
After last year's triumph in the ESET Cup, the I.S.R. Racing team has chosen to enter the International GT OPEN championship, one of the prestigious series for the GT3 specification cars. The Czech team will rely on proven technology in the form of the Audi R8 GT3, with Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota sharing the wheel in the PRO-AM class.
After last year's triumph in the ESET Cup, the I.S.R. Racing team has chosen to enter the International GT OPEN championship, one of the prestigious series for the GT3 specification cars. The Czech team will rely on proven technology in the form of the Audi R8 GT3, with Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota sharing the wheel in the PRO-AM class. After last year's successful campaign through the FIA's Central European Zone in the ESET Cup, the I.S.R. Racing team has decided to switch to the heavily contested European series International GT OPEN, which is exclusively for the GT3 specification cars and visits well known circuits that host or have hosted Formula 1 races. The driver line-up is made up of the top two drivers in the ESET Cup standings and last year's rivals Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota, who will fight for laurels together in the PRO-AM class. While Salaquarda has many years of experience with the Audi R8 GT3 on the European scene, for Milota it is a car with a completely different concept to his previous outfit. In recent years, he has been behind the wheel of a car with the engine in the front, while the Audi R8 GT3 has a mid-mounted engine and with that comes a different behaviour of the car. Testing took place at the Slovakiaring in the autumn, and during the winter both drivers not only devoted themselves to physical preparation, but also completed a number of test kilometres on the team simulator. Meanwhile, the team's technicians carried out a complete overhaul of the car to make it ready for the demanding season. Official testing took place at the Catalunya circuit near Barcelona before the season starts properly at the end of April in the Portuguese Algarve. The weather was kind to the participants, with sunny skies ensuring good conditions on both days. For Milota, it was his first time driving on the Catalan circuit and his aim was to transfer as much knowledge from the simulator to the real thing as possible. Together with Salaquarda, they also worked on setting up the car not only for this track, but also on gaining as much experience as possible with Michelin tyres, which is the exclusive supplier for this championship. Filip Salaquarda: "It's going to be a very interesting season, I'm looking forward to the great European tracks. Libor and I have trained a lot together over the winter, both physically and on the simulator. Of course, there is no substitute for sitting in the car, but you know what to expect and what to focus on. Barcelona is specific for testing because the track slows down as the temperature rises during the day, so you can't really look at the times. There are new Michelin tyre specifications in the GT OPEN and we tried to tune the car to them as best as possible. It's important to keep the car consistent throughout the stint and I think we've done that." Libor Milota: ”I knew that the Audi R8 GT3 requires a different driving style, with a lighter front end and tremendous corner exit traction. The steering is a little more demanding in terms of precision, but can reward with great agility thanks to its compact dimensions. The three circuits - Spa-Francorchamps, Hockenheimring and Monza - will be completely new to me and so far I've only had simulator experience with them, hopefully we can plan some pre-race testing. I already had a taste of the International GT OPEN at the Hungaroring last year and I know it's good racing, very evenly matched and the details are crucial." Igor Salaquarda, Team Principal: "We are looking forward to the new season and I believe that we will be fighting at the sharp end even in a strong competition. In testing, we focused mainly on setting up the car for the new tyre specification and also tried to give Libor as much time as possible to get used to the Audi R8 GT3. Of course, we still need to fine-tune a few more details, but we are happy with the car's handling. We still have time to go through the data and prepare ourselves as best we can for the real start of the season. The competition is strong in these races and we would like to fight at the front of our class. Deciding factors will be not only the performance of the drivers on the track, but also the strategy and speed of the pit changes." About the International GT OPEN Championship Entering its 19th season in 2024, over the years it has developed into a prestigious and strong series for GT3 specification cars, driver line-ups can be classified into PRO, PRO-AM and AM classes depending on driver categorisation. For this season, the organisers have prepared a calendar of eight race weekends at prestigious European tracks. The three-day format includes, with the exception of Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, free practice sessions on Fridays, one of which is exclusively for riders in the bronze category, i.e. with AM status. The weekend then features qualifying and a follow-up race each day, with a 70-minute session on Saturday and a 60-minute session on Sunday. At Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, there is a single 500km endurance race, but with a maximum of 2 hours and 20 minutes plus one lap. Calendar of International GT OPEN races 26-28 April Portimao - Portugal, 13-15 May Hockenheimring - Germany, 24-26 May Spa-Francorchamps - Belgium, 21-23 June Hungaroring - Hungary, 19-21 July Paul Ricard - France, 13-15 September Red Bull Ring - Austria, 27-29 September Barcelona - Spain, 18-20 October Monza - Italy,
Preparation for the International GT Open has begun. ISR tested at the Slovakia Ring
Preparation for the International GT Open has begun. ISR tested at the Slovakia Ring
After clinching victory in the ESET Cup, the ISR Racing team is now setting its sights on the International GT Open. The ISR stable recently embarked on a journey to Slovakia Ring, where they conducted a two-day testing session, featuring the participation of both Filip Salaquarda and the team's new addition, Libor Milota, behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3.
After clinching victory in the ESET Cup, the ISR Racing team is now setting its sights on the International GT Open. The ISR stable recently embarked on a journey to Slovakia Ring, where they conducted a two-day testing session, featuring the participation of both Filip Salaquarda and the team's new addition, Libor Milota, behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3. During this testing period, it was Libor Milota who spent the majority of the time behind the wheel on Tuesday and Wednesday. The primary objective was to familiarize himself with the new vehicle, as Milota had been driving a Mercedes AMG GT3 for the past few seasons. In 2022, he achieved his greatest success, becoming the ESET Cup champion in both the GT3 sprint and endurance categories. "We trained diligently, completing around a hundred laps. Our main focus was on collecting data, and I aimed to understand how the car works. I didn't pay too much attention to lap times; instead, I wanted to grasp the nuances of the vehicle. It's essential to take things one step at a time," Milota explained about his testing program. He also acknowledged that transitioning to the Audi was a significant change: "Audi surprised me a lot. It's quite different and very sensitive. It has a light front axle and behaves more like a single-seater car. When I hit my first stint, it was quite a shock for me," he admitted. Nevertheless, Milota had a positive outlook on his first experience with the new car: "We made a lot of adjustments to the setup to make it work better for me. There's still plenty of work ahead, but I see tremendous potential in it. The team can handle the car with incredible precision. I'm thrilled about it. Whatever I ask for, I get from the team, which I really appreciate. The cooperation is excellent," he praised. Mechanics Under Pressure The preparation for the upcoming season in the International GT Open was not limited to the drivers alone. The mechanics also put in their fair share of hard work during the testing sessions. They will face more significant pressure in the International GT Open compared to the ESET Cup. "In the International GT Open, the minimum pit stop time is significantly lower. Watching this year's races, I saw that you can lose a lot of time with a longer pit stop. So, it's essential not to underestimate this aspect, and especially on Wednesday, we focused a lot on it," explained Filip Salaquarda. The reigning ESET Cup champion spent minimal time behind the wheel in Slovakia. At the beginning of the tests, he completed a few reference laps to set a benchmark for Libor Milota and to verify that the car was in proper condition. However, the team's primary focus was on Milota, whose performance impressed Salaquarda. "It was good. Libor improved with every lap. It's evident that he wants to progress and listens to our advice and feedback," Salaquarda praised his new teammate. The Slovakian test marked the final opportunity this year to witness the ISR Racing team on the racetrack. Now, the team's preparations will shift to the workshop, where they will work on the car. The team will return to the track in March for the official pre-season tests in Barcelona. Both Salaquarda and Milota are not entirely new to the International GT Open. The former made an appearance in 2013 with the Italian team AF Corse, while Milota had his debut earlier this year in June at Hungaroring.
