ERC
Matulka: Post-Roma analysis helped push for first ERC podium
Jakub Matulka says “really working hard” following Rally di Roma Capitale helped him to his breakthrough FIA European Rally Championship podium on 82nd Rally Poland last month.
After retiring in Italy – and on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, the previous round – Matulka took time out to refocus ahead finishing a standout second overall on his home event.
“I was really working hard after Rome to analyse everything what went wrong, what went good, what can I do,” the 26-year-old ORLEN LOTTO Rally Team driver said. “Of course, these are the stages that I know and I like, but to keep up Teemu [Suninen], Miko [Marczyk] and Andrea [Mabellini] was really not easy.”
I was really working hard after Rome to analyse everything
Michelin-equipped Matulka continued: “It feels really amazing [to get my first podium]. We were really looking forward to this event and preparing very much. The preparation went well and after two bad rallies from us this was really important for me and will give us a big confidence boost.
“I’m really, really satisfied, the team did a great job, my partners and the fans because this was amazing. Without them I don’t think I would be so motivated and ready to push.
Daniel Dymurski (left) co-drove Matulka to his first ERC podium
© ERC
After finishing 9.7sec behind Suninen, Polish champion Matulka reckoned he could have been closer to the Finn, had it not been for his decision to run soft-compound tyres during the Saturday afternoon loop.
“Maybe if we went for the harder compound we could have been a bit closer,” he said. “It was really close but, from my side, [Teemu] was pretty untouchable. He was really consistent and very fast.”
Matulka will continue his ERC campaign on Barum Czech Rally Zlín from 14 - 16 August. He added: “We will try to keep up this pace and this feeling from [Poland] but, of course, it won’t be easy. I don’t have as much experience on the Barum Rally as I have [in Poland].”
