Petr Fulín’s debut with the Audi LMS GT3 at the Most circuit was a resounding success. The touring car champion recently acquired a Gran Turismo special and made his first appearance with it in the ESET Cup at his home event.
Fulín demonstrated that he’s well-suited to the new machine. He was the fastest in both qualifying sessions in the GT3 category, which paved the way for a double victory in the sprints. It’s worth noting that he showed great foresight at the starts, particularly in the first race, where he managed to avoid a collision in the first corner.
“It was a moment I’ve experienced several times before,” Fulín described the incident where three cars collided during braking into the chicane. “You have to assess the risk and make a split-second decision. I decided to stay on the outside while cars were flying past me. Had I gone to the inside, we might have picked up some damage, which we certainly didn’t want on our debut,” said Fulín.
After the race restart, Fulín maintained his lead and secured a victory on his debut. On Sunday, he added a second triumph, being the fastest not just in the GT3 category but also overall. Starting from pole position, he was the first to see the chequered flag.
“Even though we approached the weekend as a test, I’m glad we managed to win. We’ve shown ourselves in the races, and we know the GT3 works well. We plan to compete at Slovakia Ring and Brno, and then we’ll decide over the winter how to move forward,” added Fulín, who is transitioning from touring cars to sports cars.
“I thought that if I wanted to enjoy another great car, I should choose a GT. Of course, it was a big dilemma for me to leave touring cars and move to something else, but I’m glad I did. The car is fantastic, and I’m really enjoying it.”
Petr Fulín drove the Audi LMS GT3 in both sprints, but for the hour-long endurance race, he handed the car over to his son, Petr Fulín Jr., and Jiří Navrátil. Their debut behind the wheel of the GT3 was also successful, finishing second in their category.