The Brno-based team last raced in Misano six years ago, but this will be their debut on the circuit with the latest generation of GTX-GT2 cars. Both the team and Erik Janiš will face a learning curve as neither has prior experience on the track with these cars. Janiš, a seasoned racer, is stepping in for Maťo Homola, who partnered with Krabec for the team’s victories at Paul Ricard.
“Maťo has other racing commitments, and from the start of the season, we planned to rotate professional drivers alongside Jan as needed. This allows us to provide more drivers with experience in GT2 while also gathering valuable data and references for the car,” explained RTR Projects Executive Director Tomáš Fanta.
After securing a first and third place finish at Paul Ricard, RTR’s KTM X-BOW GT2 faces tougher conditions this weekend.
“Coming off Paul Ricard, we’re on everyone’s radar—nobody’s going to give us an inch,” said Jan Krabec, the reigning 2023 European AM champion, who currently leads the PRO-AM standings by four points. Additionally, the team will contend with a ten-second success penalty in the first race as a result of their Paul Ricard victory.
“We need to focus on scoring points, working smart, and maximizing our performance in the second race,” Krabec added.
Fanta echoed Krabec’s sentiments.
“We’ll be under pressure from the competition. Misano is a challenging and narrow circuit, we’re carrying a success penalty, and changing weather is likely,” the team principal outlined, highlighting the key challenges for the fastest team in the championship thus far.
Erik Janiš rejoins RTR Projects after a one-year break, during which he worked as a race engineer for Rowe Racing, a team that shares its calendar with the GT2 European Series. Janiš had previously tested the KTM X-BOW with RTR during preseason testing in Spain.
“I’ve been following the team closely and even celebrated their first victory of the season at Paul Ricard. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and deeply value the trust they’ve placed in me,” Janiš remarked.
Despite his extensive racing experience, Janiš acknowledged that stepping back into the driver’s seat for a full race weekend presents unique challenges.
“My job is to help Jan Krabec get the car as far up the field as possible and score valuable championship points. Whether we land on the podium or just outside will depend on what we learn in practice,” Janiš concluded.
The second round of the Fanatec GT2 European Series takes place at the Marco Simoncelli Circuit in Misano from May 17–19, with races scheduled for Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Fans can watch live via the Fanatec GT2 European Series Live Stream.
