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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.
Perfect Farewell to ESET Cup and New Challenge on the Global Stage
Perfect Farewell to ESET Cup and New Challenge on the Global Stage
10.09.2023 (Brno) ISR Sets Sights on International GT Open! Filip Salaquarda left no room for doubt in his triumphant performance at the Masaryk Circuit in Brno, securing three victories and confirming his well-deserved championship status in the GT3 class of this year's ESET Cup, both in sprint and endurance races.
Perfect Farewell to ESET Cup and New Challenge on the Global Stage - ISR Sets Sights on International GT Open! Filip Salaquarda left no room for doubt in his triumphant performance at the Masaryk Circuit in Brno, securing three victories and confirming his well-deserved championship status in the GT3 class of this year's ESET Cup, both in sprint and endurance races. Following this remarkable achievement, the Czech driver unveiled his plans for the coming year, as he prepares to venture into the highly competitive International GT Open series, forming a team with this year's main rival, Libor Milota. Reflecting on his dominant season, Salaquarda remarked, "It was a highly successful season. We didn't return with the exact same team as before; we had a new engineer and new mechanics. However, I must say that everything worked perfectly. The guys gelled together, and the car was always perfectly set up. I, therefore, view this season positively." In this year's edition of the ESET Cup, which marked Salaquarda's return to the circuits for the first time since 2021, he was really unstoppable. Salaquarda triumphed in nine out of twelve sprint races and secured five victories out of six endurance races. This extraordinary performance enabled him to clinch both the GT3 sprint and endurance titles even before the penultimate event at the Slovakia Ring, despite technical issues causing an early end to his weekend. Salaquarda's dominance extended to the Masaryk Circuit in Brno, where he asserted his authority on Saturday, claiming the top spot in both the opening sprint race and the endurance event. Although he briefly slipped behind his main rival, Libor Milota, after the start of the first sprint race, Salaquarda quickly regained the lead and maintained his dominance. His performance in the endurance race was equally impressive, overcoming the challenge posed by early red flags raised following a collision between Petr Lisa and Kurt Wagner. Salaquarda's victory continued in Sunday's sprint race. While leading the GT3 class throughout the race, he faced an entertaining duel with the SCC series competitor Benjamin Hotz, who was driving a Ligier Turbo prototype. Salaquarda commented on the race, saying, "We had a great race. He pushed me hard and even got ahead of me a few times on the track. It motivated me to drive fast. Towards the end, I had to save my tires, but he had to do the same, so it worked out well. It was simply a perfect season finale." Following his dominant season in the ESET Cup, the question of what lies ahead for Filip Salaquarda was swiftly answered. During the Sunday program, it was revealed that the ISR team would return to the global GT racing scene next year. Filip Salaquarda will pilot his Audi R8 LMS in the prestigious International GT Open series, competing in the Pro-Am category. Notably, he won't be alone on this journey, as he teams up with his main rival from this year, Libor Milota. Salaquarda expressed his excitement about this new challenge, stating, "We will compete in the Pro-Am category. I'm very pleased that we reached an agreement. Testing starts in just two weeks." Both ISR Racing and Filip Salaquarda bring considerable experience from the world of GT racing. They have previously participated in events such as the Blancpain GT Series, a predecessor to the current GT World Challenge Europe, as well as the ADAC GT Masters. In the latter championship, ISR Racing even achieved victory in one race when Salaquarda and his former partner, Frank Stippler, triumphed in the second race of a weekend at the Nürburgring in 2018. Salaquarda also has prior experience in the International GT Open, having competed in 2013 with the AF Corse team. As for Libor Milota, he is no stranger to the international GT racing scene either. He raced in the International GT Open at the Hungaroring in June of this year, competing for podium positions in the AM class. While technical issues prevented him from finishing the first race, he secured a fifth-place finish in the second.
Salaquarda Clinches ESET Cup Sprint and Endurance titles
Salaquarda Clinches ESET Cup Sprint and Endurance titles
20.08.2023 (Slovakiaring) In a dramatic turn of events at the penultimate round of this year's ESET Cup, Filip Salaquarda secured both the sprint and endurance titles in the GT3 class. The ISR driver could celebrate despite facing challenges during the weekend at the Slovakia Ring.
In a dramatic turn of events at the penultimate round of this year's ESET Cup, Filip Salaquarda secured both the sprint and endurance titles in the GT3 class. The ISR driver could celebrate despite facing challenges during the weekend at the Slovakia Ring. "This season has been trouble-free for us until now. The car, with a few exceptions, performed perfectly," Salaquarda rejoiced after the conclusion of the Slovakian weekend. The Czech driver arrived in Orechová Poton with a promising position. Having secured seven wins out of eight sprint races and never tasting defeat in the endurance races, Salaquarda had a comfortable lead of 31 points over Libor Milota in the sprint classification and an impressive 44-point advantage in endurance. To clinch both titles in Slovakia, he needed to maintain a lead of at least 25 points in both categories by the end of the weekend. However, it quickly became apparent that this would not be an easy feat. The initial setback occurred during the qualifying session for the first sprint race. A combination of heavy traffic and red flags prevented Salaquarda from setting a timed lap on fresh tires. Consequently, he finished third in the GT3 class behind Zdeno Mikuláško and Libor Milota. However, due to Milota later receiving a penalty for overtaking under red flags, the ISR team pilot ultimately started the race in the second position. Salaquarda entered the race with the aim of surpassing Mikuláško and extending his winning streak. However, the ARC Bratislava driver, behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracán GT3, quickly increased the lead, and Salaquarda soon realized that settling for second place was the best option. He maintained that position until the race's conclusion. "The set-up we chose was too aggressive, and our rear tires wore out. I pushed hard while trying to catch Mikuláško, which caused the tires to overheat. It was a challenging race, especially in the intense heat," Salaquarda explained about the demanding opening race. Strange Celebrations Following the first sprint race, ISR decided to make adjustments to the Audi R8 LMS to improve its competitiveness for the evening endurance race. Initially, these changes seemed to pay off as Salaquarda maintained the lead after the race's start. However, an unforeseen electrical issue occurred early in the race. "We encountered an electrical problem with our car, and we started to slow down. Unfortunately, we couldn't continue in the race," Salaquarda described the moment that prematurely ended his endurance outing. Despite collecting no points after four consecutive victories, Salaquarda had reason to celebrate at the finish line. How was this possible? The answer is simple. For his main rival, Libor Milota, to maintain hope of winning the title at the season's final event in Brno, he had to win in Slovakia. However, this did not come to fruition. Milota finished second behind Jesse Krohn, allowing Salaquarda to celebrate the title. Furthermore, Salaquarda experienced another unconventional triumph on Sunday due to the Saturday mishap. He couldn't even participate in the second sprint race. Nonetheless, after his second-place finish on Saturday, all Salaquarda needed was for Milota not to win again. And once again, Milota's hopes were dashed. Salaquarda left Slovakia adorned with two championship titles. Following brief celebrations, ISR is now back in full swing, preparing the car for the final event of the season, scheduled for September 8th to 10th at the Masaryk Circuit in Brno. "We haven't discovered the exact issue yet. We've already sent the data to Audi, and the car is disassembled. There are many possibilities," Salaquarda stated.
Filip has won first & second sprint race and endurance race of ESET Cup at autodrom Most
Filip has won first & second sprint race and endurance race of ESET Cup at autodrom Most
06.08.2023 (Most) Salaquarda dominates ESET Cup - GT3 at Autodrom Most - The final race of the ESET GT at Autodrom Most brought no changes in the GT3 category. Filip Salaquarda converted his third weekend start into a third victory. The second ESET GT race boasted a special guest. The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, took the passenger seat in the pace car and led the entire field to the race start. Jáchym Galáš and Dennis Waszek, both driving Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars, started from the front row. Behind them were Filip Salaquarda and Matěj Pavlíček, while Libor Milota and Jacek Zielonka started from the third row.
The final race of the ESET GT at Autodrom Most brought no changes in the GT3 category. Filip Salaquarda converted his third weekend start into a third victory. The second ESET GT race boasted a special guest. The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, took the passenger seat in the pace car and led the entire field to the race start. Jáchym Galáš and Dennis Waszek, both driving Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars, started from the front row. Behind them were Filip Salaquarda and Matěj Pavlíček, while Libor Milota and Jacek Zielonka started from the third row. Galáš and Waszek braked side by side into the first corner, and it was Waszek who took the overall lead in the race ahead of Galáš, Salaquarda, Pavlíček, and Milota. In the first lap, Salaquarda moved ahead of Galáš and began to chase the race leader, Waszek. Although it was declared a wet race, the rain subsided, and the track gradually started to dry. Salaquarda overtook Waszek in the following laps and once again settled into the first position, a position he has effectively held since the beginning of the season. Filip Salaquarda once again emerged as the dominant winner in the GT3 category, followed by Libor Milota in second place and Petr Kačírek in third.
Salaquarda dominates endurance and sprints at Red Bull Ring in Austria
Salaquarda dominates endurance and sprints at Red Bull Ring in Austria
21.06.2023 (Redbullring) In an impressive display of skill and speed, Filip Salaquarda emerged as the dominant force during the third round of the ESET Cup held at the renowned Red Bull Ring in Austria. The ISR driver's exceptional performance saw him secure three resounding victories, establishing his authority in both the endurance and sprint categories. With the season now at its midpoint, Salaquarda appears poised to claim championship glory in both standings.
In an impressive display of skill and speed, Filip Salaquarda emerged as the dominant force during the third round of the ESET Cup held at the renowned Red Bull Ring in Austria. The ISR driver's exceptional performance saw him secure three resounding victories, establishing his authority in both the endurance and sprint categories. With the season now at its midpoint, Salaquarda appears poised to claim championship glory in both standings. During Saturday's endurance race, Salaquarda faced an early challenge as Piotr Wira, piloting a Mercedes, capitalized on his car's superior acceleration. Engaged in a fierce duel, Salaquarda and Wira battled for supremacy, with the Czech driver ultimately triumphing as they approached the third turn. Seizing control of the race, Salaquarda demonstrated unwavering composure and skill. Despite encountering slower cars and navigating their presence on the track, he remained undeterred, maintaining an impressive pace en route to a well-deserved victory. Salaquarda faced a challenging start to the Sunday sprints, finding himself in a slightly inferior position compared to the endurance race. While he began at the forefront of the GT3 class in both sprints, he had to settle for second place overall each time. Alexander Ober, piloting the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 in GTX class, outperformed Salaquarda in both qualifyings. However, Ober's early advantage quickly dissipated as Salaquarda swiftly overtook him in each race. The first sprint proved particularly arduous for drivers as the track retained damp patches following overnight rain. Despite the treacherous conditions, Salaquarda skillfully maneuvered his way to victory, capitalizing on a decisive moment at the start. "Then I just tried not to make a mistake and get the car to the finish," Salaquarda reflected, encapsulating the tension and strategic precision required to emerge triumphant. In the second sprint, conducted on a dry track, Salaquarda once again showcased his dominant performance. Navigating between two Lamborghinis, he deftly secured the lead after a brief spin in the first corner. From there, Salaquarda masterfully controlled the race, distancing himself from his competitors and further solidifying his claim to victory. As the Red Bull Ring event marked the culmination of the ESET Cup's first half, the ISR stable now enjoys a promising position heading into the remaining races. Salaquarda's exceptional record speaks for itself, having triumphed in five out of six sprint races and remained unbeaten in endurance events. With a 24-point lead over Libor Milota in the GT3 class sprint standings and a significant 32-point advantage over Piotr Wira in the endurance class, Salaquarda is not one to rest on his laurels. Looking ahead, Salaquarda acknowledges the challenges awaiting the GT category during the ESET Cup's upcoming three-month hiatus. The next round, scheduled for the weekend of 5-6, promises a different dynamic, featuring a more technical circuit where the balance of power is expected to shift. Salaquarda predicts a favorable outcome for GT3 cars, highlighting the potential disadvantage for BMW at the Most circuit due to its recent introduction and struggles in slower corners. With unwavering determination, Salaquarda and the ISR stable remain focused on their ultimate goal: clinching the championship titles. "We can never get ahead of ourselves. The second half of the season is still ahead of us," Salaquarda humbly acknowledged. Bolstered by a well-performing car and a dedicated team, Salaquarda aims to maintain his exceptional form, leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of motorsport glory.
Filip Salaquarda leaves Hungaroring unbeaten
Filip Salaquarda leaves Hungaroring unbeaten
30.04.2023 (Hungaroring) - Filip Salaquarda from the I.S.R. team had a 100% successful weekend at Hungaroring. After Saturday’s victories in the first sprint and the endurance race, he added another win in the second sprint and takes home the maximum number of trophies from Hungary.
Unbeaten in Hungary - Filip Salaquarda competed in three races on the second weekend of the Eset Cup and was always faster than the competition. In the first 25-minute sprint of the Eastern European race series, the Czech finished 1.2 seconds ahead of BMW Junior Neil Verhagen. In the one-hour Endurance race, the Audi privateer in the R8 LMS even built up a one-minute lead over a rival in the Mercedes-AMG over the course of 32 laps. Team ISR Racing remained unbeaten in the second sprint as well: Salaquarda was 3.9 seconds faster than the Ligier LMP3 sports car of his best pursuer.
