Carbonia Cup Slovakiaring Formule F4 Matas Vitver 17.05.2026
• Publikováno 17.05.2026 • zhlédnuto 450x
Two Races in One Day, Challenging Battles and a Formula 4 Victory for Matyas Vitver
My second race weekend in Formula 4 took me to the Slovakia Ring, where I faced a completely new challenge: two races in a single day, both counting towards the championship standings, with very little time to prepare the car between sessions.
My father described our programme at the time as "racing in training mode", and I think that was a very accurate description.
We had deliberately designed the 2026 season as an intensive preparation programme for my future development in single-seater racing.
Every race was an opportunity to gain experience, evaluate the car's setup and learn how to handle situations that cannot be fully reproduced during ordinary testing.
The schedule at the Slovakia Ring was particularly demanding: two free practice sessions, one qualifying session and two separate races.
Championship points were awarded for both races, while the trophy presentation was based on the results of the second race.
Returning to a Familiar Circuit with New Objectives
Approximately three weeks before the race weekend, we completed an intensive two-day test at the Slovakia Ring.
According to our team records, I covered around 1,200 kilometres during those two days.
The test provided a significant amount of information about the behaviour of our Tatuus F4 T-421 Gen 2, tyre performance and the possibilities for further chassis development.
For the race weekend, our mechanics therefore prepared several alternative setup configurations that they wanted to evaluate under racing conditions.
Unfortunately, our plans were disrupted almost immediately.
Both free practice sessions were shortened by red flags, leaving very little opportunity to evaluate the changes properly.
The qualifying setup was also less than ideal. The car did not have the balance I needed to extract the maximum performance over a single lap.
Qualifying itself was interrupted by another red flag.
As a result, I qualified fourth in the Formula 4 class and seventh overall on the starting grid.
It was not the result we had hoped for, but our priority was to understand the situation and prepare the car for the first race.
Race One – A Major Improvement in Pace and a Damaged Front Wing
Before the opening race, our mechanics decided to stop experimenting and return to the proven setup from our earlier test.
It turned out to be exactly the right decision.
From the opening laps, the car felt significantly better. I had more confidence through the corners, could make better use of its performance and began improving my pace.
By lap three, according to our team's lap-time comparison, I was approximately two seconds per lap quicker than the driver leading the race at that stage, allowing me to close the gap considerably.
However, during a subsequent battle for position, contact occurred.
My front wing was damaged, and the incident sent me into the gravel trap.
I lost approximately twelve seconds and two positions.
I managed to rejoin the race, but the aerodynamic damage was noticeable. With part of the front wing missing, the car had less front-end grip, particularly through the faster corners.
It was a completely new experience for me.
I had to adapt my driving to the damaged car while continuing to fight my way back through the field.
Despite these difficulties, I eventually finished third in the Formula 4 class.
Considering the circumstances, it was an important result. More importantly, I gained valuable experience of racing with a damaged single-seater and making decisions during close on-track battles.
Race Two – A Repaired Car and a Fresh Start
Between the two races, our mechanics had very little time to prepare the car.
They needed to replace the damaged nose assembly and front wing, then check and reset the front suspension geometry.
The team completed all the work in time, and I started the second race with a fully repaired car that once again felt exactly as I needed it to.
I lined up sixth overall on the starting grid.
My aim was to avoid unnecessary mistakes, make a clean start and take every reasonable opportunity to overtake.
After the start, I began gaining positions and worked my way up to third place overall and the lead of the Formula 4 class.
From that moment, the race became a different challenge.
Instead of concentrating on overtaking, I had to manage my advantage, remain focused and avoid making a mistake that could undo the team's hard work.
As the laps passed, my nerves gradually settled, allowing me to concentrate on maintaining a consistent rhythm and lap times.
I won the second race in the Formula 4 class.
It was a fantastic feeling and another confirmation that our earlier results had not been a coincidence.
Two Races, Two Very Different Experiences
The Slovakia Ring showed me two different sides of motorsport in a single day.
In the first race, I had to deal with contact, a damaged car, lost positions and a recovery drive.
In the second, I was able to benefit from a well-balanced car, overtake competitors, take the class lead and maintain my position until the chequered flag.
Both experiences were extremely valuable for my development as a driver.
I am still learning to understand the car, assess racing situations correctly and provide the technical team with feedback that helps improve its setup.
This is precisely why we decided to complete my first Formula 4 season with our family-run team.
Our objective is not simply to achieve individual results, but to gain genuine racing experience and build a strong foundation for the next stage of my career.
A Huge Thank You to SVC GROUP RACING
I would like to thank everyone involved in my racing programme and the preparation of our Formula 4 car.
First of all, I am grateful to our partner SVC GROUP s.r.o., whose support makes this project possible.
Special thanks go to our race engineer L. Vitverová, mechanics Petr Jirák and Miroslav Michl, Ladislav Brázdil for his technical support and data analysis, and of course our team principal, my father Vladimír Vitver.
Our mechanics played a particularly important role between the two races. Thanks to their quick and precise work, I was able to start the second race with a fully prepared car and fight for victory.
I am equally grateful to all our other partners and everyone supporting us on this journey.
Another Step Forward in My First Formula 4 Season
I left the Slovakia Ring with third place from the opening race, victory in the second and, most importantly, a great deal of new experience.
For me personally, it represented another important step in the transition from junior karting to single-seater racing.
For our entire team, it was further proof that we can not only prepare a fast racing car but also respond effectively to technical problems and manage a demanding race programme.
Every race takes us another step forward. And that is exactly what our first Formula 4 season is all about.
Matyas Vitver #72
SVC GROUP RACING
Tatuus F4 T-421 Gen 2
www.matyasvitver.com
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