“It was an amazing weekend from start to finish,” praised team CEO Tomáš Fanta, reflecting on a standout performance that took place as part of the support programme for the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa. “The grandstands were full of spectators. On Wednesday, we even took part in a ceremonial drive into the city centre. We also managed the mixed conditions, including a wet qualifying session,” Fanta added, capturing the weekend’s atmosphere.
The biggest delight for the Brno-based team came from Petr Lisa and Viktor Mráz. Racing together in the KTM X-Bow for the first time, they immediately made a strong impression. The Czech-Slovak duo shone during the wet qualifying session. Petr Lisa masterfully handled the challenging conditions, securing fourth overall and second in the AM category for the start of Friday’s race.
However, luck wasn’t on the duo’s side in the first race. “I already had gearbox issues in the opening lap. By the second lap, as we crossed the start-finish straight, another big problem struck, and that became a major issue. In the end, we had to retire,” Petr Lisa explained, reflecting on the early exit.
Saturday, however, proved to be much luckier. Although this season’s AM class dominator, Philippe Prette in the Maserati, led the field before the pit stops, he lost significant time having bodywork repaired. This set up a final stint showdown between Christophe Bourret in the Mercedes and Petr Lisa in the KTM. After several laps of intense battling, the Czech driver emerged victorious, overtaking just a minute from the finish. The win was not only for himself but also for Viktor Mráz, who had started the race.
“It was one of my best races, and I really enjoyed every moment,” said Lisa, whose rival kept him on his toes along the straights. “The Mercedes had power level 9 this time, and it was incredibly fast. Several times he managed to repay me for overtaking him,” he added. But Lisa didn’t give up, and it ultimately paid off. “I managed to unsettle him just before the end. I capitalised on his mistake and then focused on carrying extreme speed through Eau Rouge, denying him the chance to use the slipstream. After that came the technical sections, where I had the advantage,” he described the tense finale.
Lisa reserved high praise for the entire team. “The guys prepared the car perfectly for the second day. It ran absolutely flawlessly. I’m very grateful to them — without their effort, this result simply wouldn’t have been possible. I’d also like to thank RTR Projects for giving me this opportunity,” he added.
A promising start to a new partnership
RTR Projects made their presence felt at Spa thanks to Maťo Homola and new teammate Davit Kajaia. The duo reached the podium in both races, securing third and second place not only in the PRO-AM class but also overall.
On Friday, the crew only managed to reach the podium towards the end. Homola faced a tough challenge from Daniel Cazzaniga in the Audi. The Italian swapped in for Gianluca Giorgi during the pit stops and got ahead of the Czech team’s car. Homola only managed to overtake him in the final lap. “They were incredibly fast on the straights. Even with the slipstream, I couldn’t get past. In the fast sections, it was hard to keep up because I was wearing out the tyres,” he explained, describing the battle with the LP Racing duo. In the closing stages, he had to take a gamble. “In some corners, I was really pushing to the limit,” he admitted.
The drivers were further challenged by light but persistent rain. “It was tough for the KTM. The car is extremely stiff, and when grip on the asphalt drops, it becomes difficult — especially with a setup intended for dry conditions. I was losing much more than the others, even though I tried to take some risks. Once the track started to dry, I was able to get back into my rhythm,” Homola explained.
The second race got off to a tricky start for the crew. Maťo Homola was forced onto the gravel in the first corner by Mauro Calamia in the Maserati, dropping from second to third. However, the RTR Projects team worked brilliantly during the pit stops. Thanks to flawless and rapid work by the mechanics, Davit Kajaia was able to rejoin the track in the lead. He held the front position for several laps. Although he was overtaken by the charging rookie Bronislav Formánek five minutes from the finish, Kajaia still delivered the team their best overall result of the season.
“I’m more than satisfied. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the entire team. As for Maťo, he’s a true professional. He was the first to offer me a GT2 start and helped me a lot in getting quickly familiar with the car,” said 41-year-old Kajaia, who has spent the past 10 years primarily racing touring cars. He was enthusiastic about the KTM X-Bow. “Honestly, I still have a lot to learn, because the KTM demands very specific skills. But it suits me,” he shared.
The GT2 European Series season will continue over the weekend of 18–20 July, with the next round taking place at Misano in Italy.
