Slovakian racer Mat’o Homola will race a Peugeot 308 TCR in the 2018 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) after finalising a deal to remain with DG Sport Compétition in 2018.
Homola raced with the Belgian team in the 2017 TCR International Series at the wheel of an Opel Astra TCR, and he will join the team in switching to WTCR in 2018 with brand new Peugeot machinery.
“It is unbelievable how we managed to make such a huge progress,” said the 23-year-old. “I don’t think that I fully realize that this year I celebrate my ten-year anniversary in the motorsport and now I got into the top league.
“Ten years ago, when I was 13, I started with karting and I competed in Slovak Karting Championship. Fast forward ten years and my dream came true.
“The World Cup WTCR is absolutely the peak of touring car racing around the world. The racing grid is limited to 26 race drivers, and a guy from such a small country as Slovakia has a place there.
“This would have never worked without an enormous support from my family, helpful sponsors and from my epic fans, who keep their fingers crossed for me.”
Homola impressed with his pace in 2017, scoring three outright pole positions but through bad luck he was unable to convert any of them into a win for the team.
The Slovakian touring car driver is excited about the prospect of racing the new car and the cooperation being formed between DG Sport Compétition and Peugeot Sport in France.
“I’m crazy excited for the new challenge with big competition among very skilled racing drivers and I’m happy to continue driving with DG Sport Compétition again. I know the team – they are experienced, working very hard and fully motivated to achieve great results, same as me.
“Moreover, I had a chance to test the brand new Peugeot 308 TCR and it definitely exceeded my expectations, because I didn’t expect such a good handling and powerful engine, which doesn’t seem to suffer from being 1.6 instead of 2.0 litres.
“I’m also super excited about the cooperation we are going to have with the Peugeot Sport, which developed the car and they did a great job. Right now, the BOP is not set, so it is difficult to say how the car will perform compared to the other cars. Nevertheless, I believe we have a very good package with a lot of potential to win races.
“We are just about to launch into a new season! I can’t wait for the official testing day we going to do in Barcelona and for the first race in Marrakesh in the beginning of April.”
Team Principal Christian Jupsin is pleased to be able to continue working with Homola, who will pair up with Aurélien Comte in the 2018 season.
“I’m truly pleased to renew the challenge with him and I wish to thank him for the trust he places in us. Last year the team were able to appreciate his professionalism, his enthusiasm and his enormous motivation.
“Mat’o, he’s a fighter, a winner, a racer as our British friends would say. Only one thing counts for him, to win!
“That’s perfect timing: this frame of mind also enlivens the DG Sport Compétition team whose members are firmly decided to be fully involved to give him – as also Aurélien – all chances of claiming top results at the wheel Peugeot 308 TCR lined up for this first season of WTCR.”