Mat’o Homola will miss the rest of the TCR Europe season after being sidelined with a wrist injury which has been affecting him over the summer months.
Homola, 28, tore a ligament in his right wrist more than three months ago, and despite the recommendations of doctors at the time for immediate surgery, he chose to race in the first half of the 2022 season.
Despite racing with some pain, he continued competing. However, a recent medical check has found his injury got worse and to avoid permanent damage, the Slovakian racer now accepts that surgery is inevitable.
“I am not at all happy, when I heard the doctor, just before my favourite Monza, where I won last year,” said Homola.
“I hoped that I would be able to finish the season, even through the pain. My hand is now in such a bad condition, that the doctor told me not to even drive a regular car with a manual transmission.
“At this stage, my health is a priority – I already have a scheduled surgery and I hope that everything will go smoothly, so I can start with rehabilitation as soon as possible.
“I hope that I will be able to come back next season even stronger!
“I feel so sorry, not for myself, but for my team, partners, and, of course, my family. We all gave it our best and it ends before the finish line.
“I would like to thank my team, Hyundai Janik Motorsport, for the work done during the season and also to my engineer, Jaro Krajci. Heads up, next year will be ours!”
Janík Motorsport will continue to run two cars this weekend at Monza, with Team Principal Václav Janík stepping into a Hyundai i30 N for the races.