There was no better way to say goodbye to the winter break last year than Jonas Karklys. The Hyundai driver celebrated his debut win in the ADAC TCR Germany at the season finale at the Nürburgring. Reason enough for Karklys to face the tough competition in the touring car series again this year and to be back on the grid with the i30 N TCR at the start of the season from April 22nd to 24th in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
Karklys made it onto the podium in the ADAC TCR Germany three times last year and ended the season in sixth place in the drivers’ standings. For the year 2022, however, Karklys formulates modest goals. “It’s difficult to predict or have exact targets for the new season because you don’t yet know how many drivers and teams will take part and where we can stand. We’re a small team with one car, but we want our team and Represent Lithuania as best as possible,” says Karklys, adding: “We know that we will be focused and work hard in every race. And at the end of the season we will see if our work was good enough or not.”
However, the Lithuanian has already identified a personal highlight for the season: the premiere of the series at the Salzburgring during the ADAC Racing Weekend. “I love driving a TCR car at every track. But it’s really nice that we’ll have a new track this year with the Salzburgring. We’ve never driven there before.” The legendary tracks next to the Nürburg and in Hockenheim are also very special highlights in the racing calendar for the Lithuanian: “These tracks are simply fantastic.”
In the second season it is important for Karklys to build on the experience of the debut year. “Before the season we didn’t know what to expect because it was my first season behind the wheel of a TCR car. We knew that the ADAC TCR Germany is one of the best racing series, with really fast drivers and good teams. The first season was exciting”, Karklys looks back happily on his debut season. “As a team we had to learn many things, including working with the tyres, car settings and of course getting to know some tracks. All in all we are more than satisfied with the performance we put in last season.”
As an emotional highlight of his first season in the ADAC TCR Germany, the Lithuanian particularly emphasizes his first race win at the Nürburgring: “Every race weekend is a great moment for us to come to the best racetracks and compete against others. But every race weekend is also different , and that makes it really exciting. Of course, the two podium finishes at the Hockenheim and Lausitzrings and the win at the last race at the Nürburgring were probably the most emotional part of the season.”
Pilot Karklys receives active support from his team, which includes “the two mechanics Julius and Marius, race engineer Gediminas and his wife Urte”. “We have really good team chemistry. It’s very important that we have a good relationship with each other.” What motivates Karklys most, however, is the support from his home country: “Away from the track, I get a lot of support from my parents, brothers and relatives. And we’re also pleased that more and more fans from Lithuania are coming to follow the races live on site. “