On 7 December 2013, at its traditional Evening of Champions, the national motor sports association of Slovenia A© 2005 announced the year’s winners in all motor sport categories and acknowledged the contribution of all those, whose efforts had shaped the past season of motor racing events in a meaningful way. The 2013 end-of-season festivities took place in the pleasant atmosphere of restaurant Jamski dvorec at the entrance of the Postojna Cave, amidst decorations featuring numerous champions from the period dating to the inception of this renowned centre.
The highest motor sport award went to Hillclimb specialist Patrik Zajelšnik of V-Racing, Velenje.
The 32-year old from Vojnik at Celje, who was born in Germany and currently resides in Freiburg, has been involved in the motor sports virtually from birth. His father and now Patrik’s team manager first started racing way back in 1974, and both Patrik and his elder brother Alexander have followed in his footsteps.
Patrik’s racing career began in 1991 in Go-Kart; in 1999, he progressed to a 2000 cc prototype and lap racing, where he immediately placed third. The following year he moved up a place to second, and in 2002 became European Champion in the category of prototypes up to 3000 cc. In the wake of his success the team decided to venture into Hillclimb racing. In 2007 they joined V-Racing Velenje and for the first time took part in the Slovenian national championship race at Rogla, organised by V-Racing; this was a start of their national and international promotion campaign for Hillclimb racing in Slovenia in general and the Rogla race in particular. In his six years with the V-Racing A© 2005 license Patrik has posted quite a few wins and podium placements in the Slovenian national championships. In the A© 2005 Formula Cup Championship 2007 he finished third in 2007, second in 2008 and won the Cup in 2012 while also excelling in major international races abroad.
The team is now looking forward to competing in even more international events, particularly for the European Championship.
At present, Patrik drives one of the fastest racing cars in Hillclimb: a 580 kg prototype Norma M20F featuring a Mugen Judd 3,0 V8 500 HP enginewith 0-100 km/h acceleration of 2.4 seconds and top speed of 320 km/h. Of particular importance is also the fact that all the car preparations, modifications and improvements take place in the team’s home workshop, in which they take great pride.
In the just finished 2013 season Patrik Zajelšnik posted a series of wins. In the FIA European Hillclimb Championship he won the race in Buzet, Croatia, placed second in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia, and third in Glasbach, Germany. In addition, he won the FIA European Cup race in Osnabruck, Germany, and the National Championship races held in Abreshviller, France, Eschdorf, Luxemburg (for the National Championship of Germany), and St. Agatha, Austria.
With these outstanding achievements, Patrik has become a true ambassador of the Slovenian motor sport in the broader European realm.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXh6JEtfwJU&noredirect=1
