Dmitry Matveev is one of Unlim 500+ participants, driving Nissan GT-R R35 takes part this year in a Russian Drag Racing Cup. SMP Racing works as a promoter for these events holding with RAF (Russian Automobile Federation) and with Dragtimes, who has been organizing Unlim 500+ festivals for almost six years.
Dmitry is from Novosibirsk but this doesn’t make a problem in participating in different cities. We saw him in Omsk where thanks to his strong nerves, fast reaction and steady hand he became a winner in FSB class for all-wheels-driven cars. Then was the Krasnoyarsk, but the luck was not on Dmitry’s side and now Novokuznetsk is coming and we wish Dima to win and to set new records!
Dima, tell us how did you join drag racing? Was it occasionally or you was dreaming on this?
I was always fond of cars and regarding drag racing — I’m participating the third year, and two years I’m participating in Unlim 500+ festival. My car is built with the help of Altechno team, I’m in touch with the guys and we are discussing all points together and I like it.
Have you chosen Nissan GT-R from the very beginning?
I had few different cars but for drag racing I’ve chosen R35.
Why did you make this choice?
I thought that this car offers great balance between quality and result but this can be true for fast cars and if we are speaking about VERY fast cars things are not so easy. It’s quite difficult to make R35 faster than 9 seconds.
Do you want to say that it is a stereotype that these cars are cheap for tuning?
Yes, it is stereotype or confusion. Smiling.
Ok then. And what car would you take if you had an option to select another one?
The same. Smiling. R35 is my car.
How did the progress happen? Have you made all modifications at once or you did it step by step?
You can make a conclusion from my times — every year I was proceeding and improving my time. First of all I upgraded the engine, then I came back to the engine and upgraded the transmission. And this year I’ve reworked everything, I think that there are no more stock details in my Nissan. I’ve upgraded not only mechanics but the body as well. Now it has parts made of so called “dry carbon” produced by Japanese company.
What competitions did you participate before Unlim 500+?
Basically there were regional competitions in Siberia — Omsk, Novosibirsk. Last year we’ve visited Ukraine and then I’ve visited Unlim 500+. This is an iconic event with absolutely different atmosphere and I was dreaming on it.
But also you was in Greece last autumn when many Unlim 500+ participants went to Crete to take part in competition in Timpaki airport. Can you compare those three events?
First of all I want to mark very high level of organization of Unlim500+ festival. This is a very great show for participants and spectators and it cannot be compared with other events. Drag Racing Cup is more competitive because we have real competition and tournament and the results are very close to each other, that’s why it is so difficult to win: one mistake and you are out. Qualifying results for 4–5 cars are in 0.3–0.4 seconds — it is very close and competitors are very well-prepared. Unlim 500+ affords to test the car we are having more fun, testing different settings and so on.
What did you feel in Omsk when you won? Did you have any aims before that stage?
I planned to pass faster than in 9 seconds and I did it. My win was quite unexpected; there were a lot of faster competitors.
Anyway I think it was your hard work, you showed very fast reaction…
Yes I managed to do everything very quickly. Smiling.
What are you expecting in Drag Racing Cup? Why did you decide to participate?
Positive emotions, competition, win. I like that Dragtimes team is engaged to the Cup stages organization and I can be sure that everything will be made brilliant, and on the other hand here is the challenge and intramural competition. In common the atmosphere is very friendly, there are lots of positive people and I want to participate all stages and I hope that my car will serve to me without breakdowns.
