The fourth and final part of the FIA ETRC mid-point review of the season entrants focuses on the championship leaders Adam Lacko and Jochen Hahn.
The fourth and final part of the FIA ETRC mid-point review of the season entrants focuses on the championship leaders Adam Lacko and Jochen Hahn.
Runners up in last year’s series, Lacko was second and Hahn third behind the dominant Norbert Kiss; both drivers came into this season determined to take the crown as Kiss took on a new challenge at Tankpool24 Racing.
They may not have it all their own way, with five drivers scoring wins this season (Lacko, Hahn, Reinert, Kiss and Halm) but they have notched up 12 wins between them and tellingly (apart from Kiss in Nogaro) they are the only two drivers to take race one and three pole positions and victories (these grids being set by qualifying, rather than by results and a reverse grid)
16 races into the season and they are both in the running to win the title and both still determined to do so. With just one point separating current leader Adam Lacko from Jochen Hahn, the fans have been treated to one of the closest and most exciting championships in recent years
Name: Jochen Hahn (DEU)
Team: Team Hahn Racing
Truck: MAN
Place in championship: 2nd (197 points)
There is no doubt that the experienced German driver knows how to win a truck racing championship, having done it three times already (2011 – 2013). After two seasons in runner up positions (second in 2014 and third in 2015) he is hungry to be the best again.
Reviewing the season Hahn has taken the biggest points haul from all the rounds, bar Misano, despite scoring fewer race victories. He is a wily fox and knows the importance of taking good solid finishes and avoiding getting involved in incidents. However, his ability to make his way through the field in a reverse grid race shows just how good Hahn and his well-prepared MAN truck are.
The German’s light heartedness and irreverent attitude belies a steely determination to win and he is certainly enjoying being back in contention and looking to add a fourth title to his collection.
Going into the final five rounds Hahn will be looking to continue to score good points, stay out of trouble and to score more than one victory per event.
Name: Adam Lacko (CZE)
Team: Buggyra International Racing System
Truck: Freightliner
Place in championship: 1st (198 points)
There is no doubt that Adam Lacko is quick and there is no doubt that his Buggyra International Racing System ‘Fat Fox’ is also quick.
The only remaining question being asked is ‘can he build a successful title campaign and takes his first FIA ETRC Driver Championship title?
Considering there is just one point between them, he and Jochen have quite a different approach. Lacko has taken by far the most race wins (eight so far), but he is also proved more likely to be involved in incidents and this, along with some penalties, has undoubtedly cost the Czech driver valuable points and a bigger gap out front.
In Spielberg the opening two races didn’t go so well, but a wet Sunday saw two impressive drives by Lacko to take both wins. In Misano he was in imperious form, taking three from four victories. In Nogaro Lacko scored well, despite a penalty for over-speeding in race two and last time out at the Nürburgring Lacko took both race wins on the Sunday, but seemed rather subdued after being caught up in some of the incidents that took place at the ‘Ring.
Lacko will be looking to come out of the summer break in top form, especially at his home race in Most which comes up after the Hungaroring. This is his best chance to win the FIA ETRC to date and there is no doubt that he has the skill and speed to do so, especially if the remaining 20 races include wet weather. .
There are still five rounds of this thrilling FIA ETRC season to go and we still have no further idea as to who will be crowned Driver Champion than we did at the start of the year.
What we do know is that there is still plenty of exciting, close racing to come to enthral fans who attend the events and those following the action online and on TV.
Click here http://www.fiaetrc.com/news/23/fia-etrc-tv-coverage-announced-for-2016?filter_season_id=2&filter_series_id=0&filter_team_news=0 to find out where the highlights are being screened.
Visit the official championship YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/FIAETRCEuropeanTruckRacingChampionship for coverage of previous events, including exclusive interviews with the drivers.
The FIA ETRC is a motor racing series which is renowned for its friendliness and accessibility for fans. Over 217,00 supporters have attended an event so far this year and been rewarded with great racing, great supporting entertainment and opportunities to connect with the truck related industries and manufacturers. With a promoter, the ETRA, being appointed by the FIA from this season the future looks good for the FIA ETRC, the undisputable giants of motorsport.
Editor’s Notes
ETRC 2016 calendar dates:
|
30 April/1 May |
Austria |
Red Bull Ring |
|
28/29 May |
Italy |
Misano |
|
11/12 June |
France |
Nogaro |
|
2/3 July |
Germany |
Nürburgring |
|
27/28 August |
Hungary |
Hungaroring |
|
3/4 September |
Czech Republic |
Most |
|
17/18 September |
Belgium |
Zolder |
|
1/2 October |
Spain |
Jarama |
|
8/9 October |
France |
Le Mans |
FIA ETRC 2016 Season Entrants List:
|
Team |
Nat. Team |
Driver |
Nat. Driver |
No. |
Vehicle |
|
Tankpool 24 Racing |
DEU |
Norbert Kiss |
HUN |
1 |
MERCEDES-BENZ |
|
Jochen Hahn |
DEU |
Jochen Hahn |
DEU |
3 |
MAN |
|
Lion Truck Racing |
FRA |
Anthony Janiec |
FRA |
8 |
MAN |
|
Truck Sport Lutz Bernau |
DEU |
Ellen Lohr |
MCO |
10 |
MAN |
|
Eduardo Rodrigues |
PRT |
Eduardo Rodrigues |
PRT |
11 |
MAN |
|
Czech Truck Racing Team |
CZE |
Frantisek Vojtíšek |
CZE |
12 |
MAN |
|
Erwin Kleinnagelvoort |
NLD |
Erwin Kleinnagelvoort |
NLD |
15 |
SCANIA |
|
Tankpool 24 Racing |
DEU |
André Kurism |
DEU |
24 |
MERCEDES-BENZ |
|
Team Schwaben |
DEU |
Gerhard Körber |
DEU |
27 |
IVECO |
|
Sascha Lenz |
DEU |
Sascha Lenz |
DEU |
30 |
MAN |
|
Stephanie Halm |
DEU |
Stephanie Halm |
DEU |
44 |
MAN |
|
Buggyra International Racing System |
CZE |
Adam Lacko |
CZE |
55 |
FREIGHTLINER |
|
Reinert Racing |
DEU |
René Reinert |
DEU |
77 |
MAN |
|
Buggyra International Racing System |
CZE |
Jiří Forman |
CZE |
86 |
FREIGHTLINER |
FIA ETRC 2016 Team Championship Entrants List:
|
1 / 24 |
TANKPOOL 24 RACING |
MERCEDES BENZ |
NORBERT KISS / ANDRÉ KURSIM |
|
3 / 77 |
TEAM REINERT ADVENTURE |
MAN |
JOCHEN HAHN / RENÉ REINERT |
|
8 / 30 |
LION TRUCK RACING - LENZ |
MAN |
ANTHONY JANIEC / SASCHA LENZ |
|
10 / 44 |
WOW! WOMEN ON WHEELS |
MAN |
ELLEN LOHR / STEPHANIE HALM |
|
55 / 86 |
BUGGYRA RACING 1969 |
FREIGHTLINER |
ADAM LACKO / JIŘíÍI FORMAN |