The FIA European Truck Racing Championship protagonists head to Zolder in Belgium this weekend and anticipation is rising as the title battle enters a crucial stage.
The FIA European Truck Racing Championship protagonists head to Zolder in Belgium this weekend and anticipation is rising as the title battle enters a crucial stage.
After Jochen Hahn’s impressive hat-trick of victories at Most earlier this month, his title nemesis Adam Lacko will be keen to exact revenge in Belgium.
Hahn and Lacko have been the class of the field for most of the season and between them have notched up a remarkable 18 victories out of the 24 races run so far. Only René Reinert, Norbert Kiss, Ryan Smith and Steffi Halm have breached the Hahn/Lacko wall of wins.
With just 12 races to go the championship is heating up and in addition to the expectation, will come the pressure. Hahn has been there many times and has the experience to deal with it. Lacko has the burning ambition to be crowned champion for a first time. It is almost too close to call, but the first indications are sure to come at Zolder, a circuit where both drivers have emerged victorious before.
Yes, there has been contact between the two on occasion this year, but there is also a good deal of mutual respect. So, let the best man win!
The Entry
While most eyes will be on Hahn and Lacko, there will be plenty of on track action throughout the field to keep the crowds entertained throughout the weekend.
Despite a comparatively low key outing in Most, reigning champion Norbert Kiss is keen to keep his encouraging debut season with the Tankpool24 Racing team flowing with momentum after a win at Nogaro and a succession of podium visits. The No.1 Mercedes-Benz will be a real threat to Hahn and Lacko and could have a say in taking points away from both the German and the Czech. He will also be keen to ward of René Reinert and Steffi Halm from his well-earned third position in the standings.
René Reinert felt he had the best race of his career last time out in Most, but there have also been incidents and disappointments along the way. Also sure to be right up is Anthony Janiec (Lion Truck Racing) who will be looking to put recent misfortune behind him. Steffi Halm has scored two wins this season and will be looking to add a third in Belgium in her Reinert run MAN.
With a chance of potentially taking podium positions are Gerd Körber, Jiri Forman and Sascha Lenz, all of who have shown moments of impressive form in recent races with Lenz arriving in Belgium on a real high having taken his first ever FIA ETRC podium in the last race in Most.
Zolder is the closest that Erwin Kleinnagelvoort will come to a home race as he and his team are based just across the border in the Netherlands. The genial Dutchman will be hoping to continue a good run of points scoring with more solid performances in his white Scania at the weekend.
Planning to make a second appearance of the season in Belgium is Finnish youngster John Hemming in his Mercedes-Benz truck.
What happened last year?
Race 1 – Norbert Kiss
Race 2 – Adam Lacko
Race 3 – Norbert Kiss
Race 4 – David Vresecky
Let us entertain you……
As always at an FIA ETRC weekend there is plenty of off track activities taking place to entertain fans of all ages.
At the heart of the paddock, sits the new FIA ETRC Village, which is the venue for autograph sessions and post-race interviews with the drivers, as well as having plenty of activities including table football and slot car racing along with information from official championship partners Goodyear, Mercedes Trucks, Meritor and UTA.
Truck enthusiasts can visit displays by manufacturers such as IVECO, Mercedes and Renault along with other truck related companies. But the most colourful displays will be in Truck Camp where visitors can go and see some amazing artwork on these monsters of the road and enjoy a ‘beauty parade’ of trucks after the racing on the Sunday evening.
On the Saturday evening there is to be a music gig in the Otobar and throughout the weekend there will be plenty for children of all ages to do with a karting circuit, face painting, balloon clowns and even a bouncy truck to play on.
Click here for latest entry list
Click here for the Zolder Timetable
Click here for latest points standings
How to follow the Zolder weekend:
Simply click here to follow the Truck Tracker, Live streaming video, live timing and live text commentary from the Zolder races.