We caught up with the top three from each race last weekend after they had spoken at the new for 2016 Fan Village post-race Press Conference
RACE 1
1st – Jochen Hahn
“At the last couple of races there have been some discussions about fair play, but I think from the start of this race everyone can see what is fair in truck racing.
“Adam (Lacko) gave me a lot of space in the first corners, which then made it possible to overtake cleanly.
“In the last couple of laps he was going faster and faster, so I could see him in my mirrors getting closer and closer. Then he made a little mistake and kicked the back of me, which actually sent me straight across the chicane, through the gravel trap and then that gave me a bit of a gap, so I said ‘thank you very much’.
“To be honest, without this I think we would have really struggled to stay ahead of him in these last two laps and so we need to find some more performance, but I am very happy to win here.”
2nd – Adam Lacko
“Jochen (Hahn) made a good start and actually here it is an advantage to start from second on the grid.
“During the race Jochen (Hahn) had good pace, but I think I was actually a little bit faster and I try to find a way by and we had a little bit of a kiss and then a bit later it was a bit of a stronger contact, but Jochen took the win and it was a good race.”
3rd – Steffi Halm
“Yes, it was rather a quiet race for me. I wasn’t able to follow the first two as they were faster than me. Then I had a big gap behind me, so I just drove my race and it was rather quiet, maybe like a holiday drive!
“But the start was good, Janiec went wide which meant I could overtake him and then I was stuck for a while behind Rene (Reinert), who was going very slowly, but I didn’t know what the problem was. I waited for a couple of corners, but knew it must have been technical so I went by and was able to finish on the podium, which is very good.”
RACE 2
1st – Adam Lacko
“With the reverse grid I started back in 7th, but was then able to make some good passes over the opening laps to move up to 2nd place. I then had to close a big gap to Sascha (Lenz) but I was able to do this and then take the lead.
“It is a good result for me and for the team.”
2nd – Sascha Lenz
“I am really happy to make my second ever (FIA ETRC) podium after already being third in Most.
“the whole team is here (at the podium in the Fan Village) to celebrate and it is a very good result.
“I was able to pass the Buggyra (of Jiri Forman) at the start and then knew I had to build a gap. But then Lacko was so quick and I could see him getting closer. But I am really happy to have managed to finish second here.”
3rd – Jochen Hahn
‘So I started back in 8th position, next to Adam (Lacko), but he had a bit more luck with the overtaking. It was a big fight to make my way through, but it is the second time on the podium today and I am happy with this.”
Race 3
1st – Jochen Hahn
“My mechanic asked me why you are not smiling after the race win, but I say it is not so sweet as the win yesterday.
“The problem is that we weren’t so quick in this race, but he (Adam Lacko) had to retire and I prefer to win with him in the race, not without him there.
“But it is the first time that myself, René (Reinert) and Steffi (Halm) are all here together on the podium, which is a really great moment for us.”
2nd René Reinert
“Yesterday I was a bit upset because I was very fast in the qualifying, and made a good start but then there was a problem on my truck (in race one) and I had to retire, which cost me a lot of points.
“Then for the second race I had to start at the back and from last you just have to see what happens and do your best. To come through to finish fourth was a really good result for the Saturday.
“But today is a new day and we start all over again with a good warm up and then I was really pleased to have the speed to finish P2 in the qualifying, but then dropped back to P3 because of a penalty.
“This was a good race, for sure it was bad luck for Adam (Lacko), but this is motorsport. Yesterday it was bad luck for me and today for him.
“I think that this is actually my best result in a first race (set by qualifying) rather than a second race (reverse grid), so I am really happy with this.”
3rd Steffi Halm
“For sure, as it really was not something that I expected, as the first three were much faster than me.
“In the beginning it was just a small gap to René (Reinert) but then after the third lap I think he finds the throttle pedal and pulls away. So for me it was then clear that fourth position was the maximum I could do.
“Norbert (Kiss) was behind me, but it was about the same gap as from to third, so it was just because of the problem that Adam (Lacko) had that I was on the podium.
“But for me and the team it is perfect, as we have waited for so long to get all three of us onto the podium and today it has happened and I am really happy”
Race 4
1st – Adam Lacko
“I really enjoyed this race. It was hard work, because I had to come through right from the back. But then actually the final few laps I had built up quite a gap that they were quite boring, compared to the close racing and overtaking to get to the lead.
“I think overall it is not a bad weekend for me. Obviously race three was hard because we were definitely on for a win before we had to stop (engine problem) but you know this is motor racing and so we are still in the fight (for the title) and will hope to close the gap on Jochen (Hahn) in Jarama and at Le Mans.”
Adam, just tell us how nervous were you in the final few laps of the race, hoping that this time you would see the chequered flag
“Oh, very nervous. You usually are if you are leading and then you come onto the final lap and it feels like a very long lap, so you hope that it will finish soon. It did and I am very happy.”
2nd – Jochen Hahn
“In the beginning, it was not dangerous, but it was difficult. Adam (Lacko) was coming with a lot of speed through from the back and René (Reinert) also, so when it all settled I had to look and think, oh what position am I in.
“But what I will see is that today everybody show how fair truck racing is. So, for example Steffi (Halm)gave Adam (Lacko) and I room to make a clean overtake, which meant that then we then make it just a clean fight between the two of us for the title and so I think that we must say thank you to Steffi (Halm) and to every driver who let us overtake cleanly.
“So here I am second, and I am happy with this and now, as Adam says, he and I will fight for the title until the last race.”
3rd – Steffi Halm
“I am very pleased with another podium finish here.
“At the start of the race there was a big incident with Sascha (Lenz) and (Anthony) Janiec in the second chicane and as a result of this I was able to get by Anthony (Janiec). Then I was stuck behind Sascha Lenz) for two or three laps, but could then overtake him.
“Adam (Lacko) was coming through from the back really quick and I didn’t want to get in the way and the same for Jochen (Hahn)when he came up behind me. So for me it is perfect to be third place and on the podium again.”