We catch up with popular German racer Sascha Lenz who has scooped two podiums in two meetings recently in the FIA European Truck Racing championship in his S.L Racing Team Germany MAN truck
Only a couple of race weekends ago Sascha Lenz told us his objective for the second half of the season was to score a podium finish. The FIA European Truck Racing Championship Young Gun did just that by taking his first podium finish at Most, followed by another podium at Zolder last weekend. It was therefore time to check in with him and his S.L. Racing Team Germany again at the Belgian circuit.
“We are very happy that we managed to get onto the podium in Most and now here again. For me, Zolder is a very good track. I really feel comfortable here. Last year, with the old car, things only got better from Zolder on,” said Lenz.
“This year we were already close with a double fourth place in Austria. Unfortunately, after Austria we had some bad luck, but with help from other teams we made it back to the front.”
Teams helping each other on and off the track is not something very common at the highest level of motorsport, but it is very much a part of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship way.
“We're also happy to have received help and tips from other teams, like Hahn. It is like a big family, both inside and outside of the paddock. Teams really help each other. For example, if Sascha is working on the truck and has a problem he can phone Jochen [Hahn] and ask him 'what can I do?'. Everybody is helping each other,” said S.L. Racing Team Germany marketing manager Fränk Dall’o.
“Obviously out on the track, during the races, we are no longer friends, but in the paddock and after the race we are indeed like a big family,” Lenz added.
Now that Lenz has managed to get onto the podium twice, the obvious question is what it will take for him to become a regular podium finisher.
“The goal is definitely to be a front-runner in the series and score more podium finishes,” said Lenz. “But in the top ten things are completely different. Things that we have not yet mastered. We will need more experience and obviously money also plays an important role.”
“In the top ten it comes down to hundredths of seconds. Telemetry is something new for us. But everything depends on money,” Dall’o added. “What we would need is money so that we can get race engineers. They can help us with the setup, win something here and there. We obviously get help from other teams, but we don't have all the special systems like the one for the speed limit [yet]."
After round 7 in Belgium, the FIA European Truck Racing Championship heads to Jarama for the penultimate round of the season. The Spanish circuit, located near Madrid, is one of Lenz’ favorite circuits on the calendar and he is looking forward to racing there again.
“We've been waiting all year to go to Jarama. We really like it, the audience and the entire atmosphere down there, it is fantastic. In Spain there are a couple of corners where there are thousands of spectators. The atmosphere is great, it's like a stadium. It is completely different when you compare it with the Nürburgring for example. That event is hard for me and the team, as I keep signing stuff and have my picture taken with fans. At Jarama I can get into the car for half an hour and relax, at the Ring that's impossible.”
Check out Sascha's podium at Zolder by watching the highlights here