We chatted to the drivers immediately after the races on Sunday to get the reaction from the latest rounds of the FIA ETRC in Spain
1st - Jochen Hahn
“It was a nice start and I as able to get an immediate gap to Adam. I had to work hard to start with but then it was ok and I had a nice space behind me. This is an important win and it gives more points but you know I am never thinking about the championship that it will come easy. There are so many variables that can happen and we only think about it when the maths is in our favour.”
2nd Adam Lacko
“It was actually rather a quiet race for me. I tried to push at the maximum that was possible.
“But I have just heard that Jochen (Hahn) had new tyres also for the first race and this helps me to understand, as in the first half of the race he is just a little bit faster everywhere and so this is the benefit of the new tyre. In the second half of the race I am little bit faster and so I am able to close the gap a little bit, but it is not enough and he was very quick today.
“I am happy with the second place, but for the overall championship it is not so good for me, as he pulls away a little bit more when after yesterday I had closed the gap from winning race one (races one and three have a higher points scoring tally than races two and four).
“There are still 70 points available and we must fight until the last lap at Le Mans.
“I am looking forward to race four when we start in seventh place (reverse grid for the top eight). Always when you start back in the pack it is good fun, but a lot of work and some battles as we have to pass a number of other drivers if we are to get to the front.”
3rd - Rene Reinert
“Another good race with a podium and probably the maximum I could achieve. The truck felt good and we are a bit nearer to the top two but unable to get there with them to fight as we can all see.
“But, it is nice for the championship position in third place and I am looking forward to some good battles and great racing in the final race later on.”
Race 4
1st – Anthony Janiec
“I am so pleased to have scored my first win in this year’s championship.
“Yesterday my team had to work really hard to fix my truck as my gearbox was not working properly, which effected yesterday’s performances.
“Then earlier I had a penalty from qualifying which put me further back on the grid for race three which made it tougher, as I then faced having to overtake more drivers.
“So after some troubles this weekend it is even better to win the race for me and for my team. It is also good for the moral of the whole team to have taken the victory before my home race in Le Mans.”
2nd - Rene Reinert
“I started sixth and I knew Norbi (Kiss) is not so good at the start because of the power so I immediately got him and then the first two laps were perfect and I was able to gain more places and after two laps I was behind Janiec.
“The red flag was not so funny for me as there was a good gap to Sascha (Lenz) and the rest so I thought at that stage it would be a good race. But the stoppage came and I was third for the re-start and it was another good start to overtake Sascha again. Anthony was really fast today and it was hard to pass and then Adam was giving me big pressure from behind and was pushing me hard.
“I am happy for the result so we make the optimum and two podiums in one day is good for me and good for the team.”
3rd – Adam Lacko
“Starting back in 7th on the grid, the first lap was really good for me as I made up a couple of places already and going into the second lap I made another overtake and felt that it would be possible to move into the lead
“At the restart I moved immediately to the third position and was then behind René (Reinert). I tried very hard to find a way by, but it just wasn’t possible. I think I was a little bit quicker, but he was everywhere and it is not very easy here, as Jarama is very tight.
“So then with this fight we were then a little bit slower, which meant that Jochen (Hahn) could close the gap on us, so I also had to try to control him and I was caught between them.
“Looking ahead to Le Mans the target is that we have to finish all four races first of all and we must finish in the best position that it is possible, ideally to win all four races and then it is down to Jochen (Hahn) and what happens to him. But he has a really good truck and if he finishes all the races, even if it is behind me, then really there is no chance.”