Adam Lacko celebrated his first win of the 2017 FIA European Truck Racing season at Misano this afternoon with a lights-to-flag victory
Adam Lacko celebrated his first win of the 2017 FIA European Truck Racing season at Misano this afternoon with a lights-to-flag victory.
Lacko, who took pole by just 0.001s earlier in the day, led home Norbert Kiss by 0.9s to register a maximum points score.
The Buggyra International Racing System driver came under early pressure from Kiss’ Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz entry throughout most of the 12 lap race. But Lacko was able to pull a slight advantage at the mid-race stage to hold off the double champion. This was despite a late surge from Kiss, as Lacko suffered from overheating brakes.
Held in glorious early summer sunshine, the fourth round of the 2017 FIA ETRC saw the podium positions completed by Steffi Halm in her Reinert Racing entered MAN.
Halm drove a fine race and managed to displace Antonio Albacete (Truck Sport Lutz Bernau) for fourth position on lap two when the Spaniard made a slight error. From here Halm latched on to Jochen Hahn’s tail but was unable to make a decisive move. Her chance eventually came when Hahn slowed on lap nine and slipped back to fifth position.
Hahn, racing his Hahn Racing Iveco on the manufacturers home turf, took fifth position after a sudden loss of power slowed him. The reigning champion had earlier defended his third place from Halm and Albacete and looked set for the podium before the temporary problem occurred.
Albacete took the chequered flag in fourth place and was able to apply pressure to Halm in the closing stages. Halm though was too strong and had a 0.5s cushion over the former champion at the conclusion to the race to cement her second position in the points standings.
Sascha Lenz took home sixth placed points after a solid run in his SL Trucksport MAN. Lenz finished ahead of countryman Gerd Körber, who achieved the most passing moves in the race. The FIA ETRC veteran started from the rear of the grid after having his times cancelled for overspeeding in practice.
There was an exciting battle throughout the race between José Rodrigues (Reboconorte MAN) and André Kursim (Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz) for the Promoter’s Cup honours. The battle, which also for eighth overall, raged throughout the race and Kursim was initially able to hold off his Portuguese rival. But, Rodrigues made a move in the final stages to snatch the Promoter's Cup win, his fourth from five races.
Rounding out the top ten was Thomas Robineau who put behind him clutch difficulties in practice to claim the final point. This was achieved despite a penalty for overspeeding in the race which saw 10-seconds added to his finish time. But, the Frenchman had enough of a gap over Eduardo Rodrigues to keep his 10th place.
Dominique Orsini was classified in 12th position behind Rodrigues, as he completed the race on his 2017 FIA ETRC debut in his black Mercedes-Benz.
Sadly, Enes Draganovic was unable to take the start in his Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner after a technical issue could not be rectified in time for the Slovenian.
The reverse grid for race two will see José Rodrigues start from pole position with his Gerd Körber starting alongside in his Team Schwaben-Truck Iveco.
Race two at Misano is scheduled to begin at 17.30 local time.