Once again the Promoter’s Cup podium was a hard fought contest in Slovakia last weekend. Over the duration of the Slovakia Ring round there were five drivers battling it out in the now usual close and exciting races.
Once again the Promoter’s Cup podium was a hard fought contest in Slovakia last weekend. Over the duration of the Slovakia Ring round there were five drivers battling it out in the now usual close and exciting races.
With the Czech veteran Frankie Vojtisek in attendance for his first race of 2017 there was a new but very familiar face on the grid. With four Promoter’s Cup races up for grabs, the popular Czech ace made a competitive comeback in the FIA ETRC with a complete set of Promoter's Cup podium appearances.
“This year we prepared our truck only on Wednesday before Slovakia Ring and there was no chance of doing any testing,” said Vojtisek “It’s a first FIA ETRC race in Slovakia, so for me it seems now as I’m having two home races at Most and also here in Slovakia Ring as it used to be the same country and we’re still friends.
“Thanks to the new Promoter’s Cup we had a chance to stand on the podium and that’s something absolutely fantastic,” he continued “I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped me – my team and my family. Now we’re looking forward to the Hungaroring, Most, Zolder and Jarama. I like the Most circuit very much, and also the Hungaroring as they are challenging.”
André Kursim, who impressed with a strong performance at Nürburgring, found himself with mixed results last weekend at Slovakia Ring.
“My race weekend here in Slovakia started very well with overall position seven in race one,” said the young German. “But in race two the troubles already started with a broken fender which rubbed on my tyre and caused smoke, so I had to stop in the pit and my race was over.
“Race three was a disaster again after a crash with Sascha Lenz forced me in to the gravel and the incident also damaged a brake. In the last race I had to start from last position then I made it all the way through to position nine and managed to win the Promoter’s Cup. It was compensation after a tough weekend!”
Schwabentruck’s rising talent, Steffen Faas, was positive about his weekend in Slovakia and his future plans in the FIA ETRC.
“The weekend was very good. It’s all new and it was perfect, apart from race four where I suffered a brake problem. A brake disc broke and damaged the left front wheel and so it was game over for me. I hope to do some more truck races this season, but I also compete in the KTM X-Bow battle series and there are a couple of calendar clashes now.”
José Rodrigues said he couldn’t find a good rhythm on the tricky track this weekend and so wasn’t happy with his performance at Slovakia Ring. But, the Portuguese driver is still leading the Promoter’s Cup overall standings, just eight points ahead of André Kursim and Eduardo Rodrigues.
The drivers are now heading into a well-earned summer break and will be back in race action at Hungaroring over the weekend of August 26/27.
Article by Andreas Hartmann