In a move to has rocked the FIA ETRC community double champion Norbert Kiss will race Mercedes power in 2016 as he confirmed moves to tankpool24
In a move which has surprised the truck racing community, reigning champion Norbert Kiss has announced a switch to the tankpool24 Mercedes team for a full campaign in the 2016 FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
The Hungarian double-champion will race with the team which has its operational side run by the MB (Markus Bauer) Motorsport squad.
Kiss took the 2015 title with an incredible 19 race wins. This season he will switch to a Mercedes unit instead of the familiar MAN with which he secured his 2014 and 2015 titles with the OXXO Racing team.
The tankpool24 Racing team is based in Nürtingen, Germany and has its roots in competing in the championship since 1997 with drivers including truck racing legend Markus Oestreich, Ellen Lohr, Jordi Gene and Steffi Halm. The Tankpool name is a relatively new entity which was formed at the start of 2013.
Kiss will partner young racer André Kursim in the team, which will enjoy engineering leadership from Stefan Honens. The experienced designer has previously worked for Team Hahn and is sure to bring some technical prowess to the operation in 2016.
“Firstly, I have huge respect for Stefan, he is one of guys I have really wanted to work together with,” Kiss told fiaetrc.com today. “He is designing and building the new Mercedes and already doing a good job.
Kiss went on to state how the deal came about and outline the objectives for the season ahead, saying: “It all started when I called Stefan and then it got serious with discussions and here we are now. To be honest I needed a new beginning and new motivation, so I am really looking forward to driving a new brand with Mercedes and a new team with tankpool24."
“It will be hard, and I know some people don’t understand the move, but there are lots of reasons for it,” continued the Hungarian. “We will test ahead of Spielberg but the date is not set yet. A lot of work has to be done in the workshop, and we will get well prepared. The aim is to get up and running and to prove the new truck, we don’t have big expectations for this season and if we can get in to position to be racing for podiums later in the year then that will be a good development.”
Speaking of Kiss’ confirmation of joining the tankpool24 team, ETRA’s Managing Director of Sporting and Legal affairs, Rolf Werner said: “It is tremendous news to know that Norbert Kiss will defend his title this season . He is one of the true stars of the modern FIA European Truck Racing Championship. The tankpool24 Racing team has shown they are an ultra-professional and organised operation and I am sure that this will be the beginning of a very prosperous partnership together.”
Kiss and tankpool24 Racing will undertake their first race weekend together at the season kick-off event at the Red Bull ring, Spielberg over the weekend of 29-30 April and 1st May.
For further information about the team, visit their website http://racing.tankpool24.de/
ETRC 2016 calendar dates:
|
30 April/1 May |
Austria |
Red Bull Ring |
|
28/29 May |
Italy |
Misano |
|
11/12 June |
France |
Nogaro |
|
2/3 July |
Germany |
Nürburgring |
|
27/28 August |
Hungary |
Hungaroring |
|
3/4 September |
Czech Republic |
Most |
|
17/18 September |
Belgium |
Zolder |
|
1/2 October |
Spain |
Jarama |
|
8/9 October |
France |
Le Mans |