British racer Shane Brereton scored a memorable hat-trick of wins at his first appearance in the 2017 FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
British racer Shane Brereton scored a memorable hat-trick of wins at his first appearance in the 2017 FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
The British Truck Racing Championship regular produced a stellar performance at the Hungaroring over the weekend to score three wins supplemented by a second place in the Promoter’s Cup. His performance completed a dream return to the FIA ETRC after making his debut last season.
The MAN driver was on course for a clean sweep of Promoter’s Cup wins and a brilliant fourth overall in race one before a penalty for overspeeding relegated him down to tenth overall and second in the cup.
“I set myself a goal for this double tour, including the Hungaroring and Autodrom Most, of a fifth or fourth overall,” said Brereton. “We did get a fourth on Saturday but we had a technical engine data problem which cost us the place. It’s something that didn’t have anything to do with me and my team, but I’m still over the moon,” he stated.
Brereton admitted that driver coaching from Jochen Hahn which was conducted during pre-season testing at Most helped him to improve his pace.
“Jochen took me out at Most and he said that it’s not the truck, it’s a driving problem. He showed me what to do differently and since then I’m getting faster and faster and that’s my best weekend so far. And I’ve been consistent, that’s what I’m really pleased with,” he admitted.
The British racer is set to continue his FIA ETRC adventure next week at Autodrom Most and following the form he has shown in Hungary he’ll arrive in the Czech Republic as a force to be reckoned with.
Despite experiencing a weekend far from ideal, thanks to a win inherited after Brereton’s penalty and three further podium finishes, Andre Kursim in his Team Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz, took the lead in the Promoter’s Cup standings, as Jose Rodrigues dropped down to second.
“We had a lot of problems with the truck and I think it was not a good weekend for us,” said Kursim. “In the Promoter’s Cup we were on the podium but we can do more in the overall championship,” said the Team Tankpool24 Racing driver. “Now we have to work towards next weekend and do better than here.
The title is still anybody’s to capture and with four rounds still to come even Brereton can emerge as an unexpected title contender, provided he keeps winning races at the rate he did at the Hungaroring.
Check out the latest Promoter's Cup points HERE