Steffi Halm took her third victory of the season after a fine drive from pole position to the chequered flag at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit this afternoon.
Steffi Halm took her third victory of the season after a fine drive from pole position to the chequered flag at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit this afternoon.
The Reinert Racing driver controlled the race throughout, resisting late pressure from Jochen Hahn to take the maximum point score by 1.4 seconds. It was her third win in five races at the Le Mans Bugatti circuit.
The German accomplished her second ever non-reversed grid victory after arguably her best ever win. It was one which saw her reduce the point’s deficit in her battle with Norbert Kiss for third in the standings.
Hahn‘s second place ensured that he gained 11 points on Adam Lacko as he continues to not give up on a late title surge. He was able to make a characteristic flying start to leapfrog Norbert Kiss and Sascha Lenz at the first corner.
Kiss took third position in his Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz. The Hungarian was unable to match the front pair after a difficult start compromised his race, but he took consolation from gaining points on title leader Adam Lacko.
Lacko could only manage seventh position after being involved in some contact in the opening exchanges. His Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner also lost the left-side of its front bodywork but he recovered to make up some positions and at least break in to the top ten to reduce any significant damage to his healthy points lead.
It was a dramatic ending to the race as Lacko caught Gerd Korber’s Team Schwabentruck Iveco as they crossed the finish line. The gap between the two at the chequered flag was a mere 0.007s, but it just enough for Lacko to ensure his points lead is still a healthy 42-points with six races of the 2017 FIA ETRC remaining.
Behind them there were the usual frantic FIA ETRC battles as David Vrsecky (Buggyra Freightliner) and Sascha Lenz (SL Trucksport MAN) fought over fourth place. It was a fight that Vrsecky eventually won.
Jose Rodrigues scored another Promoter’s Cup victory and ninth overall after a remarkable start to the race saw him climb from last position to seventh place by lap two!
The Portuguese slipped back to ninth overall after being overtaken by Antonio Albacete’s Trucksport Lutz Bernau machine and Lacko midway through the race. Still, it was a mighty performance from teh Reboconorte MAN racer.
Andre Kursim rounded out the top ten and also stayed in contention in the Promoter’s Cup with second in the category with his Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz.
Shane Brereton had an eventful race which eventually netted third in the Promoter’s Cup. He completed the majority of the event with a slow puncture after incurring damage in the opening exchanges.
The FIA ETRC Teams’ championship race was taken by Reinert Racing, as Steffi Halm and combined to claim the points. Die Bullen von IVECO Magirus (Hahn and Korber) were second ahead of Buggyra 1969 (Vrsecky and Lacko).
The second race FIA ETRC race at Le Mans Bugatti is scheduled to begin at 17.35 local time.
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