Antonio Albacete was the toast of Jarama as the home hero took his first pole position of the season this morning...
Antonio Albacete in his Truck Sport Lutz Bernau MAN took a first pole positon of the year at his home event in Jarama ahead of the final FIA European Truck Racing Championship race of the 2017 season.
Albacete’s team of 1m58.329s bettered championship favourite Adam Lacko, who qualified second.
The Buggyra International Racing System driver is chasing a first ever FIA ETRC title this weekend and needs just 15 points to secure the crown from Jochen Hahn.
However, it wasn’t all positive for Lacko, as he was summoned by the stewards as his team worked on the truck between Timed Practice and Super Pole sessions.
Lacko’s teammate David Vrsecky, in the second of the Freightliners, went an impressive third-fastest. The Czech will be joined on the second row of the grid by reigning champion Jochen Hahn in his Hahn Racing Iveco.
Sasha Lenz in his SL Trucksport MAN starts fifth on the grid, one place ahead of Promoter’s Cup leader Jose Rodrigues. The Portuguese driver is looking to clinch the inaugural trophy at the venue he considers his home circuit.
Gerd Korber went seventh quickest in his Team Schwabentruck Iveco in what will be his final ever FIA ETRC weekend before he retires. Korber will have Stefffi Halm for company on row four of the grid.
Andre Kursim, took second in the Promoter’s Cup and ninth overall. The Team Tankpool24 Racing driver will be joined by team-mate Norbert Kiss after the Hungarian had his best time cancelled for overspeeding.
Timed Practice
In the earlier Timed Practice session David Vrsecky was the surprise pace-setter.
The Czech topped the timesheets with Jochen Hahn and Norbert Kiss completing the top three. Albacete set fourth quickest time, with Steffi Halm in fifth.
Jose Rodrigues went sixth-quickest overall and was the fastest amongst the Promoter’s Cup runners as well.
Adam Lacko, Sascha Lenz and Gerd Korber occupied places seven to nine and comfortably made it into the Super Pole session.
Andre Kursim rounded out the top 10, being the last one amongst Super Pole qualifiers.
Dutchman Erwin Kleinnagelvoort was the best of the rest in 11th overall and third amongst the Promoter’s Cup competitors.
Eduardo Rodrigues ended the session 12th overall, one place ahead of his grandson Jose Eduardo as three generations of Rodrigues have a full family outing at Jarama this weekend.
Frankie Vojtisek, initially ninth quickest, had all his lap times cancelled due to overspeeding and will place his Czech Truck Racing Team MAN at the very back of the grid.
Places 14th to 18th went to Spanish racers who joined the FIA ETRC regulars this weekend.
The race by race entrants finished in the following order: Pedro Iganacio Garcia Marco, David Marco Bemejo, Enrique Alberto Vila Monteserin and Orlando Rodrigues Ruiz.
Race One of the Jarama weekend is scheduled to start at 15.10 local time.
Super Pole Times