Spaniard takes first win of the 2018 FIA ETRC season...
Antonio Albacete claimed a hard-earned victory in the first race of the Nürburgring FIA European Truck Racing Championship weekend this morning.
The Trucksport Lutz Bernau driver converted pole position to take a slender victory from Jochen Hahn after the multiple German champion applied huge pressure on the Spaniard throughout the 13-lap race.
Albacete was able to hold off his nemesis and win by just 0.8s to take his first win since the Jarama last October.
Completing the podium was Norbert Kiss in his Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz. The Hungarian made a fine start and was able to capitalise on problems to third place starter Rene Reinert who was forced to retire in the early exchanges with damage to his truck after contact.
Adam Lacko made good progress in the opening stages to come through to fourth place in his Buggyra International Racing System. The reigning champion held off Steffi Halm’s Team Schwabentruck IVECO throughout the race.
At the start pole-sitter Albacete was able to hold off Hahn at the first corner while behind them Sascha Lenz was forced off the track at the exit of Turn 1, spinning to the rear of the field.
Lenz then made a remarkable recovery in his SL Trucksport MAN to come back through the field to finish in ninth place after overtaking several of his rivals in an impressive drive.
Battles raged throughout the field with several fights playing out to entertain the packed grandstands who enjoyed the action in perfect sunny conditions.
One of the most titanic fights was between Jose Rodrigues (Rebonconort MAN) and Andre Kursim (Don’t Touch Racing). The two made contact at the chicane in the closing stages which meant the Portuguese driver claimed sixth over Kursim.
Crowd favourite Gerd Korber recovered after early race contact to take eighth position and take the reverse grid pole for race 2 this afternoon for Team Schwabentruck IVECO.
Earlier Ryan Smith had threatened to join the fight despite knowing he had a 10-second time penalty. The British driver was about to attack the pair but appeared to have a problem with his OXXO Team Hungary Racing MAN after negotiating the chicane and pulled in to the pits
The GRAMMER TRUCK CUP saw victory for Shane Brereton who headed home Thomas Robineau and Steffen Faas in his TOR run MAN.
Thomas Robineau had led the category for the majority of the race but relinquished the lead to Brereton who took the points lead.
Anthony Janiec battled from the back of the field after starting from the rear but was given another penalty for overspeeding. The Lion Truck Racing driver came in 12th.
Frankie Vojtisek returned to FIA ETRC after his team performed miracles to get his truck back on the track after his spectacular Misano fire.
The Czech driver took 14th position ahead of debutant Teo Calvet who continued to gather valuable miles after becoming the youngest ever driver to start an FIA ETRC race.
Eduardo Rodrugues (Rebonconotr MAN) and Erwin Kleinnagelvoort (EK Truck Race Scania) had an epic fight for 16th position which saw wheel-to-wheel racing and contact between the warring duo.
Terry Gibbon finished in 18th position after an heroic effort by his T Sport team after a cylinder head issue yesterday. Luis Recuenco was disappointed to take 19th after contact at the start and a spin in his Trucksport Lutz Bernau run MAN.
Oly Janes was classified 20th despite slowing towards the end of the race in his Buggyra International acing system Freightliner.
In the teams’ result it was the Die Bullen von IVECO Magirus duo of Steffi Halm and Jochen Hahn which combined to take the maximum points ahead of Trucksport Lutz Bernau’s Albacete and Rodrigues.
The second race of the weekend is scheduled to take place at 15.45 local time.
Race Result HERE