2018 FIA European Truck Racing Championship title-winner Jochen Hahn says stability is the key for retaining his title...
Five-time FIA European Truck Racing Championship title-winner Jochen Hahn has said that stability is the key word in his and the whole IVECO line up’s preparation for the upcoming season.
Hahn will continue to use the proven IVECO truck that took him to his fifth FIA ETRC crown last season.
“We will use the same truck as last year. It was good enough,” understated Hahn who won 12 races on his way to the title. “Looking from this side, we’re ready for the season.”
Hahn also stressed that the situation with his own Team Hahn Racing outfit, as well as other IVECO-affiliated squads, is stable and the long-term future is secured.
“It’s very stable. Every single sponsor decided to continue into the next season and also we have the final contract with IVECO until 2023. It’s a long-time [commitment] with IVECO, so it’s a good basis.
The team has an intense testing programme in place ahead of Hahn’s title-defending campaign. “We are usually the testing champions, so we begin to test in the middle of March, using IVECO’S testing facility in Ulm.”
This will be followed by the traditional pre-season test session in April at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. With continuity on his side, Hahn could undergo knee surgery in his right leg during the off-season, in order to fix a problem he was suffering from for a while.
“My right leg is brand new," says Hahn. "Last year I was only able to give 95% with it and now it will be 100% for the next season,” he assures, being hopeful that fully recovered he will experience further improvement in his performance.
He also could focus on the progress of 21-year-old son Lukas, who's set to become third-generation racer within the Hahn truck racing dynasty, following the footsteps of his decorated father and grandfather, Konrad.
Hahn Jr had his first taste of truck racing competition at last season’s pre-season test session at Most.
This year, with a freshly-acquired racing licence, he's targeting an outing in the FIA ETRC’s support race during the ADAC Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring - the Mittelrhein Cup.
In preparation for his first competitive outing, he'll join the FIA ETRC pack at the pre-season Most test this year as well, driving Team Hahn Racing’s IVECO demo truck.