One of the stars of last season’s FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Steffi Halm, is all set to begin her 2016 campaign at Misano in less than two weeks’ time.
One of the stars of last season’s FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Steffi Halm is all set to begin her 2016 campaign at Misano in less than two weeks’ time.
Last year, Halm was a race-by-race entrant with a Reinert run MAN truck and won on a memorable weekend at Hungaroring with a superb performance. Several other top results, including podium positions at Most and again at Hungaroring, marked Halm out as one to watch in the FIA ETRC.
In 2016 Halm is back once again in a MAN truck run by Reinert Racing and whilst she couldn’t make round one at the Red Bull Ring, she is a season entrant for this year and keen to build on the 2015 momentum. You can expect Halm to be getting in amongst the other competitors immediately in Italy at the end of the month.
“We are hoping to do a quick test before the Misano race and the team are working very hard to make that happen,” said Halm. “It is a new truck for me as last years one was sold to the UK. I actually have not driven a truck at all since Le Mans last year but I have done a lot of Touring Car and GT3 racing so I am in the racing mode at least.”
Halm was an interested spectator of the TV coverage and FIA ETRC live Truck Tracker over the Red Bull ring weekend. “It was interesting watching it on the live timing and tracker and I could see that Jochen was very quick which of course we already know,” said Halm. “It was a nice surprise to see René so competitive straight away and able to get a win in race two. I think we can expect to see Buggyra getting more pace in dry conditions as the season goes on as well.”
“My target really is the top five. I hope I can close the gap to René (Reinert), continued Halm. “I think we can aim high but as usual the level at the front is very high indeed so we have to start out with realistic expectations.”
As well as her driver championship campaign, Halm has also formed an all-new partnership with Ellen Lohr with the fantastically named Wow! Women on Wheels team championship squad.
“Yes, it is a nice story and I am very happy to race with Ellen with the Wow! Women on Wheels squad,” confirmed Halm. “I think it is a nice story for the championship and also a great name, thanks Lutz (Bernau)!”
“Really though it personally doesn’t matter to me if it is an al-women team or not. I am sure Ellen feels the same. I go racing to win and do my best. Obviously I think it is easy to say that René (Reinert) and Jochen (Hahn) will be the team to beat this season, but Ellen and myself will be pushing super hard to get the best possible results, and if we make new fans along the way then that is great also.”
You can come and see Steffi’s first races of the season at Misano over the weekend of May 28-29.
Click here for full timetable and here for ticket info
Editors Notes:
The official championship website www.fiaetrc.com screens live timing of the races and you can follow the trucks on a live tracker click here
There will also be quick news reports and some great photos of the action and fans can get to the heart of the paddock via our social media with our growing Facebook community.
Race highlights are available variety of global TV channels. For more information on the TV broadcasting click and you can visit the official FIA ETRC YouTube channel for highlights and interviews from the series.