The FIA European Truck Racing Championship (FIA ETRC) has a good crop of ambitious young chargers keen to make their mark on the series in 2016.
The FIA European Truck Racing Championship (FIA ETRC) has a good crop of ambitious young chargers keen to make their mark on the series in 2016.
Among them is André Kursim in the No.24 Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz truck. The young German is up for the fight this year and cannot wait to get his season underway in Misano.
“Firstly for me it's a whole new challenge to start with the current champion (Norbert Kiss) in the Tankpool24 Racing team,” Kursim told us this week. “However, I'm sure Norbert will certainly bring the team and me further forward. I'm looking forward to an instructive season in 2016.
Kursim also believes that being present at the first race, even as a spectator was a help in preparing for the season ahead.
“Without any reference to my performance it is difficult to say if I was able to learn from this race - I wasn't able to compare any results. Though I made use of the time and was able to work out some improvements and adjustments for the new season together with Stefan (Honens - engineer) and Norbi.”
Predictions are not easy in the FIA ETRC but Kursim is aiming for good consistency and some regular top ten positions.
“Based on the technical failures of last season we should now primarily try to reach the finish at each race,” said Kursim. “Rankings among the top ten should be possible this year.”
“Due to Stefan's experience a lot will change. In 1-2 years we hopefully will be able to fight for the top three positions. Time will tell what exactly happens.
Kursim was in a good position to observe the first race of a new era in FIA ETRC at Spielberg with new promoters ETRA Promotion GmbH in charge.
The new promoters freshened up the FIA ETRA which brought some changes for us as well,” I think nobody can complain about the Spielberg race. We all look forward to some more exciting races.”
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