Jochen Hahn topped off a strong weekend by taking the final race win of the weekend at Misano this afternoon.
Jochen Hahn topped off a strong weekend by taking the final race win of the weekend at Misano this afternoon. The German was able to close the point’s deficit to four points (98 to 94) on Adam Lacko, who finished in fifth position after starting from back in eighth place on the reversed grid.
The race began with a drying track after a massive deluge in the run up to the race, which was slightly delayed because of the flooded track. However, with the sun emerging it dried quickly and Sascha Lenz led away from the reverse grid pole position.
Lenz’s lead didn’t last long as he ran wide at the right-hand corner coming off the back straight. This allowed Steffi Halm through and she led confidently until Jochen Hahn latched on to her tail and made his way through on lap four. Once that manoeuvre was completed, Hahn was able to pull away and create a race winning gap, taking the chequered flag with a 4.837s cushion over Halm.
“I had a lot of luck and in the first three laps and then I was in second position and I have a fight with Steffi (for the lead),” said Hahn. “I must say thank you, you are very fair and you give me a lot of space to overtake and it is really fair, and I think this we need this in truck racing.”
Halm drove another impressive race holding second place comfortably and registering her second podium position of the weekend on what is her first event of the 2016 season. The German was lauded by the crowd as she stepped on to the podium and also at the post-race Press Conference which was again brought direct to the crowd in the special Fan Village.
“In the wet it was a bit difficult, but in the dry it was good and I am really, really happy that we can finish yesterday third and today in second position,” said Halm. “It is also a little thank you to the team for the work they have done in a really, really short time. It was a massive effort to bring the truck here so I am really happy and I didn’t expect this result before the weekend.”
Behind Halm there was an epic fight for third position between Anthony Janiec, Rene Reinert and Adam Lacko. Janiec and Reinert engaged in an energetic battle, touching several times as they fought tooth and nail and swapped position twice.
Ultimately it was Janiec who took the final podium position despite a massive effort from both Reinert and Lacko who crossed the line in fourth and fifth positions after one of the scraps of the season so far.
“My weekend was good, today I liked the battle with René,” said Janiec. “I am very happy for my team, for the job done and being in Misano is good with great fans. Thank you to my team and thank you to everybody who came and supported us.”
Sascha Lenz took a distant sixth place, rueing his error earlier in the race which lost him the lead. Gerd Korber was next in seventh place with his Team Schwabentruck IVECO followed by Frankie Vojtisek who came home eighth to score more points in his Czech Truck Racing Team MAN.
The final points were claimed by Jeremy Robineau (Team Robineau) and Ellen Lohr (Truck Sport Lutz Bernau).
Norbert Kiss was denied another attempt at the podium when he suffered suspected gearbox problems on the way to the grid. The problem seemed to be fixed and Kiss was able to race to 11th position, just outside of the points.
In the teams championship it was Team Reinert Adventure who took the victory ahead of the Lion Truck Racing Lenz and the Wow! Women on Wheels squad. Team Reinert Adventure lead Buggyra Racing 1969 by 30-points after eight races.
The next event on the 2016 FIA European Truck Racing Championship schedule is at the Nogaro circuit in France. Four rounds are scheduled for over the weekend of the 11/12 June.
For the result of race four please click here
Click here for the latest championship positions