Sascha Lenz, at just 29 years of age, is definitely one of the Young Guns competing in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (FIA ETRC), along with André Kursim and Jirï Forman.
Sascha Lenz, at just 29 years of age, is definitely one of the Young Guns competing in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (FIA ETRC), along with André Kursim and Jirï Forman.
It bodes well for the future of the championship that it is attracting a new generation of competitors and new promoters, the ETRA, are very keen to attract more drivers to this highly competitive and popular series as part of their strategy for the next few years.
This season Lenz is acting as a mechanic, driver and team chief for the family run SL Lenz team, which run the Windpower backed MAN race truck.
For Sascha competing in truck racing is quite literally a family affair. We caught up with the young German driver ahead of his home event to ask him a few questions about his truck racing career:
What made you decide to be a truck racing driver?
“I have always been fascinated by the sport. To be honest, I was raised with truck racing as my father (Heinz-Werner Lenz) has competed for many years in the championship, in fact he is going to be racing this weekend (at Nürburgring) as a race-by-race entrant. My mother (Silvia Lenz) is also involved as she is the team manager of SL Truck Racing Germany.”
What is your best memory from competing in truck racing?
“I think it was at the Truck Grand Prix (Nürburgring)) back in 2012 when I was running in the Mittelrhine Cup when I won ahead of my father, Mathew Summerfield and René Reinert – that was definitely a good day!”
What is so special about truck racing fans?
“The enthusiasm of the fans is without limits. Hundreds of thousands of them come to all our events and it becomes like one big family in the paddock and in the grand stands. We as a team and I as a driver are very proud of the unique atmosphere you get at FIA ETRC events.
“The team are all really looking forward to our home event. All of the German drivers are very busy over the three days, but it definitely spurs you on to do well.”
What are your hopes for the 2016 season?
“I really want to establish myself as a consistent top 10 driver this season. In order to do this, I need to continue to develop as a driver and it is also important to qualify well to give yourself the best opportunity in the races.”
“In the second half of the season my objective is to score a podium. This is a very competitive championship so it is a tough challenge, but I would really like to achieve this in 2016. I managed to score a 6th place in Jarama last year, so maybe that will be a good circuit for me again.”
What do you think is the future for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship?
“We now have a promoter (the ETRA) and we hope that the increased exposure and professionalism they bring to the championship will attract more sponsors and industry partners for the series and the teams competing in it. The races are really exciting and the special atmosphere we have at our events will hopefully attract new teams, drivers and sponsors.”
Editor’s Notes
Sasha Lenz currently lies 7th in the 2016 FIA Drivers Championship.
For the team championship he has partnered up with Anthony Janiec, Lion Truck Racing team. Lion Truck Racing -Lenz currently lies 3rd in the championship and have enjoyed several visits to the podium this year already.
ETRC 2016 calendar dates:
|
30 April/1 May |
Austria |
Red Bull Ring |
|
28/29 May |
Italy |
Misano |
|
11/12 June |
France |
Nogaro |
|
2/3 July |
Germany |
Nürburgring |
|
27/28 August |
Hungary |
Hungaroring |
|
3/4 September |
Czech Republic |
Most |
|
17/18 September |
Belgium |
Zolder |
|
1/2 October |
Spain |
Jarama |
|
8/9 October |
France |
Le Mans |