Local favourite Jochen Hahn sealed pole position in a thrilling Super Pole session at Nurburgring this afternoon. It was the former triple champions’ first pole position since he set the best time at the first race of the season at Red Bull Ring in April.
Local favourite Jochen Hahn sealed pole position in a thrilling Super Pole session at Nurburgring this afternoon. It was the former triple champions’ first pole position since he set the best time at the first race of the season at Red Bull Ring in April.
Hahn set the quickest lap of 1m54.548s to go just 0.294s ahead of title rival Adam Lacko. The Czech driver initially held the advantage over Hahn in the first phase of the ten minute session before Hahn fought back to go clear of the Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner ‘Fatfox’.
Ensuring that there were two Germans in the top three positions was Steffi Halm. Continuing her excellent momentum after the first two events of her FIA ETRC season, the Reinert run MAN claimed third place ahead of Tankpool24 Racing’s Norbert Kiss. The Hungarian completed the second row of the grid for tomorrow mornings 13th race of the season.
Rene Reinert starts fifth ahead of Ryan Smith, who returns to the FIA ETRC after a two event absence. The British driver, who scored a best ever second place at the Austrian opener, will be keen to take the battle to the championship regulars this weekend.
Anthony Janiec placed seventh ahead of Sascha Lenz (Lenz MAN), who in turn was just a tenth of a second in front of Gerd Korber (Team Schwabentruck IVECO).
Ellen Lohr rounded out the top ten in her Truck Sport Lutz Bernau MAN to start her home race weekend positively.
Hahn also heads Lacko in qualifying session
The qualifying period which decided the Super Pole top ten saw Jochen Hahn head Adam Lacko by just 0.334s. Steffi Halm was the only other driver to get within a second of the two championship leaders as she continued to pose a threat at her home circuit.
Rene Reinert took fourth position in his self-run MAN, while Norbert Kiss led Ryan Smith (Team OXXO Racing MAN), Anthony Janiec (Lion Truck Racing MAN), Sascha Lenz (SL MAN) and Gerd Korber (Team Schwabentruck IVECO) rounded out the top nine positions.
The fight to get in to the top ten was a fierce one with Ellen Lohr’s tenth position under threat from Markus Altenstrasser who returns to the FIA ETRC for the first time since the Red Bull Ring opener. The Austrian, driving a Team Schwabentruck IVECO, was 0.7s in arrears, while Jiri Forman placed 12th in his Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner ‘FatFox’. Lohr
Newcomer to the FIA ETRC Shane Brereton took a fine 13th position after getting to grips with the Nurburgring track in his Team Oliver Racing run MAN truck for the first time.
Fellow newcomer John Hemming starts 20th for the first race tomorrow. The young Finn is gaining experience as he starts his FIA ETRC career this weekend.
There was drama in the session when Jeremy Robineau stopped on track and had to be recovered after stopping out on track with a technical problem.
Heinz-Werner Lenz, who is making a one-off appearance in the FIA ETRC here at his home event, slowed and stopped on the back straight. This meant the German veteran ended the session in 19th position.
Race one of the 31st ADAC German Truck Grand Prix weekend is scheduled to start at 10.30 local time.
For the full Super Pole result please click here