Adam Lacko took maximum points from race three at Nürburgring today after a dramatic wet race was enjoyed by a huge crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Adam Lacko took maximum points from race three at Nürburgring today after a dramatic wet race was enjoyed by a huge crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Lacko, driving his front engined Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner ‘FatFox’ truck, dominated proceedings after moving in to the lead after five laps. But a rare error at the final corner with just four laps remaining ensured a sensational race to the flag.
With Lacko's title rival Jochen Hahn taking second place it means that remarkably the two are tied on 188pts after 15 races completed.
The race had started under the pace truck and the first racing lap was conducted under yellow flags.
Still, Jochen Hahn was able to open up an immediate advantage over fellow front row starter Rene Reinert, who ran wide at the first corner to allow Adam Lacko through in to second position.
The Czech driver, an acknowledged wet weather ace, reeled in Hahn quickly and by the start of lap five he was able to challenge and take the lead with a decisive move on the inside at turn one.
From there, Lacko looked as though he was going to take his Buggyra International Racing System truck well clear of Hahn, but on lap eight he made an error at the final corner and speared through the gravel, losing the lead as he recovered.
It was though only a temporary blip for Lacko, as he soon caught Hahn again and was able to pull off a clean manoeuvre with just two laps to go. Celebrating his seventh win of the season Lacko took the chequered flag 1.310s clear of Hahn.
Behind the German there was a battle royal for the final rung of the podium as Gerd Korber (Team Schwabentruck IVECO) and Norbert Kiss (Tankpool24 Mercedes-Benz) engaged in a sensational fight. The two swapped places over much of the first half of the race in a superb battle which eventually saw the Hungarian pull clear to secure a second consecutive podium.
Korber claimed fourth place after resisting intense pressure from Rene Reinert. As the conditions improved, Reinert was able to pick up his pace and overtake teammate Steffi Halm who came home sixth after a relatively quiet race.
Anthony Janiec (Lion Truck Racing MAN) added to his points tally with a seventh placed finish, while Jiri Forman enjoyed one of the best races of his nascent truck racing career with eighth place for Buggyra. The FIA ETRC young gun will therefore start race four from pole position on the reversed grid later on Sunday afternoon.
Taking the final two points positions were Ellen Lohr (Truck Sport Lutz Bernau) and Shane Brereton (Team Oliver Racing). Lohr took her third consecutive points scoring position, while Brereton continued with his improving pace to claim his first ever FIA ETRC point.
There were multiple spins and incidents during the race as the wet track slowly dried out. Sascha Lenz rotated twice, and Ryan Smith and Erwin Kleinnagelvoort collided while Smith was engaged in a ‘burn from the stern’ mission after qualifying issues meant he was forced to start from the back of the grid.
Among the drivers suffering issues during the race were Jeremy Robineau and Andre Kursim, who both lost significant time after hitting technical problems.
The fourth and final race of the Nürburgring weekend is scheduled to take place at 16.20 local time. You can follow all the action at the FIA ETRC Race Centre Live with live streaming, live truck tracker, live timing and text commentary direct from the circuit. Just click here for the action.