A full preview of the biggest race of the year at Nürburgring this weekend...
The highlight of the truck racing year and the biggest race on the FIA European Truck Racing Championship calendar arrives this weekend with the four races at the famed Nürburgring for the ultra-popular ADAC Truck Grand Prix.
A mix of colour, festival, industry and sport comes together at the legendary meeting, which is known throughout the world, with well over 100,000 fans pour in to the Eifel region to celebrate truck racing and trucking culture at its best.
This years’ edition looks set to be an all-time classic after the first two meetings on the 2018 FIA ETRC schedule have produced close and nail-biting racing.
This weekend a bumper grid of 22 trucks take to the track with a multi-layered and fascinating title battle already brewing.
What is more, the German fans will have multiple potential home race winners to cheer on over the four races which as usual will be conducted on the challenging short Nürburgring circuit.
Jochen Hahn leads the title chase after eight races, having won precisely 50% of them so far. The Hahn Racing IVECO driver will be fired up to scoop his first win at the venue since Race 1 in 2016 and recent form suggests he will take some stopping this weekend.
Leading the chase of Hahn in the points standings are Steffi Halm (Team Schwabentruck) and Norbert Kiss (Tankpool24 Racing). Both have shown fine pace so far in 2018 but both are yet to stand on the top step, although they each have multiple podium finishes already collated.
Halm has settled in to the Team Schwabentruck environment well and will realise a long held dream to score another victory on her home circuit to add to her 2016 Race 2 success. Should she manage to achieve that, then expect the roof to get blown off the large Nürburgring grandstands by her loyal legion of fans!
More German fan favourites will be in the hunt as Sascha Lenz is emerging as a real race winning presence this season. The SL Trucksport driver, who has seen several excellent results so far including that breakthrough debut Misano win, is hungry for more victories.
Rene Reinert returned to the winners circle in Race 4 at Hungaroring earlier this month and will be fired up to claim a first Nürburgring win on his home patch.
“It’s a big event, with a lot of things happening around you for the fans,” said Reinert.
“I like to go there and it’s something special. It’s special for every German driver.
“There are so many people there, full grandstands everywhere. People want to see you on the podium or winning races, so there’s a little bit of added pressure, but it’s an amazing feeling to race there, in front of so many people.”
Andre Kursim collected an impressive haul of points this season and has found great consistency with his Don’t Touch Racing IVECO challenger. Expect the young ace to be mixing it for at least a podium or two at his home track this weekend.
The veteran truck racing warhorse Gerd Korber returns for another cameo appearance this weekend in a second Team Schwabentruck IVECO entry.
Also sure to be a force are Adam Lacko and Antonio Albacete, both of who will be eager to spoil the German party.
Reigning champion Lacko took his first win of the 2018 season at Hungaroring last time out and will want to cut his 37-points deficit to rival Jochen Hahn in his Buggyra International Racing System Freightliner.
As ever, Ryan Smith and the OXXO Hungary Truck Racing Team, will be taking the fight to their direct opposition in typically uncompromising fashion this weekend.
Smith scored a fine second position in Hungary to add to his excellent Misano victory and will be fired up to push himself up the points standings.
Welcome additions to the entry list are Jose Rodrigues and Anthony Janiec for the Reboconort and Lion Truck teams respectively.
Janiec will be aiming to reprise his excellent podium position at the German venue last season in his vibrant yellow MAN.
GRAMMER TRUCK CUP Thrills Guaranteed
One of the undoubted successes so far this season has been the new-look category for CHROME categorised drivers.
Boasting the dynamic support of GRAMMER AG, the GRAMMER TRUCK CUP has already seen a fierce competition of close and thrilling action provide multiple winners.
The evidence is plain to see because the title standings evidence a remarkable three points covering just four drivers!
Jamie Anderson (Anderson Racing MAN) and Steffen Faas (Tankpool24 Racing Mercedes-Benz) are tied together on 68 points with Shane Brereton (TOR MAN) and Ray Coleman (LRS MAN) likewise on 65 points. It could hardly be closer.
Sadly, both Anderson and Coleman have been forced to skip the FIA ETRC races this weekend but will return at Slovakia Ring next month hoping the gap is not too steep in their title quests.
Terry Gibbon gave a fine account of himself and his T Sport squad as they scored a trio of podium places at Hungaroring last time out. Gibbon will be fired up to claim his first GRAMMER TRCUK CUP win in Germany this weekend.
Also likely to be a threat to the top trio will be Oly Janes (Buggyra International Racing Systems) and Luis Recueno (Trucksport Lutz Bernau).
Eduardo Rodrigues races at Nurburgring for the first time since Misano last month. The Portuguese driver will be targeting more points to put towards his 2018 GRAMMER TRUCK CUP campaign.
Category winner in Misano, Thomas Robineau, will return targeting more victories this weekend and joining the action for an eagerly anticipated FIA ETRC debut will be 17 year-old Teo Calvet who joins Janiec at the Lion Truck team.
Calvet, son of former racer and notable truck racer/administrator Fabien Calvet, made his debut in the French Truck Racing Series last year and became the youngest ever winner of a truck race when he took a remarkable win at Nogaro.
The Toulouse resident is highly touted but is intent on learning as much as possible both on and off the track as he will fly direct to Nürburgring after sitting his baccalaureate exam!
Also back in action after a race away will be Frankie Vojtisek who has overseen the rebuild of his Czech Racing Team run MAN after a devastating fire at the opening race in Misano last month.
Erwin Kleinnagelvoort made his 2018 debut last time out at Hungaroring and scored points in all four races with his familiar EK Truck Race run Scania.
Full Nürburgring Timetable HERE
Full Entry List HERE
What Happened Last Year?
Race 1: Adam Lacko
Race 2: Adam Lacko
Race 3: Adam Lacko
How to Follow the Action.....
Live Streaming HERE
Live text commentary and timing HERE
See the current Points Standings HERE