Cepsa Team in Albacete

29. March 2006Albacete - One week earlier than at the date announced beginning of March, Lutz Bernau and his mechanic, Franz Burgl, could take the completely overhauled race truck of title holder Antonio Albacete to the circuit, bearing the same name, for first tests. There, the pilot and Cepsa team manager Ivan Cruz as well as race engineer Justo Alvarez and chief mechanic Ricardo Lopez were eagerly awaiting them. Since head of logistic, Gaby Madrid, was not at the final in le Mans because of his broken foot, he wanted, on no account, miss the first appearance of the 2006 MAN TGA. After several months of race truck abstinence, Albacete had to get back the feel of the race truck. At the same time, the different parameters and settings were tested. The Spaniards had nothing but praise for the Bernau Team, cause everything went like clockwork.<br />
Special attention was paid to the handling with the Allgäuer steel ropes - so called by the Spanish team - on the front axle. As we know, last year - after protests from Cepsa - Egon Allgäuer was disqualified in Albacete because of these safety ropes. This year these ropes are allowed. But also the different set-ups with the new Goodyear Truck Racing tyres on the front axle were tested.<br />
On the whole, the entire session was rather relaxed and smooth. Only the pilot himself had some minor problems. Because of the mandatory net instead of the side windows they used for safety reasons, the free view in his side mirror was a bit obstructed.