Preliminary Report Nürburgring

18. July 2006It’s the first time that at the Truck Grand Prix on the Ring the pilots cannot score points for the European Championship. But it seems that the officials on both sides – FIA as well as ADAC-Mittelrhein – are no longer very happy about this, although both sides declare now and then that they do not rely on the other. So there is a fair chance that next year at the Truck Grand Prix there will be points given for the European Championship again, particularly as the FIA European Truck Racing Championship falls into the scope of ADAC sports president Hermann Tomczyk who is the vice president of the FIA. This year the winner of the truck racing weekend on the ring only gets the title ‘International Truck Master Germany.
Nevertheless, the programme for the weekend at the Nürburgring is, as always, full to the brim. There is something of interest for everybody, and there will be an absolute novelty: on Thursday, when usually people from the press and the industry can sit in the trucks as passengers, for the first time the “average” truck racing fan has the opportunity to sit in a race truck as a co-pilot doing some rounds on the Nürburgring. (for more information see “tickets” at www.truck-grand-prix.de).
While during the daytime there are events on the circuit almost non-stop – besides the Truck Grand Prix there are the races of the British Championship, the races of the Clio Cup and the Benelux Racing League as well as the Truck Go & Stop contests – in the evenings the fans can enjoy concerts and fireworks that are among the largest in Europe.
However, the Truck Grand Prix is not only an event for amusement, but over the years developed into one of the biggest exhibitions for the manufacturers of commercial vehicles. During the years of slight recession the industry cut back a bit, but now it seems the economic boom has an impact on the TGP, too. Mercedes Benz and MAN, the two biggest German manufacturers, give some impressive performances. And the other manufacturers of commercial vehicles and the supplying industry will be present, too. The industry park will be more crowded than ever.
At present, people all over Germany enjoy the fantastic summer temperatures, but the forecast for the racing weekend is not so promising. The forecasts of the different weather stations vary, however, and every visitor of the Ring knows how quickly the weather will change on the heights of the Eifel. In any case, it will be rather hot – about 30 degree C / 86 degree F – but the probability of having rain ranges between 20 and 60 per cent, depending which weather station is asked. So it would be wise to be prepared for all eventualities.
For all those who cannot come to the Ring, there is something new on www.truckracing.de / www.truckrace.info: Live streaming of the Ring Radio and result-lists. And although there is no Eurosport report this time, TV viewers in Germany will be informed not only by several regional TV stations, but already on Sunday, July 23 at 21:00 hrs (9:00 p.m.) DSF will broadcast a one hour Truck Grand Prix report.