IAA Hanover

21. September 2006Hannover - At the IAA für Nutzfahrzeuge (IAA for Commercial Vehicles) at Hanover, which opened today, September 21, several exhibitors did demonstrate their special reference to truck racing, but of the protagonists of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, it was only MAN who did so. In the otherwise marvellously equipped exhibition halls of Daimler Chrysler there was, unfortunately, no hint that the trucks of Mercedes Benz are among the most successful in truck racing. After the performance at this year´s Truck Grand Prix on the Nürburgring a similar commitment of the Stuttgart company would have been expected.
Quite different was the other leading manufacturer. One of Egon Allgäuer´s race trucks which was driven by Hans-Joachim Stuck at the TGP, stood on a rather exposed position at the MAN exhibition stand. In addition, there were wide-screen monitors installed around the truck, showing videos of truck racing. For the coming weekend it is planned to have Stuck and Allgäuer there for autograph sessions, and furthermore, among all the "civilian" trucks, MAN very effectively presents the truck which succeeded at the Dakar Rally.
And Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, too, gave a prominent display of their commitment to truck racing. Although the company - who won twice the SuperRaceTruck championship - has no vehicle which meets the current race truck requirements, they provide their Brazilian Volkswagen Constellation as a pace truck for many races. And this truck is very impressively presented right at the entrance to the VW hall - obviously with the mud from the whole season still sticking to it.
And several sponsors of truck racing refer to their commitment to motor sports, as well, although with less spectacular actions.
The IAA für Nutzfahrzeuge on the exhibition ground of Hanover is open till September 28. Some impressions can be found on this page.