Top Class Meeting

12. March 2007Nogaro - Same as last year, a lot of top teams will meet for their first pre season tests in Nogaro in mid-March. Of all the hot favourites for the title only one is missing – the Buggyra Freightliners. They prefer to do their tests on the nearby circuit of Most. Egon Allgäuer has again organized the testing days in the Gascogne – an event which is almost a must for the MAN teams. The first photo shootings will be contemplated there, but much more important for the teams is to see how the new Common Rail engine will adjust to the first hardness test. And again, Jochen Hahn will be the only one, in the first instance, representing Mercedes Benz. His brand new truck will be an eye-catcher because it has also got a completely new design. But otherwise – compared to the MAN trucks – Hahn’s truck is almost “naked”.
It’s not only that many RaceTrucks have a sort of debut there, but it will also be the acid test for the new pit lane of the Circuit Paul Armagnac as well as for the new press centre attached there. For years the circuit had privily a bit the reputation of being a Mickey-Mouse track. The track is not very broad at some points, some curves are very narrow and the open pits were primarily constructed for motor bike races in fine weather. But the enthusiasm and cordiality of the organizers and the audience always made all truck racers look forward to going to Nogaro. And, more often than not, the weather conditions were very favourable.
But during the past years, the boss of the circuit André Divies and his family succeeded in achieving investments of several million Euros. For this structurally weak area around the 2000 souls town of Nogaro this is an extraordinary endeavour. And so every event is highly appreciated not only by the local gastronomy and business world, but also the local people are always full of vim and vigour.