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Sunday in Jarama

Sunday in Jarama

05. October 2008Jarama - Again the night was rather cold, in the early morning the temperature varied between 5 and 6 °C (41 and 43 °F). For several teams the night was also rather labour-intensive. First there was the replacement of the engine on the MAN of Egon Allgäuer, who refrained from participating in yesterday’s Championship race, then it was Stuart Oliver’s turn – this went on till the early hours. And on Jochen Hahn’s truck the gearbox was replaced. This is why the mechanics of some teams just paid a fleeting visit to the MAN’s end of season party in the “Power Station”. At Buggyra’s there was only routine work to be done, they were quite relaxed; after the team championship they now have also the drivers’ championship all sewn up, no matter which of their pilots wins. Moreover, last evening the winners of the Sponsor Challenge Cup were honoured, too. Here all those took part who either participated in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship for the first time, or who did not make it into the top ten of the overall standing last year. The winner was Markus Altenstrasser (Renault) ahead of Balazs Szobi and Mikhail Konovalov (both MAN).
In the timed practice today the same people as yesterday were again leading. But this time Buggyra pilot David Vrsecky secured pole already in his third lap. Later Antonio Albacete (MAN) and Markus Bösiger (Buggyra) managed to better their times considerably, but eventually they had to be content with second and third place, resp., on the grid. Hahn gained 4th position ahead of Jean-Philippe Belloc and Allgäuer (all of them MAN).
Albacete made a super start in the following Qualy race and took the lead already before the first bend. Although pole setter Vrsecky was on the more favourable inner track, he certainly did not want to take a risk any more and yielded to the Spaniard. Close behind some scuffles broke out between Belloc and Hahn, and Allgäuer took the opportunity to pass them both. However, Hahn had to plough through the gravel bed and re-entered the track on 13th position, while Belloc breathed down Allgäuer’s neck. The fight of the two MAN pilots went on for 5 laps, and then the Frenchman succeeded in overtaking the Austrian. Meanwhile Hahn had progressed up the field and was behind the duo. Again and again it looked as if the German could also pass the yellow Allgäuer MAN. But the former European Champion fought off every attack and eventually crossed the finish line with an advantage of half a second. Front-runner Albacete defended his leading position against Vrsecky and Bösiger and secured his third win of this weekend with 4 tenths. Behind Hahn, Dominique Lachèze took 7th, followed by José Rodrigues (both MAN), Anthony Janiec (Renault), Javier Mariezcurrena and Chris Levett (both MAN). The Brit got the last FIA point for his 11th place, because Rodrigues as a race-by-race pilot could not get any.
As expected, the final Championship race turned into an Albacete festival. The outcome of the Championship was determined, and for the two Buggyra pilots, Vrsecky – as the new European Champion – and Bösiger – as the new runner-up – there was no reason at all to spoil things for the Madrilenian on his home track, come hell or high water. Driving behind at a distance of half a second the two Freightliners were always ready to pass Albacete in case he made a mistake or his truck packed up, but did not start any serious attacks. Consequently the crowd of 35,000 fans could cheer their Antonio lap after lap when he headed for his fourth win of the weekend. 4th place was hotly contested by the two pilots from the Koller + Schwemmer Team – Belloc and Hahn. The German managed to pass Allgäuer rather early and was then close behind the Frenchman for several laps. But try as he might, the man from Altensteig did not manage to pass, as Belloc fought off every attack. But then he got a drive-through penalty for hitting the corner markers and dropped back to 7th behind Allgäuer and Lachèze. Oliver, Janiec and Frankie Vojtisek completed the group of the points collectors.
Now the overall standing is as follows: Vrsecky is leading with 414 points, ahead of Bösiger (393), Albacete (372), Hahn (305), Belloc (239) and Altenstrasser (148).
Once again the day’s team ranking was won by Buggyra (Bösiger/Vrsecky), followed by Team Koller + Schwemmer (Hahn/Belloc) and Team Frankie (Vojtisek/Altenstrasser).