Tests in Albacete

22. April 2009It is already a tradition that the truck racers carry out their final tests about three weeks before the start of the first race. Initially established in Nogaro by Egon Allgäuer, this time the tests were done in Albacete. They had to switch to Spain as the French circuit – after the reconstruction and modernisation – is nearly almost fully booked. But neither the weather in Southern France nor on the plateau of La Mancha could compete with the weather in Germany. While here we had fantastic summer weather with mostly clear sky, the truck racers were less fortunate with regard to the temperatures and, especially on Monday, even had to endure one or another rain shower.
The two most notable changes in appearance were: firstly the CEPSA truck which, due to the almost completely flat top, seems to have shrunk considerably in height – although the minimum height is 2.50 metres – and secondly the Allgäuer MAN with its new front spoiler, which looks a bit like the Brazilian race truck of the Austrian. But of course the long journey was not only accomplished so that people could have a look at the RaceTrucks. Jochen Hahn, for instance, had to cover a distance that was almost 1,200 km longer than his trip to Nogaro last year. He left for Albacete on Friday already. And so it really bugged him that he had to interrupt his practice over and over because of minor technical problems. But on Tuesday everything went smoothly and the “Black MAN” pilot drove lap after lap. And also Egon Allgäuer and his new “fellow combatant” Alexander Lvov seemed to breeze through their regular programme. Antonio Albacete who got the truck Jean-Philippe Belloc had been driving last year, and Chris Levett, who is going to pilot Albacete’s former truck – both MAN trucks belong to the Lutz Bernau Team, as is generally known – made only a few minor adjustments. Javier Mariezcurrena had his engine changed on Monday to be on the safe side, and the next day his MAN went like clockwork. On Tuesday José Bermejo arrived unexpectedly in the paddock. Late last year his Mercedes Benz was up for sale, but in January it was put about that the Spaniard would participate in 2009 after all. But finally he was not on the FIA entry list. Now here in Albacete the pilot, who is most popular with the fans because of his spectacular driving style, announced that his truck was completely overhauled and that he intends to participate in the championship as the 21st pilot.