Thursday at the Ring

22. July 2010Nürburgring - Over the years the Truck Grand Prix has evolved into a genuine 4-day event, and today there was already a huge crowd flocking especially to the pit lane, because in the morning the so-called ‘VIP drivings’ were on the programme. And the weather gods had mercy with the visitors; the weather was much better than predicted – a few raindrops now and then, that was it. And today the focus was not really on the current top drivers of the championship, but rather on those pilots whose new RaceTrucks are going to have their ‘debut’ at the Ring. Particularly three-time champion Gerd Körber was surrounded by journalists and fans alike. And it was the man from Rheinau who caused the first excitement when, after only a few practice laps in his snow white Schwaben Truck, he was forced to return to the paddock because of a shattered windscreen. The other new truck, the Mercedes Silberpfeil, will be piloted by an absolute truck racing novice, touring car pilot Hendrik Vieth. He did not have any real problems, so that he had ample time to swap ideas with racing commentator Jörg Hennig. And there will be yet another newcomer at the start, Mika Makkinen – who is going to drive the second Hahn Racing truck – however, the Finn is an old hand at truck racing. Zoltán Birnbauer is registered as the replacement for Jochen Hahn’s former team mate, the late Balazs Szobi. For the Hungarian of German descent truck racing will be a totally new experience. In remembrance of Balazs Szobi all the trucks in the FIA European Championship will be equipped with a small Hungarian flag at the windscreen.
Buggyra pilot Uwe Nittel will be driving the Freightliner at least in Most and Jarama; but probably – according to ‚paddock telegraphy’ – there will be a late entry for the German on the FIA list for the remainder of the season. As Vieth is also expected to participate in Most and Zolder, there would be four German pilots registered – Jochen Hahn, Markus Oestreich, Uwe Nittel and Hendrik Vieth. Last season Jochen Hahn was the only German in the championship.