Thursday, 28.03.2024 | Deutsch | English
Jarama – Preliminary Report

Jarama – Preliminary Report

29. September 2010Considering the current situation the final in Jarama won’t probably be a breath-taking event, because front-runner Antonio Albacete holds a points lead of 57 and 58, respectively, over his nearest rivals Markus Bösiger (SUI) and Jochen Hahn (GER) – a margin that is much too wide for his opponents to have a chance of making up leeway. However, the Spanish MAN pilot has not yet won the Championship. Particularly Bösiger can tell a thing or two about how fast a supposedly commanding lead can evaporate in the final. But even if the local hero didn’t collect a single point in the final round, Bösiger and Hahn would have to win both first races where 20 points can be gained, and they would have to take at least the runner-up spot in the 10-point races. But both drivers are realists so that they will certainly focus on becoming vice champion. Renault pilot Bösiger not only has the advantage of having one point more than Hahn, but – compared to his German rival in the black MAN – he also holds the greater number of first places obtained in the 20-points races. And there is also the second MKR Renault still to be reckoned with. Markus Oestreich is not really breathing down Bösiger’s and especially Hahn’s neck, but he needs only 42 more points to move up to 3rd. The man from Fulda really got on a roll in the previous races. Had Oese not had tough luck at the beginning of the season, he would now certainly be among the front runners.
In the team championship the margin is almost as narrow as in the fight for the vice championship. Renault-MKR Technology (Bösiger / Oestreich) sits a mere 7 points clear of MAN-Team Truck Sport Bernau (Albacete / Levett) – and a team can collect up to 108 on a race weekend.
But there is one pilot who has already come out the winner before the final, and that’s Uwe Nittel (Freightliner). Never before has a race-by-race pilot collected so many points. Once the German rally ace had got used to the somewhat rougher driving style in truck racing, he didn’t shy away from any duel and already took a podium spot twice.
In Jarama truck racing not only has absolute priority, but it is the only series on the agenda. A few weeks ago there were plans to have the MK Interseries start in the supporting programme – but in the current schedule they are not listed anymore. But now there will be more attention bestowed on the parade of the country’s most beautiful trucks. After all, these processions are of no less importance in Spain than their – admittedly – bigger paragons at the Nürburgring and in Le Mans.
But one of the visitors will certainly see these programmes as peripheral, especially at the moment, when he will be allowed to climb into his new truck. Every year Cepsa organizes a lottery drawing where all their key customers can take part. The first prize is always a truck painted the same bright red as Albacete’s RaceTruck. Previously the first prize could already be seen from afar, dangling from a huge crane at the first bend. But nowadays this is no longer allowed for safety reasons. Now the truck is displayed in front of the Cepsa hospitality unit for the visitors’ assessment, and on Sunday during a break between the races it will be officially handed over to its new owner.
Otherwise, everybody knows that the fans in Jarama don’t need a programme; they will create their own programme. Those who have ever attended a truck racing weekend in Jarama, will always remember it. The atmosphere on the grand stands is unique. And most of the visitors stay on the grand stands all the time, because contrary to other events, e.g. the Truck Grand Prix at the Ring, without a special ticket access to the paddock is denied. This is unfortunate for the audience, but rather necessary from the organizer’s point of view. The paddock was built several decades ago and everything is a bit smaller in size. Although now there aren’t any other vehicles in the supporting programme, there are 30 RaceTrucks registered, the maximum number of trucks allowed on this track – at the Ring, for instance, the number is limited to 26. This means that the paddock will be jam-packed, and as all Spain expects Albacete to win the title, the paddock will again look as if immersed in red.