Thursday, 28.03.2024 | Deutsch | English
Germany strongly represented in Truck Racing –  Nittel going to participate in 2011, too

Germany strongly represented in Truck Racing – Nittel going to participate in 2011, too

09. February 2011Germany rates as the number one in the commercial vehicle trade – but in the truck racing business there were those years when Jochen Hahn was the only pilot waving the German flag. But last year the fans often found themselves in a quandary about whom they wanted to keep their fingers crossed for – seen from a national perspective only. And in the coming season this decision could become even more difficult. Besides MAN driver Hahn – the third placed in last year’s championship – Renault pilot Markus Oestreich, who finished in fourth last year, will of course take part again. And in 2010 there was yet another German top ten pilot, the former Rally Vice Champion Uwe Nittel. After his guest performance at the Truck Grand Prix in 2009, Nittel became the “high-flier” last year – but his participation was more or less coincidental.
If there had not been the bickering about the late entry to the championship of the Englishman Stuart Oliver as the pilot of the second Buggyra race truck, Uwe Nittel’s second motorsports career would probably have taken another course. Initially meant to act as replacement, he did a great job as a race-by-race pilot and finished the championship lying 9th on the points table. And now people are speculating all the time how Nittel will proceed further. As is well known, a pilot usually has to come up with a substantial amount of money out of his own pocket (that is to say sponsors) – particularly when joining a top team such as Buggyra. Last year Nittel was their stopgap pilot, and what’s more, he was extremely successful, and at that time there was no one who could have challenged his position. But now there is a pilot, who is extremely well off, seriously interested in driving the second Buggyra: Chris Levett – who secured 6th overall in the championship last year.
But Nittel’s philosophy is quite different; he will hardly be prepared to invest his own money, and his personal sponsors are probably not willing to pay an amount necessary to cover the costs for a complete season with Buggyra. But in the last few days there was a rumour going around that Nittel – besides the Spanish title holder Antonio Albacete – could become the second pilot in the MAN Team of Truck Sport Bernau. However, yesterday Lutz Bernau let the cat out of the bag; Nittel is indeed going to replace Levett. And when the Brit in turn would become Nittel’s successor at Buggyra, this would not be without certain piquancy.
And there is another German truck racer who made quite a splash last year; although not in the FIA Championship but in the Mittelrhein Cup at the TGP – an old hand in a brand-new truck, “Mr. Truck Racing” Gerd Körber with his Iveco. Motivated by this magnificent performance at the Ring, team boss Schorsch Glöckler – who, by the way, is also the constructor of the Iveco RaceTruck Nittel gained his first experiences in – now would like to participate in the championship this season. For a start he plans to take part in four races. This would also be convenient for Körber who is very busy as CEO of Bickel-Tec. And after their roaring success at the Ring the very dedicated Schwabentruck Team attracts also more support from “the brass”. Jürg Spuler, engineer for Iveco’s engine development in Arbon / Switzerland – and, same as Glöckner, guest at Bösiger’s truck racers weekend in Langenthal – will certainly see to it that Körber’s truck is equipped with a high-powered engine when competing in the championship. They will have their debut in Misano – a home track advantage for Iveco.
And then there is Markus Bauer’s Mercedes Benz piloted by Mini Challenge Champion Hendrik Vieth. At the Truck Grand Prix – his first appearance as a truck racing pilot – the touring car expert performed really well, although his truck’s engine was basically inferior to those of his opponents. In his second round in Most the MB Motorsport Team was already about to grab some points, when suddenly his truck suffered a massive engine failure. However, Bauer did not call it quits but is still looking for a competitive Mercedes Benz truck for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. The experienced truck racing strategist was able to convince most of his sponsors to stick to it; only a real race engine is not available for the time being. As is well known, at the moment the decision makers in Stuttgart take a reserved approach in terms of truck racing. On the other hand Mercedes Benz is again actively engaged in the Truck Grand Prix at the Ring – after a short period of “abstinence” – where they played host to a great many invited guests just like in former times. Perhaps they even utilize the impressive setting in order to present their new Actros to the general public, and it would make sense when there were again a truck with the three-pointed star taking part in the races. And Bauer certainly would be the last person to stand in the way. However, whether Vieth would be the one sitting in the cockpit in that case is rather doubtful. The team would want to participate in every round of the championship, but there is some overlapping of the truck racing schedule and the races of the Mini Challenge series. Of course, being the defender of the title, Vieth doesn’t want to miss out on any of the Mini Challenge dates, which means that Bauer is at present not only occupied with getting an MB racing engine, but it might also be that he has to look for a suitable pilot.