Saturday in Jarama Part 1 – Norbert kisses rivals off again for pole

04. October 2014Jarama - It was still dark, with the temperature in single digits, when the fans began streaming into the Circuito del Jarama north of Madrid so as not to miss even a moment of the first free practice session of this, the eighth round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship.
By the time the trucks finally rolled out onto the track, situated almost 700 m above mean sea level, the sun had long climbed over the surrounding, its warm rays drying out the last damp patches of asphalt.
Hungarian Norbert Kiss (MAN) was not just quickest in both heats, but also, with a time of 1:57.975s, the only driver within 1:58s. Qualifying was a more earnest affair, even if the top drivers still seemed not to be giving it their all. Most returned to the refuge of the pits after a single flying lap to conserve their tyres, confident they’d gone quick enough to guarantee a spot in the shootout. Jochen Hahn (GER) drove the fastest lap in his MAN in 1:58.412s, with Kiss, Spaniard Antonio Albacete and Swiss teammate Markus Bösiger (both MAN), and Czech Buggyra pilot David Vršecký all within a half-second off his time. German René Reinert (MAN), Czech Adam Lacko (Buggyra Freightliner), and the three MAN drivers Anthony Janiec (FRA), Benedek Major (HUN), and Frankie Vojtíšek (CZE) made up the top 10.
There was no holding back, though, in the 10-minute dash for the SuperPole. Kiss promptly laid down a scorcher in 1:57.697s. Hahn couldn’t get closer than a tenth, and thus the front row was decided. The rest of the grid placings were taken in order by Albacete, Lacko, Vršecký, Bösiger Reinert, Janiec, Major, and Vojtíšek.

Impressions: