Friday in Zolder

15. September 2017Zolder - That it poured buckets yesterday couldn’t have surprised long-time truck racing fans – it does tend to rain frequently when the FIA European Truck Racing Championship is in session here at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. Consequently, one of the most popular items on the agenda at this 7th round of the 2017 season, the race truck parade into the city square of Heusden-Zolder, was a complete washout.
The outlook wasn’t as gloomy when today dawned, but even so there were several showers over the circuit. First off was a photo shoot on the main straight with four race trucks and three race cars from the FIA European Touring Car Cup. The action began only in the afternoon, with the first half-hour of free practice in which 14 of the 17 registered trucks were seen out on the track. Halfway into the session the dark clouds massed, and towards the close it was real wet again. Iveco pilot Jochen Hahn (GER) drove the fastest lap, as he did last year in an MAN, but was around 3.5 seconds slower this time in obviously difficult conditions underfoot.
Till second free practice an hour and a half later the circuit received a few more hectolitres. The effect on the lap times was direct and immediate – the trucks were now timed at up to 15 seconds slower than in the earlier session. The leader in the overall standings, Czech Buggyra pilot Adam Lacko, lived up to his reputation as rain man, lapping almost two seconds quicker than Mercedes pilot Norbert Kiss (HUN).

Impressions: