Friday, 29.03.2024 | Deutsch | English
International Truck Masters Germany

International Truck Masters Germany

17. May 2006That's the subtitle of this year's Truck Grand Prix on the Nürburgring. It is no longer a secret that the organizer of the world's biggest truck racing event, the ADAC-Mittelrhein, decided not to integrate it's Truck Grand Prix into the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, which means that the winner will not get any championship points. Instead he will hold the title 'International German Truck Master'. From the reactions it can be concluded that at least the pilots would have preferred to get the points. But it is indicated that, eventually, the Truck Grand Prix 2007 will be combined with the European Championship. <br />
Certainly, at the truck racing paddock not everybody is buddy-buddy all the time - there have been some differences of opinion between the FIA, and the organizer as well as the sponsors - but there it will not be expatiated as much as at the F1.<br />
When at the end of the season 2001 first MAN and then Mercedes Benz officially withdrew from truck racing - DAF had already thrown in the towel earlier - for the first time the disagreements at the truck racing commission became known to the general public. However, against all the odds, the FIA European Truck Racing Cup is still one of the most popular motor sports series in Europe. But the disagreements remained and led to a test of strength between the organizer of the Truck Grand Prix and the FIA. Neither party seems to be very happy about the current situation - least of all the teams and the pilots. Even top teams which are not bound by sponsor contracts, will consider whether or not to start at the Eifel event. Because the travel money - although quite generous - is far from covering all the expenses for two support trucks plus at least 4 - 5 mechanics and assistants, and that's before the race truck itself is started. And there are always some damages. <br />
However, the Truck Grand Prix still is the trucker festival par excellence. And since many representatives of the industry will come, too, that alone is a good reason why most of the FIA pilots want to be present at the 'Ring'. And then, some points can be gained at the British Championship. <br />
After being released from the 'pressures' of the FIA, the organizer thought up something special which a lot of fans surely will have yearned for. <br />
For many years, at the Nürburgring press people and VIPs could ride on the co-pilot seat of a race truck, but then the FIA tightened the rules drastically. As a consequence, only Nogaro and Most allowed passengers aboard. The other circuits were not ready to accept the FIA conditions. <br />
But now, taking advantage of being independent, they created an absolute novelty: Not only press people can let themselves jolt along the race track until they get carsick, but also the average truck racing fan has the chance to ride in a truck. The organizer offers a top ticket, which not only allows access to all the grandstands of the Gold Class during the whole weekend, but guarantees a co-pilot seat for the Thursday afternoon training of the race trucks. For more details and ticket sale see website of the Truck Grand Prix.