Friday, 29.03.2024 | Deutsch | English
Short Outlook on 2008

Short Outlook on 2008

18. January 2008For the German truck racing scene the outlook is still bleak. Heinz-Werner Lenz’ hopes of being able to enter all the races in 2008 were dampened severely when the Dakar Rally was cancelled, because he had planned to acquire new sponsors with some spectacular performances in the Sahara and benefit from the contacts arising from that to make sure to get a competitive RaceTruck. Same with Gerd Körber, who is also feeling gloomy about the situation he is in. And he is not sure either, whether he will be able to participate or not. The entrepreneur from Rheinau announced that, if he should not get a truck in 2008, he will probably retire from truck racing for good, and concentrate solely on the family-run company, Bickel Tec.
However, Jochen Hahn’s expectations in regard to the new season are not that grim, even though his plans of a co-operation with Iveco were dashed. At the moment the Hahn Team is still in negotiation with other manufacturers of commercial vehicles - which are quite promising. The results can be expected in the course of this week. This would mean that at least one German top pilot will participate. Nevertheless, this would be a downright sombre situation for a nation that is worldwide not only considered as the quintessential car maker in general, but especially as manufacturer of commercial vehicles.
Moreover, Germany was always the country with the largest number of truck racing fans coming to the race events, which were used by the entire commercial vehicle industry as a stage to present their products. But if there were no role models for the fans anymore, their enthusiasm could very quickly wane - resulting in vacant chairs on the grand stands.
In England, too - once one of the leading nations in truck racing - there was a substantial decrease in the number of pilots for the European Championship in recent years. The only thing certain is that Chris Levett will again drive his top MAN; same is expected of former European Champion, Stuart Oliver. With their new, but very experienced team manager, Henry Gracia, the Birds Team of the Levett family would certainly be able to deploy a second truck, but so far there is no specific information available. The truck Andy Levett drove last year - and European Champion Markus Bösiger in 2006 - was bought by David Jenkins. We have no information yet, whether he will also participate in the European championship besides the British championship. And there isn’t any information either, if Steve Horne, who bought the Mercedes truck from Jochen Hahn, will take part in the races of the national championship only.
Furthermore there is a big question mark in regard to the Donington Park circuit. The next FIA meeting will be at the end of this month, and then it should be definitely known if, after many years of ‘abstinence’, there will again be a British race track among the circuits for the European Truck Racing Championship.