Troublesome Journey Home

16. June 2008When leaving Albacete, the non-Spanish truck racers had no idea that they would be forced to stay in Spain involuntary for some time. As we all know, the truck drivers, protesting against the rising prices for mineral oil, were blockading the frontier to France and were also obstructing the motorways near the big cities by driving slowly or parking their trucks on the streets. And it was announced that this protest could go on for an unlimited period. Some of the truck racing teams arranged to meet at a motorway station near Gerona, and they pitched a tent there because they supposed that they would have to stay there at least till Friday. But on Wednesday around noon the police took action and the blockade at the frontier near La Junquera was raised, and a train of thousands of trucks began to move including the trucks of most of the teams. And also beyond the border in France they drove past kilometre upon kilometre of trucks standing there in two rows.
Several of the teams had serious time pressure caused by their involuntary stay. Some had to keep PR appointments for the weekend – of course with their RaceTrucks. Moreover, they wanted to use the first longer break between two races to make adjustments and changes to the trucks they did not get round to doing before.
By now everybody is back home and preparing for the round in Nogaro.