Friday, 29.03.2024 | Deutsch | English
Nürburgring – Preliminary Report

Nürburgring – Preliminary Report

21. July 2009Certainly most of the fans and visitors are loath to think back on last year’s construction site atmosphere. In the paddock it was less noticeable, although somehow it was a bit creepy and spooky, when you entered the pit lane and where normally you would see the grand stands occupied by thousands of fans, there was nothing – only cranes, nothing else.
Thank goodness that’s over. The Nürburgring now shines in completely new splendour, although many people – regardless of the so far unresolved question on the financing – do not really approve of the changes; they bemoan the loss of the old Ring. Particularly in the area alongside the start-finish-straight almost everything has been changed. Where in the past car parks and the shopping mile were situated, there are now large buildings with hotels, casino, adventure park, etc. A big part of the former parking areas and camping sites across the ‘Bundesstrasse’ (A-road), were converted into the ‘Eifeldorf’ (Eifel Village) with some more hotels and restaurant businesses. This means that most of all those visitors, who frequented this area regularly for years, will be affected by the change and now have to adapt to the new situation.
But there is no need for the experienced Ring fans to adapt to the weather, because it will be as unpredictable as ever – almost every year the general weather situation was so unstable in the Eifel that the audience got used to it. And the fans know that in this area – approx. 800 m above sea level – everything is possible; a cloudless sky with bright sunshine or a sudden deluge, even in mid-July.
Nevertheless it’s still possible to decide to come to the Ring on the spur of the moment to enjoy the Truck Grand Prix this weekend. For some of the categories there are still tickets available at the box offices. And you do not only get motorsports at its finest, but in addition there is an exhibition, a funfair, a grand display of fireworks, country festival, and – as a special highlight already on Friday evening – a concert with superstar Sasha in the Müllenbach Loop. For a price you normally have to pay for a concert ticket alone, you will get a complete package on the Ring.
But also the companies presented on the Ring have plenty to offer to their friends and customers. Traditionally all the MAN truckers (but not only them) drop in on the hospitality unit and the stands of the Munich truck manufacturer, whose racers are presently leading in the championship. Another “truckracing.de” partner, DKV, had – prior to this event – sent out their scouts to the truck stops in Germany to look for trucks with DKV TGP stickers (those stickers were enclosed to the trucker magazines “Trucker” and “Fernfahrer” for instance), and with a bit of luck you could win small gifts or even 75 Euros in cash directly on the spot – in celebration of the DKV’s 75th anniversary. And you could also win tickets for the TGP. But now, during the event at the Ring, the first prize will be drawn – a trip for two people to the big final of the European Truck Racing Championship in Jarama near Madrid in early October.
In front of the “Fernfahrer” and DEKRA tent a young lady from Switzerland will offer a relaxing massage specifically developed for tensed up truckers’ and racers’ backs.
But naturally there will be some races, too. By tradition the TGP is a 4-days event. And the action starts already on Thursday with press and industry drives, followed by extended (additional) free practice sessions.
And perhaps it will already become apparent – unless the one or other pilot put on his poker face – whether Jochen Hahn is able to keep riding on the wave of success. If so, he can certainly defend the honorary title “Most popular truck racer on the Ring” he was awarded last year. And, by the way, for all people who take part in the election there are great gifts to be won.
The Spaniard Antonio Albacete, who is presently leading the overall standing, had to realize recently that he is no longer the absolute MAN pilot no. 1. After his series of misfortunes early this season, Hahn has outstripped the Spaniard once and again. But they will probably not be able to decide the title among themselves, because David Vrsecky – 2008 Champion – and Markus Bösiger – 2007 Champion – will certainly have some say in the matter, too. This season, the Buggyra pilots did not dominate the first races as in the years before. While the Czech, relatively unspectacularly, has been moving up to the second position in the overall standing, Bösiger lately has several times bemoaned his fate – and some of the stewards’ decisions. Particularly the drive-through penalty in Misano, which in his opinion was totally unjustified (and he wasn’t the only one who thought so), and cost the Swiss driver quite a few points, and it still irks the entrepreneur from Langenthal.
And also youngster Chris Levett and ex-champion Egon Allgäuer often succeed in challenging the top four, but the two MAN pilots cannot always keep pace over the entire racing distance. The same goes for the two Renault drivers, Markus Altenstrasser and Frankie Vojtisek who have had some bad luck in Barcelona. While trying to lap Bösiger’s battered truck they crashed into each other, and both drivers had to retire because their trucks were severely damaged.
Levett and Stuart Oliver are going to have a busy schedule on the Ring. They will also take part in the races of the ADAC Mittelrhein Cup, because the points achieved there count towards the British Championship. But Heinz-Werner Lenz, the ‘King of the Ring’, with his son Sascha and his new comrade-in-arms, the former Rally Vice World Champion Uwe Nittel, will be the stars and favourites at this event.
However, Hans-Joachim Stuck has by now gained quite some experience in truck racing, and he will certainly try to give the others a hard time, because here as well as in the FIA races points can be achieved for the attractive and worthwhile title ‘Truck Master Germany’.
And for all those fans who have no opportunity to watch the event live on the Ring – there is a joint video live streaming available on this web site, on the portals of the Truck Grand Prix and of the teams involved in this action:
Lutz Bernau Truck Sport – Germany
Team Hahn Racing – Germany
Bird`s Motorsport – Great Britain
Renault Trucks – Czech Republic
Truck Navarra Competición – Spain
BJP Racing – Belgium
G-Truck France – France