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Saturday in Jarama

Saturday in Jarama

02. October 2010Jarama - As early as 8:00 h in the morning, at the break of dawn and with “arctic” temperatures of 10 – 11 degrees, the first visitors filled the grand stands “armed” with their stadium noise makers and – typical for Jarama – their chainsaw engines which are now even equipped with megaphones intending to celebrate their hero Antonio. And when Albacete in his bright red Cepsa MAN finished the first race in 3rd position, he had got the championship title already sewn up. But also the two MKR Renault pilots Markus Bösiger (SUI) and Markus Oestreich (GER) were inspired by the heated atmosphere and in the free practice they clocked fastest lap times. On the other hand was the MKR Technology team well aware that the two trucks would probably run into trouble when it got hotter; the disastrous races at the blazing hot Smolenskring is still fresh in their minds. But MKR boss Mario Kress stated on Friday evening that they were dealing with the problem.
When the first timed practice started the temperatures had already risen into the lower 20’s, and again Oese and Bösiger claimed fastest laps, but the Swiss pilot kept everybody in suspense. While all the top pilots had already clocked their fastest times, Bösiger was still way back in 21st position, and only the ten fastest drivers qualify for the SuperPole. But finally the Renault pilot secured 2nd position behind team mate Oestreich. The top ten positions in the SuperPole were completed by the Czech pilot David Vrsecky (Freightliner) ahead of a MAN armada – Antonio Albacete (ESP), Adam Lacko (CZE), Chris Levett (GBR) and Jochen Hahn (GER), followed by the French pilot Anthony Janiec (Renault), MAN driver Alex Lvov (RUS) and the second Freightliner pilot Uwe Nittel (GER). But there was a rude surprise in store for Team Hahn Racing – Hahn was disqualified for overspeed, and the Portuguese José Rodrigues (MAN) was promoted into SuperPole.
In the SuperPole Oestreich and Bösiger set the pace already in the first lap. Nobody could measure up to their lap times (fastest time Oestreich: 1:57,758m). Their nearest chasers, Levett and Albacete, were more than 2 seconds slower. Lacko and Vrsecky took 3rd row on the grid, ahead of Lvov, Janiec, Nittel and Rodrigues.
The start of the first race was rather uneventful. Bösiger, Oestreich and Albacete entered the first bend almost side by side. Then the Swiss eased ahead of Oese and the Spanish local hero, and then the trio went on in single file. After only 3 laps they had caught up with some back markers, but to lap them can be a difficult task in Jarama. However, the top trio didn’t take any risk, and if need be they rather left the racing line and took the longer outside track. By now it was really hot, but the two Renault pilots couldn’t have cared less. Eventually Bösiger and Oestreich crossed the finishing line within only 2 tenths of each other. Only a few metres behind them an entirely happy Albacete came home. In 4th position Levett had a relatively lonely race; lapping the tail-enders all the time was his only diversion. Lacko and Vrsecky were involved in the first tough fight. To the delight of the audience none of the two Czech drivers gave an inch. However, Lacko resisted all attempts by the reigning champion to overtake and finally crossed the finishing line just over 1 tenths of a second ahead of Vrsecky. Hahn had progressed up the field from 30th position and finished in 7th, followed by Nittel who thus secured pole for the second race. The top ten were completed by Lvov and Rodrigues.
For the audience the most exciting fight was the duel between the two MAN pilots Mika Mäkinen (FIN) and Javier Mariezcurrena (ESP), with the Spaniard coming out as the winner. But later he incurred a time penalty for overspeeding dropping him back behind the Finn, so that he had to line up on the less favourable outer track – and this would have an impact on the second race.
For the second race, where the top 8 finishers start in reverse order, Hahn lined up alongside pole setter Nittel; Oestreich and Bösiger started from 4th row on the grid, directly behind Albacete.
The first incident happened already at the start – or rather before the start. Mäkinen and Marezcurrena, who had already been fighting all the time in the first race, clashed so violently that the truck of the Finn fully hit the pit wall and apparently damaged also parts of the start light. That meant the end of the race for Mäkinen’s heavily damaged truck. Hahn pulled away quickly to take a lead he was never to lose until the chequered flag.
Directly behind the Swabian things were a bit less quiet. For several laps Nittel managed to defend his 2nd position, but eventually his team colleague, who was a bit faster, found an opportunity to pass. Suddenly the Freightliner of the German suffered mechanical problems; Nittel dropped back considerably and eventually was forced to retire. Meanwhile the new European Champion Albacete – for whom MAN had already placed big banners along the track congratulating him on winning the title – to the delight of his fans had sliced past Lacko to move up to 3rd. But the Czech and also the Spaniard had not reckoned with the two MKR Renaults. Evidently Bösiger and Oestreich felt so inspired by the first race that towards the end of the race their lap times were a lot faster than those of their opponents. Almost effortlessly they sped past Albacete and Lacko and then they launched an attack on Vrsecky who was far ahead in 2nd position. And indeed, soon the chasing duo was glued to the rear bumper of the Czech, but finally Vrsecky brought his Buggyra Freightliner home in 2nd, ahead of Oestreich and Bösiger, who had swapped places only a few metres before the finishing line. Shortly before the end of the race Lacko managed to reclaim 5th place from Albacete. The remaining places in the points were taken by Levett, Lvov, Mariezcurrena und Rodrigues.
In both races the team ranking was won by MKR Technology (Bösiger / Oestreich). In the first race Truck Sport Bernau (Albacete / Levett) was in second position, followed by Team Hahn Oxxo Racing (Hahn / Birnbauer). In the second race Team Hahn Oxxo Racing and Truck Sport Bernau swapped places.
In the championship ranking the new title holder Albacete has now got 367 points. In case of the vice champion title the battle between Bösiger (320) and Hahn (306) is still in full swing. Oestreich is now trailing Hahn by more than 30 points, but he could already secure 4th position ahead of Vrsecky (212) and Levett (200).