Saturday in Istanbul – part 2

12. May 2012Istanbul - While based on the starting grid of the first race everyone still seemed kind of confused, but the drivers soon found out in what position they belonged during the formation lap. Hahn immediately took the lead, but Albacete was close behind. As if on a string of beads the three Renault trucks from MKR – Technology with Lacko, Bösiger and Oestreich were following them. Mäkinen kept staying on the 8th place during the whole race and therefore won the Pole for the second race, in which the first 8 drivers go to the starting line in reverse order. Janiec, Reinert, Blaise and Summerfield fought over the last points. In the end the French and truck racing rookie Reinert won the points. The German got ranked 10th and immediately gained one point in his first race. Up in the front Hahn was able to widen the gap between him and Albacete and could therefore look forward to a safe start-finish victory. It was also sure that Albacete and Lacko would get the next places on the podium. Meanwhile Lacheze was able to pass Oestreich and he even attacked Bösiger willing to receive the 4th place. Obviously the French was a little bit too vigorous, because at the beginning of the last curve the red-blue MAN – truck from Truck Sport Bernau spun and Lacheze had to be satisfied with rank number 7 behind Oestreich and Vrsecky. As many times before the second race of the day was a lot more interesting. First Lacheze seemed to be the true winner, but in the end he was the looser. Soon the French pole setter passed Mäkinen and was taking on the lead and the Fin fell back on the 6th rank. However, due to a false start Lacheze had to take the drive-through penalty. After that the MAN – driver suddenly fell back on the 11th place. Two Renault drivers, Lacko and Oestreich, had taken the lead and the whole team of MKR – Technology was hoping for a double win. However, Jochen Hahn was still there and anyone who had been of the opinion in the morning that Hahn would not dominate anymore was soon taught better. He started off on 8th place and immediately raced to the front and almost passed the two Renault trucks without any trouble and drove unchallenged towards the second victory of the day. For a short time it seemed as if all podium places had been taken, but Albacete and Vrsecky were only inches away from the truck that Oestreich was driving and tried everything to steal the 3rd rank from him. At the same time Bösiger tried to take over the 6th place from Mäkinen. Due to “squabbling at the start” (quote Bösiger) the Swiss had lost several places. His Renault was severely damaged on the outside and Bösiger claimed to have been disappointed about the performance of his truck. Instead of being able to attack the Fin he had to defend himself against the attack from Lacheze, who was again racing to the front. In the heat of the moment he started spinning and was therefore also behind Janiec and Reinert and placed 10th which is the last rank. As everyone was prepared to accept these results, Albacete was preparing for his last attack on Oestreich. Indeed, only a few hundred meters away from the finish line within the last curve of the driveway both squabblers started fighting with each other. Albacete tried to pass Oestreich on the inside, who was a little bit ahead of him. That’s when the German was pushed further and further to the side and even drove into the gravel for bit. Albacete and Vrsecky both took this chance to pass the Renault driver. In the end he had to accept place number 5. The stewards also felt uneasy about it and only after long discussions and almost 45 minutes after the race they awarded the winners. In the first championship ranking of the season Hahn received the ideal amount of points (30) and is therefore ranked first before Albacete (23), Lacko (21), Bösiger (14), Oestreich (14) and Vrsecky (13). In both cases the team ranking was won by MKR Technology before Pneu Bösiger Team 14 and Blaise/Bouzige Truck Racing. Later that day they announced that Albacete is going to receive a penalty because of the attack against Oestreich. Tomorrow in the first race the man from Spain will have to move back 2 places behind his initial starting spot which he had hard-earned.

Impressions: