Saturday in Donington – part 1

30. June 2012Donington - On the morning of the first race day of the 5th round in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship a big rainstorm hit Donington Park. Thus, the first free practice took place on a wet race track. One hour later during the second free practice the asphalt had dried and the lap times improved by 10 seconds or more. The drivers that are having the overall lead in this Championship, Jochen Hahn (GER) and Antonio Albacete (ESP, both MAN) as well as Renault-pilot Markus Oestreich (GER) were also leading in the practice. During the first timed practice the sun shone every once in a while and the drivers were able to drive full speed. Ellen Lohr (GER) and her tankpool24-Mercedes caused confusion. She came right back to the pit stop and was waiting with her driver’s door open, while the team was standing around the truck. Some thought this was supposed to be tactic, but in reality the truck experienced a technical failure and she had to quit. Hahn, the Czech David Vrsecky (Buggyra-Freightliner), Albacete, the three Renault drivers Markus Bösiger (SUI), Oestreich and Adam Lacko (CZE), as well as the Fin Mika Mäkinen, the Frenchman Dominique Lacheze (both MAN), Anthony Janiec (FRA) on his Renault and the Hungarian Norbert Kiss (MAN) placed in the top ten for the SuperPole. And it started with a surprise. For whatever reason the British Renault driver, Luke Taylor, was on the race track, even though he was supposed to be in Parc Fermé. The Brit pulled right in front of Albacete’s truck, who started into the SuperPole from the third position and was just driving his fastest lap. First it was said that they bumped into each other, but later we learned that it was not as bad in the end. However, the Spaniard remained on place 10 until the end, which is the last rank in the SuperPole. Then, Albacete was able to get ahead and he eventually placed 2nd right behind Hahn. Vrsecky followed ahead of Lacko, then Oestreich, Bösiger, Lacheze, Kiss, Mäkinen and Janiec.

Impressions: