Saturday in Misano Part 1 – Adam Lacko’s on pole for the first race

28. May 2016Misano - While some parts of Central Europe are reeling under stormy weather, the truck racers and their fans continue to enjoy the lovely summer here at the 2nd round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in Misano on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
At noon the temperature was well past 25°C; the asphalt was measured at more than double that.
The first free practice sessions were clearly dominated by Jochen Hahn (GER) and Adam Lacko, the German MAN pilot finishing ahead of the Buggyra Freightliner on both occasions. Steffi Halm (GER), who makes her first appearance of the season here, was third quickest ahead of her compatriot and Reinert Racing team boss René Reinert (both MAN).
These four were at the top in qualifying too. Behind them, Hungarian Norbert Kiss led (Mercedes) was the best of the rest. To the disappointment of his tankpool24 team his best time was struck off because his truck was seen to have emitted smoke. Kiss drove back into the pits to have his engine tuned. Shortly before the end of the session he was back out, this time qualifying 7th, well within the Top 10 for the SuperPole. And then his new time was cancelled - because he’d driven over a penalty marker.
And so, Hahn, Halm, Reinert, and Lacko, were joined in the shootout by an MAN armada led by Ellen Lohr (GER) with Anthony Janiec (FRA), Jérémy Robineau (FRA), and Sascha Lenz (GER), then Gerd Körber (GER) in his Schwabentruck Iveco and Jiří Forman (CZE) in his Buggyra Freightliner.
But then we lost track of what was happening.
While Jochen Hahn’s name topped one timing monitor for the entire duration of the SuperPole, his time was only the third-quickest. Another monitor also showed Hahn in first position, but with the quickest time. It was confusion for teams and reporters. Only when the official announcement was made did it become clear: Lacko was on pole, followed by Reinert. Hahn was joined on

Impressions: