Zolder This And That
21. September 2018The race weekend in Zolder, the 6th round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, propitiated the truck racers and their fans after the rainy weekend in Most a fortnight earlier. For the first time in Zolder there was a city parade into the centre of town. Enthusiastic crowds along the 8 km route of the convoy, which consisted of race trucks from both, the ETRC and the Dutch championship, brought the Friday afternoon traffic to a near standstill. The police escort did a great job of preventing a chaos.
The spectator count over the weekend totalled 12,500 – that was only the number of tickets sold; the inhabitants of Heusden-Zolder were given free entry. At Circuit Zolder, most spectators occupy the wooded dunes all around the track, and making a correct estimate is rather difficult. Moreover, there is no standard method for reporting spectator audiences in motorsport, and the figures put out by organisers of individual events are hardly comparable – each has their own system of counting.
On Sundays, nothing begins in Zolder before 10 am. Our Sunday reports always mention the chapel on the infield. We’re often asked where exactly this place of worship is situated, because none of the enquirers has seen it on their visits to Zolder. Well, here it is: in line with the big arch before the Jacky Ickx chicane, a narrow lane skirts the ProMove safety training pad, ending in a sandy trail leading off to the right and disappearing into a copse in which the chapel is hidden from view. Circuit Zolder turns 55 this year; the chapel must be at least a few years older.
Back to the championship – have we already seen the outcome decided at Zolder? Points leader Jochen Hahn (Iveco) has some nasty memories of this circuit, but last weekend was probably his best here. For the first time this season he stood on the podium after all four races. The bantam from Altensteig has his fifth title – as well as the first for „Die Bullen von Iveco Magirus“ – within grasp.
Indeed, from the Italian truckmaker’s perspective, this was a historic weekend. It had three trucks at the start, and all three on the podium after Race 2.
His old rival, Spanish thrice-champ Antonio Albacete, has meanwhile returned to the form that won him the 2005, 2006, and 2010 titles, and the MAN pilot is determined to secure 3rd place on the podium at the FIA prizegiving following the final round at his home circuit in Madrid. Czech defending champ Adam Lacko (Buggyra Freightliner), second in the standings, is at present 35 points ahead. Albacete’s closest pursuer, tankpool24 Mercedes pilot Norbert Kiss (HUN), champion in 2014 und 2015, is only four points behind.
To wit, four active champions with 10 titles between them atop the standings. Of those drivers who have not yet won a championship, youngster Sascha Lenz has the best shot at the FIA podium. The German is only 19 points adrift of Albacete, with 120 still to fight for. Even if Hahn should wrap it up in Le Mans, the excitement is guaranteed to continue.
Impressions:
