Jarama Preliminary Report
04. October 2018Jarama - As in several seasons of recent memory, this year’s truck racing calendar was designed so that the rounds in Le Mans and at the Circuito del Jarama are just a week apart. This gave most of the teams the opportunity of a leisurely drive down the 1,100 km from the Sarthe to the north of Madrid in the glorious late-summer weather that obtains in France and Spain.
Temperatures of around 30°C are expected, and it can get real chill overnight because the circuit is situated 700 metres above sea level.
A whopping 26 trucks are entered for the 8th and final round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, 19 from the ETRC contingent and seven from Spain, for whom the Jarama weekend is the only competition outing they get in the year.
If you’ve watched them before, you’ll know that the colourful Spaniards are usually caught up in a race of their own within each FIA race. Of more significance than who finishes first is the showboating that draws loud ovations from the exuberant spectators that pack the stands here – that means more to them than a good position or a trophy.
You can be sure the FIA pilots won’t be letting the local guys steal their show on Sunday afternoon with their spectacular drifts, burnouts, and donuts. Indeed, the slowdown lap could actually be “hotter” than any of the competition laps.
The driver’s and team titles have already been decided, but the three-way battle for 3rd place continues, former champions Antonio Albacete (MAN) and Norbert Kiss (Mercedes) being chased by MAN pilot Sascha Lenz. Antonio has everything going for him. He’s six points ahead of Kiss and nine ahead of Lenz, and has the added advantage of being able to lap his home circuit blindfolded.
The Madrilène also has a chance at the runner-up spot, because Adam Lacko (Buggyra Freightliner) in 2nd place is still within reach – the Czech 2017 champion has 25 points more, but can yet be overtaken. Should the fight between Lacko and Albacete get too rough, Kiss and Lenz will be ever ready to pounce on the spoils. The last four races could well turn out to be the most competitive of the season!
One imponderable is the track itself. You can’t miss all the massive remodelling going on all around Circuito del Jarama, but what’s less apparent is the newly re-laid track surface. The opinions of those who’ve already tried it out vary – some are quite pleased with the new surface; others complain that it’s still too slippery.
Impressions:
