Saturday at the Hungaroring Part 3 – Lenz goes from lightning start to killer win
22. June 2019Hungaroring - It was still rather warm at the start of Race 2, but the thin layer of cloud tempered the intensity of the sun’s rays somewhat. As a result, the track temperatures too dropped by several degrees.
Lacko’s disqualification opened a window of opportunity for the lower-order finishers in the earlier race. The new polesitter, René Reinert, failed to capitalise, however, and was left scrambling by compatriot Lenz on the start sprint. The young MAN pilot proceeded to dominate the race to an extent nobody could have imagined – at the flag he was almost eight seconds ahead, having recorded the fastest lap of the race by far on his way there.
The two remaining podium positions were also decided early in the race. In the initial laps Steffi Halm did mount some pressure on her Iveco colleague Reinert, but he did not put one foot (or tyre) wrong and Halm had to settle for P3 on an all-German podium. Making it a quartet was Kursim, the Iveco pilot finishing fourth as in the previous race.
The situation behind them was less relaxed. The four champions in the field bickered over P5, but Kiss held his ground to take the finish with Hahn following doggedly at his crash guard. Albacete likewise crossed the line only seven tenths ahead of Lacko. The Czech had started 16th and last on the grid consequent to his earlier disqualification, and was up to P8 only a couple of laps into the race, but that was as far forward as Albacete would let him get.
MAN pilot Terry Gibbon (GBR) finished 9th, followed by Recuenco. Gibbon thus took the Grammer Truck Cup victory from Recuenco and Janes.
The team competition was a tight affair, Sascha Lenz’s victory putting Löwen Power (Albacete / Lenz) just one point above „Die Bullen von Iveco Magirus“ (Hahn / Steffi Halm), with tankpool24 Racing (Kiss / Citignola) completing the podium.
Hahn leads the driver standings with 67 points, followed by Albacete (53), Lacko (47), Kiss (46), Reinert and Steffi Halm (40 each), and Lenz (38).
Impressions:
