STRONG 18-TRUCK GRID SET FOR PENULTIMATE ROUND AT LE MANS
A strong grid of 18 trucks will line up for the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship this weekend, all ready to tackle the iconic Le Mans Bugatti circuit. The event marks the penultimate round of the 2024 season, leading up to the final round at Jarama next weekend.
Five race-by-race entries join the Goodyear FIA ETRC this weekend, boosting the grid to its largest of the season. Familiar faces like Lukas Hahn and Bradley Smith return to challenge the Chrome drivers, alongside Craig Reid, Simon Faulkner and Stefan Kursch.
In the Overall Drivers’ Championship, Norbert Kiss could potentially secure the title this weekend, if he continues his dominant form of the season. Jochen Hahn has been closing the gap, but with a 69-point lead and only 60 points available after this weekend, Kiss will clinch the 2024 title if he outscores Hahn over the Le Mans weekend.
Sascha Lenz has been consistently strong, frequently landing on the podium alongside Hahn and Kiss. His recent performance has put him in third in the standings, 16 points ahead of Antonio Albacete. While second place is still mathematically possible, Lenz is more likely to focus on maintaining his lead over Albacete as they head into the final races.
Steffi Halm remains on the fringes of third place, 48 points behind Lenz, but she’ll need a strong performance at Le Mans to stay in contention come the final event of the year. She has a 12-point cushion over fellow Titan driver André Kursim, but the duo will have to keep an eye on Chrome driver José Eduardo Rodrigues who, after a fantastic run of form in the last two events, finds himself in sixth place overall, one point ahead of Kursim and only trailing Halm by 11.
Rodrigues leads the Chrome standings by a commanding 44 points and could secure the title this weekend if he outscores Mark Taylor by 17 points. The battle for second place in Chrome, however, is heating up. Mark Taylor’s recent surge has put him three points ahead of Steffen Faas, setting up a tight contest that could go down to the wire.
John Newell sits comfortably in fourth, still mathematically in contention for second place but not quite in the fight after losing ground at the Nürburgring. Luis Recuenco trails him by 33 points in fifth, though it's unlikely he will close the gap based on their performances this season. Clemens Hecker, who missed the second round, remains in the top-five battle, just five points behind Recuenco.
After missing the Most round due to a back injury, Luke Garrett returns to the grid this weekend. His debut season has been challenging, plagued by steering and suspension issues. The hope is for a smooth weekend at Le Mans so he can end the year on a positive note in Jarama.