Goodyear FIA ETRC Zolder raceday one round-up: Lenz’s long wait for glory is over after Kiss takes opening honours
Sascha Lenz is a winner again in the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship after victory in Race 2 at Circuit Zolder this afternoon ended a four-year wait for more on-track success.
The German driver’s triumph ahead of René Reinert and Jochen Hahn followed on from Norbert Kiss banking his 13th win of the season in Race 1 from pole position. Kiss, the provisional points leader ahead of the Belgian Truck Grand Prix weekend, beat Antonio Albacete and Hahn. Lenz, meanwhile, was restricted to seventh after a dramatic start to the opening contest when he ran through the gravel exiting the first corner in the battle for position.
After winning in the Chrome category for the first time this season at Autodrom Most last month, John Newell finished first twice today. Championship rival Mark Taylor followed Newell home in Race 1 ahead of Jonathan André. Newell then topped an all-British podium in Race 2 with Taylor second and Luke Garrett third.
Other notable performances in Race 1 came from José Eduardo Rodrigues, who finished fourth, and Reinert, whose capture of eighth place secured pole for the partially-reversed Race 2 grid.
In Race 2, Kiss claimed more points in his push for a record-extending eighth Goodyear FIA ETRC title by finishing fourth with Stefan Kursch completing the top 10 having missed the trip to Czech Republic for round four. Steffi Halm, who won Race 4 at Autodrom Most, added seventh place in Race 2 at Circuit Zolder to the ninth she secured in Race 1 following early contact.
Flash reports from Race 1 and Race 2 are available at the links below. Go to the Sportity app using the password FIA_ETRC_26 for all results and standings. Register to access the new Goodyear FIA ETRC media hub by clicking HERE. Revisit Race 1 and Race 2 on YouTube.
Race 1: https://www.goodyearfiaetrc.com/news/norbert-knows-how-with-goodyear-fia-etrc-zolder-race-1-win
Race 2: https://www.goodyearfiaetrc.com/news/wait-worth-it-for-lenz-in-goodyear-fia-etrc
Race 1 winner Norbert Kiss said: “Good race, good start and we stayed in front on the first lap. I had a bit of a gap and then I had to watch out not to make a mistake or over-speed, which is easy here in Zolder with the bridges that can make you go a bit fast with the GPS signal. I had to take care of that a little but a good performance, the tyres were holding up very well. Another good job from Révész Raing again, very nice by the team.”
Race 1 and Race 2 Chrome winner John Newell said: “It was a good race. I had a poor start, Sascha [Lenz] and Steffi [Halm] had a bit of a tangle, Mark [Taylor] got a better start than me, I dropped in behind him, found a couple of points where he was slower than me, got on the back of him, then took him into the tight right-hander by coming up on the inside and I pulled a gap, it was comfortable. It’s done me proud and I’m happy. Race 2 couldn’t have gone any better. The pace was fantastic and to keep the others behind was brilliant. Jochen [Hahn] sold me a dummy and I fell for it, hands up. It is what it is but it’s job done [in Chrome].”
Race 2 winner Sascha Lenz said: “I have a very good start. René [Reinert] gave me the place because we could drive together through the first corner and then next one I am on the inside and I can go. Then I make no mistake, I can drive nicely and I’m really happy for the team. We had bad luck in the first race because we had a lot of damage, but my team did a really good job that I can drive and I am happy for my team. You can [pass on the outside of the first corner] only if you have on the inside one guy who gives you the space. In the first race I was given no space and was completely out and this is the difference.”
All drivers are racing with Goodyear’s new-for-2026 tyre, which features 60 per cent sustainable materials, while tomorrow will provide the second opportunity of the season for fans to vote for the Goodyear Wingfoot Award on Instagram during Race 4.
Still to come…
Round five of the 2026 Goodyear FIA ETRC at Circuit Zolder continues tomorrow (Sunday) with a 15-minute Warm-up from 10:05 local time followed by Qualifying 4-5-6 at 11:05. Race 3, which is scheduled for 12 laps, is due to begin at 14:20 with the 12-lap Race 4 set to get under way at 17:05. Watch the action live on YouTube.
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