RODRIGUES DOMINATES AT THE NÜRBURGRING, EXTENDING CHROME CLASS LEAD
The Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship roared into the historic Nürburgring circuit with the Chrome class drivers fiercely battling for victory.
Leading the charge was reigning champion José Eduardo Rodrigues, who delivered a commanding performance to further solidify his championship aspirations. Rodrigues asserted his dominance from the outset, winning three out of four races on the weekend, which also gave him the victory in the Young Drivers Championship this weekend over Lukas Hahn and Bradley Smith.
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The Portuguese driver also secured a commendable fourth overall finish in Race Two and Three showcasing his developing race craft. His consistent podium finishes have now extended his lead in the Chrome class standings to 189 points, with a substantial margin of 31 points over his closest rival.
Steffen Faas had a consistent home race weekend at the Nürburgring, securing podium finishes in both Race 1 and Race 2, followed by strong showings in Race 3 and Race 4 with fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively. Looking forward, Faas and his team are focused on maintaining momentum for the upcoming round at Most, aiming to close the championship gap to Rodrigues.
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Mark Taylor had a very good weekend in Germany, consistently challenging Rodrigues and Faas for top positions. He secured podium finishes in both races on Sunday, further solidifying his position in the Chrome championship standings. Taylor's strong performance has brought him within striking distance of Faas in second, now trailing the German by only 16 points in the championship fight.
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John Newell had a challenging weekend at the Nürburgring, grappling with technical issues and intense on-track battles throughout the races.
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German racer Lukas Hahn delighted his home crowd as he took the first Chrome class win of the weekend and securing another three podium finishes, consistently challenging Rodrigues for class supremacy. His strong showing at the Nürburgring reaffirms his status as a formidable contender in the Chrome class standings, closing the gap on the championship leaders and bolstering his campaign as the season unfolds.
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Luis Recuenco maintained steady progress throughout the Nürburgring weekend, scoring valuable points in the championship.
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Clemens Hecker delivered a solid performance, highlighted by two strong 4th place finishes in Race 1 and Race 4, much to the delight of his home crowd.
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Luke Garrett faced a weekend of highs and lows, showcasing promising improvements in pace and race craft amid technical challenges. The Brit was once again hindered by steering issues in the last race of the weekend. He broke down on his way to the grid, having to be towed back to the paddock before the lights went green. However, his determination and ability to navigate setbacks highlight his potential as a rising star in the competitive field, aiming to build on his performance at the next round in Most.
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Bradley Smith, who took to the track in his own MAN truck with the Don't Touch Racing team, showed some very promising results over the weekend, with a fifth and sixth place finish. These consistent performances highlight his potential in the Chrome class, promising more competitive outings ahead.
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After a mixed start to the weekend, Jonathan André achieved consistent finishes in his first outing in the Goodyear FIA ETRC this season.
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