Rodrigues roars to Race 2 win in Goodyear FIA ETRC
José Eduardo Rodrigues is a winner again in the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship after he pulled clear of the pack at Le Mans to claim the Race 2 laurels following a fine drive.
Making the most of starting from pole position on the partially-reversed grid, the third-generation competitor from Portugal led from start to finish for his first Goodyear FIA ETRC victory since Race 2 at Autodrom Most in August 2025.
“It’s a very good victory,” said Rodrigues, who has moved a step closer to winning the Goodyear FIA ETRC Young Driver title. “We don’t have the best start in the first race, so this result is very important for me, for the championship and for the points. I build a little gap to my opponents and I’m very happy with my truck and this result. In the first race I had one touch with René [Reinert], my wheel rim was broken, so I needed to go my tent [during the red flag], change the rim and come back. Now we work for tomorrow’s races.”
Antonio Albacete finished second on the road but slipped to fifth after a five-second penalty was applied following a collision with Bradley Smith at Musée on lap five.
Smith, who was leading the Chrome category in second overall at the time, languished in 12th at the chequered flag as Jochen Hahn took the runner-up spot to Rodrigues from seventh on the grid.
John Newell claimed top Chrome honours ahead of Luke Garrett and title rival Mark Taylor, who recovered from a trip through the Dunlop Curve gravel trap on lap one.
Victory for Newell in Chrome, meanwhile, marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes after the British racer was caught up in the opening-lap contact that forced Race 1 to be red-flagged and took the restart from the back of the grid.
“We kept our head down, kept out of trouble and picked our moments,” said Newell, who moved to the top of the provisional Chrome standings with victory. “I can’t ask for anything more getting first in class after the bad luck I’ve had this weekend.”
Sascha Lenz completed the overall podium behind Hahn with Norbert Kiss fighting through the pack from eighth to fourth. Subject to final confirmation, Kiss is the Goodyear FIA ETRC champion for 2026 – his eighth title – following his 16th victory of the season in Race 1.
René Reinert placed sixth ahead of Steffi Halm, plus Chrome drivers Newell, Garrett and Taylor. Luis Recuenco, Smith and Steffen Faas were the other finishers, but Clemens Hecker was a non-starter due to a technical issue.
Round six of the 2026 Goodyear FIA ETRC on the Circuit Bugatti at Le Mans continues tomorrow (Sunday) with a 15-minute Warm-up from 08:20 local time followed by Qualifying 4-5-6 at 09:50. Race 3, which is scheduled for 11 laps, is due to begin at 13:55 with the 11-lap Race 4 set to get under way at 16:55. Watch the action live on YouTube.
Click HERE for live timing. Results are available via Sportity using the password: FIA_ETRC_26.
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