FIA European Truck Racing Championship
FIA European Truck Racing Championship
Round 6 – Autodrom Most, Czech Republic
THREE STRONG RESULTS IN ROUND 6 OF EURO CHAMPIONSHIP
Round
six of the 2010 FIA European Truck Racing Championship produced some excellent
results for the Bird’s Motorsport team – with Chris Levett securing a 4th
place result in Race One on Saturday and a 5th place in Race 3 on
Sunday. But Levett saved his best performance for the final race of the day
where he took a commanding lead and powered the Bird’s Motorsport MAN to victory
by a margin of over six seconds in front of local hero Adam Lacko.
It was certainly a fabulous result to end a weekend of mixed fortunes where
Chris was clearly right on the pace right from the start of the first practice
session – setting 3rd fastest time in both Qualifying sessions – and
quickest of all the MAN drivers.
On Saturday Chris set a fastest lap of 2m.02.564s. (Average speed 123.925km/h) –
a time only bettered by the Renault pair of Oestreich and Bosiger, who had
tested extensively at the Czech track. Less than half a second covered the top
three – with championship leader Albacete 0.45s. slower than Levett.
Race 1 saw the Czech driver Lacko pushing his way through into second position
at the start (for which he was penalised post-race) – while Oestreich clearly
backed off early into turn one to allow team-mate Bosiger in front. That left
Levett stranded in a slow ‘traffic jam’ – and he then took a push from the
Freightliner of David Vrsecky, dropping the Bird’s MAN down to 7th on
the first lap.
However, Chris fought back and by lap 3 had re-passed Vrsecky and set about
catching the pack ahead. When the rain started mid-race, making track conditions
very slippery, Levett was in his element and reeled in first Jochen Hahn (MAN)
and then Albacete (MAN) to take a fine third place.
“I’d lost one mirror after an early clash...so I didn’t really know who was on
my tail” explained Chris. “But the last few laps in the wet were great and I
think it would have been even better for me if the rain had come a bit earlier
in the race.”
In fact Levett looked set to take another podium position in the Race 2 on
Saturday – making good progress from Row 3 of the ‘Reverse Grid’ he was running
strongly throughout and crossed the finishing line right behind the
leaders...only to be penalised post-race with a dubious 50-seconds
‘overspeeding’ penalty that dropped him out of the points in the official
results.
But the team were confident the truck was set-up to comply with the 160km/h
regulations – and on Sunday morning Levett was again flying to set a best time
of 2m. 02.892s. – again securing third spot on the starting grid.
The Renault pair of Oestreich and Bosiger again locked out the front row – but
Levett’s time was just 0.191s. down on Bosiger’s so the scene was set for some
close racing.
cing.
The start of Race 3 saw a repeat performance of the opening race on Saturday as
Bosiger again eased ahead of Oestreich into turn one... frustrating for Levett
as Oestreich’s tactics left the door open for Hahn to grab 3rd place
into the first chicane. A strong mid-race charge from Albacete saw the Spanish
driver slice past both Levett and Hahn to join the two Renault drivers on the
podium.
Levett brought the Bird’s MAN home in a fighting fifth place – just 0.218s.
behind Hahn after 11 busy laps. Chris revealed after the race that he had been
slightly handicapped as had driven almost the entire race with a broken throttle
pedal!
The final race on Sunday saw the MANs of Lacko and Lvov lining up on the front
of the grid – but Levett was in no mood to take prisoners and squeezed past the
Russian Lvov into the opening chicane. At almost the same point on lap 2 he
successfully pulled off a similar manoeuvre to grab the lead from Lacko – and
from then onwards the Bird’s MAN driver pulled clear to take victory by a
healthy margin of over six seconds. Lacko came under pressure from Albacete –
but held on for the runner-up spot by just 0.619s. at the flag.
That victory brought Chris’ points tally for the weekend to 30 and he still hold
6th overall in the Drivers’ Championship.
The combined result of Chris and Albacete enabled Truck Sport Bernau to collect
first prize in the Teams’ competition for race 4 - allowing them to stay top of
the tables. But the battle for the Teams’ Championship is getting increasingly
tight as MKR Technology have closed down the gap to series leaders Truck Sport
Bernau to just 12 points.
Next race: Circuit Zolder (Belgium) – September 11/12