ETRC: Kiss’ home hat-trick
Norbert Kiss scored a hat-trick of victories on home soil during Round 2 of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship, strengthening himself atop the points standings in this title-defending campaign
The three-time series champion was the fastest man on track since the early running in Friday’s free practice sessions. He then clinched pole position and later converted it into a victory in the opening heat of the weekend.
Race 2 was red-flagged after a multi-truck contact on the opening lap, with Kiss, along with the likes of Jochen Hanh, Antonio Albacete and Jamie Anderson, sustaining significant damage and not being able to take the restart.
Kiss’ Reeves Truck Racing Team did miracles and managed to rebuild the home hero’s truck for the second day of the competition.
The Hungarian ace made good use of the restored MAN, scoring his second pole position of the weekend and taking two victories from two races held on the day.
Following a low-key start to his season at Misano, Adam Lacko took his first win of the season, emerging on top in Race 2. The 2017 title-winner secured two further podium finishes (second in Race 3, third in Race 4) on Sunday.
Kiss’ closest contender to date, Sascha Lenz, started his weekend with a second place, then added third in Race 3, to finally round it out with a pair of four placed on Sunday.
Six-time title-winner Jochen Hahn recorded a pair of third places, with his best result of the weekend being second place in Race 4, but still remains winless this season.
André Kursim scored his first podium of the year, finishing second in race two, while Steffi Halm’s best result of the weekend, and the season so far, was fourth place in Race 2.
Three-time champion Antonio Albacete experienced a weekend to forget with his best finish of the event being fifth place in Race 1.
Kiss leads the standings with 101 points to his name. 18 points down on the Hungarian lies Lenz, with Hahn, at 78 points, rounding out the top three.
Round three on the eight-event Goodyear FIA ETRC calendar is scheduled for July 2-3 at the Slovakia Ring.