Saturday FIA ETRC Truck Racing Action from Misano, Italy
Norbert Kiss claimed the 2021 Driver’s Championship title despite a penalty in race 1, while Jochen Hahn took the win in a tight second race on Saturday afternoon.
RACE 1
Norbert Kiss came back from a five-second penalty to claim the 2021 Drivers’ Championship in the first race at Misano.
Starting from pole position, Kiss had the race in his hands at the start, but championship rival Sascha Lenz was not about to let the Hungarian race easily to his victory. Going into the first corner, Lenz made a brilliant move to get the race lead and began trying to extend the gap between them. Second was enough for Kiss to take the championship win, but Lenz would, at least, deny him taking it with a victory.
Kiss stayed right on Lenz’ bumper for the first five laps of the race, looking for a way past, but opportunity came along and Kiss was back into the lead. Unfortunately for the Hungarian, the pass was made easier because Jamie Anderson’s stricken truck brought out double yellow, which slowed Lenz down.
Not noticing Anderson pulled up, Kiss retook the lead under yellow flags. The investigation into the infringement handed Kiss a five-second penalty that would be added to his race time at the chequered flag.
With seven seconds between Kiss and Hahn, the Hungarian was only demoted by one place, putting him mathematically out of Lenz’ reach by one point and securing the championship with three races to go.
Read more about race 1 HERE
RACE 2
Téo Calvet put up a spectacular fight on Saturday afternoon, only losing out to Jochen Hahn, who took the victory in race 2.
The second race at Misano was a brilliant drive from Calvet, who found himself defending from Hahn, Norbert Kiss, Sascha Lenz and Adam Lacko (the four top championship contenders) throughout the 12 laps of racing. To only have lost out to Hahn by the chequered flag showed excellent skill, speed and race craft from the Frenchman.
It was a train of trucks led by Calvet as the top ten were covered by five seconds with no more than half a second between each truck. Calvet’s race management from the front was inspired as, after being passed by Hahn on lap seven, he kept everyone else behind.
Kiss, who took the championship earlier today, had a brilliant drive up from seventh on the grid to third. He tried a few times to make the pass on Calvet for the additional point second would have given him but was unable to make the pass stick.
Read more about race 2 HERE
