Lacko successfully rejoined Europe's best truckers |
- 9. 4. 2006 - Barcelona, Spain -After a year of absence from the European Truck Racing Cup, Adam Lacko has now come back to be in full play. As early as before the first event at the Catalunya Circuit, Spain, it was evident that the number of top-ranking drivers and trucks in the field will be very high and the races will be closely fought. Most of the drivers and commentators stated that ten or even more than ten drivers might be involved in the contests for the podium places. These forecasts came true in the practice sessions of the first racing event of this year's FIA European Truck Racing Cup, which were held at the Catalunya Circuit on Saturday, 8 April. Adam kept pace with the leading drivers, always clocking times ranking among those ten fastest. In the course of the second practice session, however, Adam's truck broke down suddenly, and a serious defect of the differential was detected in the pits afterwards. Due to the time needed for the repair, despite the maximum possible efforts made by the mechanics, Lacko was not able to take part in the third practice and even in the qualifying session. That is why he started the Saturday Cup race from the last position of the field of 26 drivers. Owing to his excellent driving style he fought his way to the sixth place in the end, taking the first six points for the overall standings of this year's FIA European Truck Racing Cup. On Sunday, Adam did even better. First, he clocked the eighth fastest time, which brought him to the fourth line of the starting grid of the qualifying session; he finished in sixth place. This was a good starting position for the Sunday main race. Adam made a very good start, overtaking David Vršecký's and Gerd Körber's front-runner Buggyra trucks straight away at the beginning of the race. So, he moved up to run in third. He held this position up to the end of this thrilling race despite permanent attacks of the two Buggyra trucks that followed him closely. Satisfied after the race, Adam Lacko said: 'I am pleased with the good result and with the podium place that I have attained straight away in the first racing event. If only for the reason that we were unlucky yesterday because of the technical breakdown. Our mechanics had to work very hard to make it possible for us to take part in the Saturday race. The fact that they prepared the truck very well was proved in the Saturday race and, in particular, in the qualifying session and main race on Sunday. The truck was very good to drive, but the races were hard.' The atmosphere of races at the Catalunya Circuit is very agreeable. Drivers in their cars really do perceive the tenths of thousands of spectators there. This type of sport is very popular in Spain; that is one of the reasons why the INTERNET EXPRES PRIMA VITTO TEAM had also entered for the classification competition 'La Copa de Espaňa de Carreras de Camiones 2006' (Spanish Cup). In the Sunday race, Adam Lacko took second place, behind Antonio Albacete, the winner. In the first event of this year of the European Truck Racing Cup, Lacko gained 23 points; he holds the sixth place of the overall standings. The next race, the second one, takes place on 27 and 28 May at Misano, Italy. |
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