Lacko achieved a great success at Jarama |
- 1. 10. 2006, Jarama -When leaving for Spain, the team had a clear aim of earning a maximum possible number of points. Racing events at the Jarama circuit near Madrid are always held in a unique atmosphere created there by the crowd of tens of thousands of lively spectators. Last weekend, the truck race sport fans at Jarama were, in a loud, intense way, cheering on the Spanish drivers in particular. And besides that, however, they were intently watching our team's driver Adam Lacko, who was contesting not only the FIA European Truck Racing Cup, but also the Spanish Cup. The Saturday racing program saw Adam Lacko solely attaining sixth spots. That is, he posted the sixth-fastest time in the timed practice first. Then, he took the sixth place in the Qualifying race and, in the end, he came sixth in Saturday's Cup race. The Sunday timed practice, however, did not come up fully to Adam Lacko's expectations. He only set the ninth fastest time overall. 'The Jarama circuit has a rather high rise, and it seemed to me that the truck, in particular when leaving the bends uphill, was losing power,' said Adam Lacko when the timed practice was over. Shortly afterwards, the team's mechanics identified the cause of the power loss and repaired the broken flange of the turbocharger. In the end, it became evident that the ninth spot of the starting grid of the Sunday Qualifying had been the proper challenge for Lacko. After making a perfect start, he gradually moved up to finish in sixth place. Both on Saturday and Sunday, Lacko's fine performance was watched by a numerous group of his fans from Telefónica, the team's partner company. This excursion had been prepared for them by the team's manager Hanka Mitrovská. On Sunday, shortly before the whole group of fans left for the Barajas airport in Madrid, she said: 'We have had the opportunity to see the excellent performance of Adam Lacko and of other drivers in the fantastic atmosphere of the Jarama circuit. Unfortunately, it is only from the board of a plane that we will be able to support Adam contesting the Sunday Cup race. Nevertheless, we believe that he is going to manage well.' Then the main Cup race began. Shortly after the start, in the first bend, there was a collision of several trucks. Lacko dealt with this dramatic moment and went on, running even fifth. In the second half of the twelve-lap race, however, the windscreen of his truck broke and literally fell to pieces. Despite that, he kept on and managed to defend the fifth position, holding off two Mercedes drivers, Oestereich and Hahn. Over the Jarama racing event, Adam Lacko added 24 points to his tally and moved up to the eighth place of the overall standings, ahead of František Vojtíšek, another Czech driver. In the standings of the Spanish Cup (COPA DE ESPANA), Lacko even took podium twice - the second place each time. And, as Jarama was the last event included in the Spanish Cup competition, the final results are also available: Antonio Albacete, of Spain (MAN, 212 points), came first, while Jose Rodrigues, of Portugal (MAN, 149 points), was second, and Adam Lacko, with 114 points, finished in third (15 drivers altogether took part in this competition). The results announcement ceremony will be held in Madrid at the beginning of December. The final event of the European Cup will be held at the last weekend of October, in Le Mans, France. Results: Saturday, qualifying: 1. Oestreich (Germany-Mercedes), 2. Körber (Germany-Buggyra), 3. Albacete (Spain-MAN), ... , 6. Lacko (Czech Republic-MAN), 7. Vojtíšek (Czech Republic-Renault), ... , 9. Vršecký (Czech Republic-Buggyra) Saturday, Cup race: 1. Albacete (Spain-MAN), 2. Körber (Germany-Buggyra), 3. Oestreich (Germany-Mercedes), ... , 6. Lacko (Czech Republic-MAN), ... , 8. Vojtíšek (Czech Republic-Renault), Vršecký - didn't participate Sunday, qualifying:: 1. Hahn (Germany-Mercedes), 2. Albacete (Spain-MAN), 3. Bösiger (Switzerland-MAN), ... , 6. Lacko (Czech Republic-MAN), ... , 18. Vojtíšek (Czech Republic-Renault), Vršecký - didn't participate Sunday, Cup race: 1. Albacete (Spain-MAN), 2. Bösiger (Switzerland-MAN), 3. Markus Altenstrasser (Austria-MAN), ... , 5. Lacko (Czech Republic-MAN), ... , 10. Vojtíšek (Czech Republic-Renault), Vršecký - didn't participate Current Cup standings: 1. Albacete (Spain-MAN) 301 points, 2. Körber (Germany-Buggyra) 269 points, 3. Hahn (Germany-Mercedes) 245 points, ... , 5. Vršecký (Czech Republic-Buggyra) 188 points, ... , 7. Pulič (Croatia-Mercedes) 109 points, 8. Lacko (Czech Republic-MAN) 88 points, 9. Vojtíšek (Czech Republic-Renault) 78 points, ... |
| • photogallery • |
|
