Hahn wins twice but Mariezcurrena is the toast of Nogaro

Jochen Hahn strengthened his position at the top of the European Truck Racing Championship with two wins at Nogaro last weekend. David Vrsecky took advantage of a reverse grid to claim victory in race two, while there was also a popular maiden triumph for newcomer Javier Mariezcurrena.  

Despite the damp conditions, Saturday’s opening race proved something of a drab affair with the top three – Hahn, Uwe Nittel and Antonio Albacete – finishing in the order they had started.

Behind the MAN trio, Adam Lacko was the only one of the top contenders to make progress after passing Vrsecky for fourth ahead of Chris Levett, Markus Oestreich, Markus Bösiger, Stuart Oliver and Spanish part-timer Mariezcurrena. 

The day’s second race, in which the top eight finishers had their positions reversed on the grid was, aside from the first corner, similarly uneventful.

Bösiger’s poor getaway from pole allowed fellow front-row starter Oestreich to pull clear on the run down to the first corner. A brake problem though saw the chasing Vrsecky pile into the back of the Czech, sending him spinning into the gravel.

While Vrsecky continued, the mayhem caused behind allowed Albacete and Hahn to carve their way through to second and third respectively ahead of the slow-starting Bösiger. Despite pulling clear of the field, their order would remain unchanged to the chequered flag.

Behind, Lacko had a lonely race to fifth with Nittel and Alex Lvov equally unchallenged further back. At least there was a battle for the last of the points-paying positions however with Oliver eventually coming home just clear of Levett and Mariezcurrena         

Hahn’s supreme qualifying pace again helped him line up on pole for the first of Sunday’s races ahead of reigning champion Albacete and Nittel. There he would stay for its duration with the Spaniard unable to find a way through.

Nittel picked up his second podium finish of the weekend with third while Vrsecky maintained the status quo with fourth. At least Oestreich was able to mix things up after passing Bösiger at the start with Lacko holding on to seventh ahead of Mariezcurrena, who would line up on pole for the reverse grid fourth race. Oliver and Levett rounded out the top ten.

Finally the 32,000 fans that had travelled to Nogaro had something to get excited about in the weekend’s final race as Mariezcurrena produced the drive of his career to fend off his more experienced rivals.

A decent getaway saw the MAN driver keep Lacko at bay into the first corner, before the pair were joined by team-mates Bösiger and Oestreich.

Lap after lap the four-way battle raged as Mariezcurrena came under increasing pressure from the MKR Renault trio. If all three were expecting to profit what seemed like an inevitable mistake, none was forthcoming as the Spaniard hung on to claim his maiden European victory.

With all the action at the front it was easy to overlook Hahn’s comeback drive after taking a trip through the gravel trap following contact with another truck. In the end he finished just 0.3secs adrift of fifth-place man Albacete. Nittel, Vrsecky, Levett and Anthony Janiec completed the points. 

Hahn’s two wins see him increase his lead over Albacete to 49 points with Oestreich, Nittel, Lacko and Vrsecky in close company for third.

Catch European Truck Racing coverage on Motors TV throughout 2011.

Tom Hornsby