Jochen Hahn and Rene Reinert shared the spoils in the opening pair of race in the 2019 FIA European Truck Racing Championship at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli today.

Reigning champion Hahn began his title defence in convincing style with a straightforward victory in the first of the four races at the Italian track.

In the second encounter of the day, Rene Reinert and Steffi Halm put on a superb battle for the lead in the reverse grid race that saw Reinert claim his first win in an IVECO truck. Despite constant pressure from Halm’s Team Schwabentruck IVECO, Reinert was able to absorb the attacks and run out a winner.

Antonio Albacete capitalised on a wheel-locking moment for Halm on the very last lap to take second place in his Trucksport Lutz Bernau. It was a perfect day the local manufacturer IVECO which celebrated a clean sweep of the top podium positions in each of the races.

In the GRAMMER TRUCK Cup class Luis Recuenco took a breakthrough win in his Truck Sport Lutz Bernau challenger in race one. The Spaniard then doubled up on his success with another fine win to take an early lead in the category.

Race 1

Just like last year, Jochen Hahn driving the Team Hahn Racing IVECO truck started his FIA European Truck Racing Championship campaign with a victory at a warm and dry Misano this afternoon. Hahn triumphed in a dominant, lights to flag fashion, in identically fashion to the corresponding race in 2018. The podium was rounded out by Adam Lacko and Antonio Albacete, driving for Buggyra Racing and Truck Sport Lutz Bernau respectively.

Norbert Kiss claimed fourth place for Team Tankpool24 Racing, finishing ahead of Team Schawabentruck’s IVECO driven by Steffi Halm.

Race 2

Rene Reinert only needed two starts behind the wheel of his all-new IVECO truck to score his first victory for the Italian truck manufacturer.

The Reinert Racing driver who started on the outside of the front row, took the lead on the first lap, diving into the inside of the reversed grid pole sitter Luis Recuenco (Truck Sport Lutz Bernau).

Antonio Albacete secured second place in the 12-lap encounter after making a last-lap move when Steffi Halm locked a wheel to take his second podium finish of the day.

Halm moved up from fourth to second on the opening lap and was putting significant pressure on fellow IVECO driver Reinert. The German racer had to nurse cramp in his leg for the early stages of the race.