Round four of the 2016 FIA European Truck Racing championship (FIA ETRC) heads to Nürburgring in Western Germany, where a bumper grid of 21 of the world’s best prepared racing trucks are set to do battle at the biggest event on the FIA ETRC calendar.

With a huge crowd expected for this festival of truck racing the scene is set for another classic encounter between these heavy weights of motor racing at one of the true spiritual homes of the Championship.

Guten Tag title fight!
With one third of the season gone the title fight is still too close to call. Adam Lacko has the current lead, but is only two points ahead of Jochen Hahn in a battle which has fans hooked.The two have waged war on the tracks so far this season but it has been a confrontation full of respect and admiration for each others skill behind the wheel. The rivalry is intense but considerate, in the best traditions of the hard but fair world of truck racing.

At Nogaro last time out four different drivers took wins in the four races showing yet again why tens of thousands of fans flock to the events. Hahn and Lacko took a win apiece in France, but also showing a significant threat were Norbert Kiss and René Reinert.

Kiss, who is getting quicker by the round in his new Mercedes-Benz truck took a breakthrough win in race one at Nogaro and with the Tankpool24 Racing team being based in nearby Nürtingen, there will be a sizeable home support contingent cheering them on.

Biggest grid of season gets ready
At least 21 FIA European Truck Racing Championship entrants, all racing on Goodyear tyres, will scrap for positions across the nine rounds of the series with several race by race entrants making at least one appearance in the paddock and on the track against the seasonal competitors.

Returning after strong showings at the Red Bull Ring opener in early May are Ryan Smith and Markus Altenstrasser. Both the Brit and the Austrian scored best ever results in Austria, second and third respectively, and will be keen to challenge the full season entrants.

Smith has extended his lead in the domestic series in his homeland and his renowned quick hands will be perfectly matched to the Nürburgring circuit in his OXXO Truck Racing run MAN.

Another welcome British addition to the entry list is Shane Brereton in his MAN truck which is run by 2004 FIA European Cup champion Stuart Oliver.

The FIA ETRC has a long and rich heritage of great Scandanavian performers such as Curt Göransson, Slim Borgudd and Harri Luostarinen, so there will be a warm welcome for Finland’s John Hemming this weekend as he makes a race-by-race appearance in his self-run Mercedes-Benz.

Heinz-Werner Lenz is a late entry to bolster the German contingent to seven drivers this weekend. Lenz, a triple champion in the late 1990s in the Race-Trucks division of the FIA ETRC, has a big following in Germany and is sure to be a crowd favourite as he tries to recreate the old magic racing alongside his son and season entrant – Sascha Lenz.

In addition Steffi Halm, Ellen Lohr, Gerd Körber and André Kursim will be hoping local support gives them a boost at their home event.
 
Click here for full entry list
Click here for the Nürburgring Timetable
Click here for latest points standings
 
What happened last year?
Race 1: Norbert Kiss
Race 2: Antonio Albacete
Race 3: Norbert Kiss
Race 4: Adam Lacko

Superb package of racing
The races at Nürburgring will come thick and fast for the fans with some of the world’s greatest supercars in action in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup where two races will be on offer to showcase Ferrari, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi GT racers.

Additionally, there will also be the traditional Mittelrhein Cup will be up for grabs again with more for the truck fans to enjoy.

Off track carnival set to rock the Eiffel
If the on-track action wasn’t enough then those coming for the full Nürburgring Truck weekend experience will have plenty to occupy themselves with some truly spectacular entertainment on and off track.

The packed timetable includes the adrenalin fuelled Auto Sport drift show, the ‘Iron Bone’ multiple Guinness World Record Holder, the brilliant ‘Indian Pete’ and his unique fire and smoke breathing Peterbilt truck, as well as a great kids zone, fireworks, Trucker Camp and the famous Nürburgring Truck Corso.

Industry focus is good for business
A key attraction in all of the 2016 FIA ETRC paddocks is the transport and commercial vehicle industry exhibition.

This weekend is no exception with around 60 exhibitors including truck manufacturers and accessory companies such as championship partner Mercedes-Benz Trucks, IVECO, MAN, Scania, Hankook Reifen Deutschland GmbH, Europart Trading GmbH and TruckWorks.

The FIA ETRC provides an excellent marketing and networking opportunity across the race weekend. In Germany this year’s  11th ADAC Mittelrhein and TÜV Rheinland Symposium is being held at the Dorint Hotel on Friday 1 July from 10:00 – 16:00 and is entitled ‘Digitization in the transportation industry - benefits, opportunities, potentials’

How to follow the Nürburgring weekend:
Simply click here to follow the Truck Tracker, Live streaming video, live timing and live text commentary from the Nürburgring races.

Live coverage of the event can be seen on Motors TV at the following times:

Saturday 2nd July
09:25-10:35
15:25-16:25

Sunday 3rd July
12:00-13:10
15:15-16:20
 
ETRC 2016 calendar dates: