25.05.2018 IVECO ALL SET TO CHASE TRUCK RACING GLORY THIS YEAR

BULLEN OF IVECO MAGIRUS 2018
BULLEN OF IVECO MAGIRUS 2018
BULLEN OF IVECO MAGIRUS 2018

After finishing in second in the final Teams’ and Drivers’ standings of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship last year, the ‘Bullen of IVECO Magirus’ team is ready to compete in the 2018 edition of the championship which kicks off in Italy at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this weekend.

After finishing in second in the final Teams’ and Drivers’ standings of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship last year, the ‘Bullen of IVECO Magirus’ team is ready to compete in the 2018 edition of the championship which kicks off in Italy at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this weekend (26-27 May).

IVECO will again be the technical sponsor of the ‘Bullen of IVECO Magirus’ entry, a partnership between the Hahn Racing and Schwabentruck teams. The latter outfit has represented the brand for the past nine years in truck racing, while Team Hahn – the 2016 Teams’ champions – will enter a Stralis race truck in the series for the second year running.

The brand is supporting the team’s three Stralis 440 E 56 XP-R 5.3-tonne race trucks. They are powered by an IVECO Cursor 13 engine which delivers an impressive 1180 hp and more than 5000 Nm torque.

These vehicles are specifically designed and equipped to reach 160 km/h, the maximum speed allowed by sporting regulations and are the result of extensive upgrades carried out by the teams.

Thirty-year-old German Steffi Halm will make her debut this weekend driving an IVECO truck as the new leader of the Schwabentruck team. The only female driver competing in the championship, she has already achieved notable victories behind the wheel of a racing truck and her clear ambition is to succeed in dominating the championship this season in her Stralis.

German driver Gerd Körber, a fomer three times European Truck Racing Champion – in 1996, 2001 and 2003 – will also drive a Stralis for the Schwabentruck team.

Meanwhile, Team Hahn will be represented by Jochen Hahn who finished second in the Driver’s championship classification in 2017 during his first season racing an IVECO Stralis truck. Hahn collected a final total of 343 points to the eventual champion Adam Lacko’s 381 points.

In the FIA European Truck Racing Teams’ Championship last year Die Bullen von IVECO Magirus finished as the runners up, with 518 points, while the eventual champions, Buggyra Racing 1969, scored 558 points.

Die Bullen von IVECO Magirus however came on very strongly towards the end of the season, claiming the biggest points hauls in both of the last two events of the year and the team will be looking to carry that superb form forward into the new season when it gets underway tomorrow in Misano and mount a bid for the titles.

“We are excited with the new season that is opening in Misano, it’s an opportunity to entertain our customers, drivers and fans,” said Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President. “We are back in the competition this year with Gerd and Jochen, both of whom hold European Championship titles, but the real news is Steffi Halm behind the wheel of IVECO Truck number 44. At a time when drivers and mechanics are scarce, Steffi is an encouragement for women to come and work in our industry.

"We know we have a very competitive and reliable truck, and our dream is to see Steffi be the first woman to conquer the European championship," he continued. "Welcome and best wishes of success, Steffi!”

IVECO will take to the track at each of the eight circuits that make up this year's championship and reinforce the brand’s presence in the paddocks with vehicle displays, fan shops and hospitality facilities.

Support Italiaspeed

 

© 2018 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed