European Truck Racing Championship – a look back in time
Magazine
The European Championship from back then to now.
What is the series?
The European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) racing series was recognised by the FIA in 1985. At that time nobody expected that tractor units racing each other would ever find so many keen fans all over the world. Initially, the trucks of the series started in three different weight and engine size categories: classes A, B and C. In 1994 the regulations were changed, and the ETRC then consisted of two categories: Super Race Trucks and Race Trucks. Now, since 2006, all vehicles participating in the championships drive in one and the same category.
High output – great triumphs.
Since the beginning of the series, the Mercedes trucks have won the championship thirteen times. The top vehicles were driven by the virtuoso drivers of the time: Thomas Hegmann, Steve Parrish, Ludovic Faure, Gérard Cuynet, Axel Hegmann, Slim Borgudd and Heinz-Werner Lenz. And virtuoso is exactly the right word to use in this context – because the drivers have to master vehicles that often have an output of more than 1,500 horsepower under the bonnet! This much horsepower is provided by series-production drive systems being tuned appropriately. Each truck is also equipped with a professional safety cab. Hardly surprising, bearing in mind that the vehicles are capable of speeds up to 160 km/h.
Thomas Hegmann and the Mercedes-Benz 1450 S.
The first world champion in the ETRC series in class C to drive a Mercedes-Benz racing truck.
Steve Parrish and the Mercedes-Benz 1450 S.
The racing truck driver with the highest number of wins is Steve Parrish from the UK.
He took part in the races with an 18.5-litre version of the 1450 S model that won the most prizes between 1989 and 1993.
This vehicle can now be admired at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
Heinz-Werner Lenz and the Mercedes-Benz 1938-S.
The German driver won the championship three times in succession from 1997 to 1999 in the Race Trucks category.
Slim Borgudd and the Mercedes-Benz 1834 LS.
In 1995, Swedish driver Slim Borgudd won the world championship in the Super Race Trucks class with his Mercedes-Benz 1834 LS.
Gérard Cuynet and the Mercedes-Benz 1733 S.
The Frenchman drove his super-fast Mercedes 1733 S to victory in the 1993 championship in the top-level class A as it was then called.
Ludovic Faure and the Mercedes-Benz Atego.
In 1998, Mercedes-Benz introduced the third generation of racing trucks, based on the Atego model.
The tractor unit was equipped with a 12-litre V6 engine, which had an output of almost 1,500 horsepower. The engine achieved this output at 2,000 revs per minute. The first season was a triumph for the team with the three-pointed star.
At the end, Ludovic Faure and his Atego stood at the top of the podium. This winning truck can now also be admired at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
The ETRC today.
Nowadays, the racing trucks in the ETRC series are powered by engines with a maximum of 13 litres displacement and an output of up to 1,100 horsepower. The engines are generally assemblies based on series-production drive systems. Turbocharging is provided by one or two compressors (depending on whether it is an inline or a V engine with offset crankshaft). To achieve an output of this order, the event organisers require the teams to use appropriate Venturi tubes for the air intake. The gross weight of the vehicle must be at least 5,300 kg. Currently there are three teams driving a Mercedes in the race: Heinz Werner Lenz, the Orsini Racing team, and the Tankpool 24 team.
Source: own material, Bernhard Huber
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8 comments
Die Fahrzeuge sahen aus wie "normale" Sattelzugmaschinen.
Heute? Die Rennfahrzeuge haben noch Details die ganz entfernt an etwas erinnern, das auch auf der Straße herum fährt. Das gefällt mir bei Weitem nicht mehr so gut.
Gruß
Klaus
Die Fahrzeuge sahen aus wie "normale" Sattelzugmaschinen.
Heute? Die Rennfahrzeuge haben noch Details die ganz entfernt an etwas erinnern, das auch auf der Straße herum fährt. Das gefällt mir bei Weitem nicht mehr so gut.
Gruß
Klaus
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