SLOVAKIA RING PREVIEW: WHO CAN HUNT DOWN KISS?
The 2025 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship heads to Slovakia Ring this weekend for the third round of the season, with the title fight beginning to take shape as the on-track action heats up.
At the front of the field, Norbert Kiss remains the benchmark. The reigning champion has taken six of the seven race wins so far this season, continuing his dominant form with Balu Junior. However, Lausitzring showed some cracks in his dominance, as Jochen Hahn took pole ahead of Race 1 and pushed Kiss hard again in the second qualifying session. Could this be the start of the grid catching up to the Hungarian? If Hahn wants to challenge for the title and stop Kiss from becoming the first seven-time champion in ETRC history, Slovakia will be key.
The one win Kiss didn’t take at Lausitzring went to René Reinert, whose emotional home victory marked a standout moment in his comeback season. He’ll be aiming to build on that success as he fights for third in the standings, currently a tight battle with Steffi Halm. Halm delivered two strong podium drives at Lausitzring and has emerged as one of the most consistent and composed drivers on the grid – the win may still elude her, but she’s certainly in the mix.
Sascha Lenz and Antonio Albacete remain ever-present threats. While their seasons have started slower than expected, both have the speed and experience to fight for podiums. José Eduardo Rodrigues started finding his feet in the Titan class, delivering solid performances despite setbacks at the start of the season.
In the Chrome class, the battle of the Brits between Mark Taylor and Bradley Smith is heating up. Taylor currently holds the lead, having bounced back from two DNFs in Misano, but Smith has momentum after taking his first class win and continuing to score consistently.
After leading the standings in Misano, Clemens Hecker finds himself locked in a close fight with John Newell. Newell has been quietly consistent, though off the podium since round one, while Hecker picked up another trophy at Lausitzring.
Reliability remains a crucial factor in the championship. Luke Garrett and Steffen Faas have both shown flashes of pace but were once again hit by technical problems at Lausitzring. Faas and his tankpool24-Racing team are still battling persistent gremlins with their new Freightliner - both drivers will be hoping for cleaner runs in Slovakia to showcase their full potential.
Luis Recuenco will be looking to continue his upward form from Lausitzring, while Christian Ruppert continues to find his footing in the Goodyear FIA ETRC, soaking up knowledge and advice from the entire #onetruckfamily as he learns the ropes of truck racing.
At Slovakia Ring, Eurowag makes its first onsite appearance as a partner of the Goodyear FIA ETRC this season. In the Fan Village visitors can enjoy an exciting off-track challenge with remote-controlled mini tractor-trailers racing around a scaled-down circuit, where the fastest drivers can win prizes such as an iPhone or iWatch. This fun activation highlights Eurowag's commitment to innovation and engaging the trucking community beyond the race itself.
As a leading technology company in Europe's road freight sector since 1995, Eurowag supports the transition to cleaner, fairer, and more efficient transport. With its acceptance network of fuel stations, where 620+ are offering HVO and bioLNG across Europe, including key truck parks in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia - Eurowag is driving forward digitalisation and sustainability in the industry. Learn more at http://www.eurowag.com