Goodyear FIA ETRC Chrome champion Taylor on top after Slovakia Ring transformation
Mark Taylor went from being the “slowest” to the fastest in the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship’s Chrome category at the Slovakia Ring last weekend.
Taylor was a distant 12th after Free Practice 1 but hit back to claim three Chrome wins and shoot up from fifth to first in the provisional standings with eight races of the 2026 season run.
Defending Chrome champion Taylor also came within 0.974s of claiming his maiden outright victory in Race 4 but couldn’t quite fend off seven-time Goodyear FIA ETRC champion Norbert Kiss, who overtook with a handful of corners to go on the final lap.
Bradley Smith was also a Chrome winner at the Slovakia Ring, taking the Race 3 laurels after his Saturday charge was halted by mechanical woes. He finished ahead of Luke Garrett and John Newell before Garrett and Newell finished second and third to Taylor in Race 4.
Earlier, Taylor, Newell and Steffen Faas filled the Race 1 Chrome podium with Taylor beating Faas and Newell in Race 2.
Briton Taylor said: “Race 1 was a good race and I kept my pace, things went well, and the truck was going fine. Race 2 completed a good turnaround. I tried to keep it clean, I had a little contact with Sascha [Lenz] but that’s it, it was nice and smooth and I kept my head down. Overall, it’s good, a good end to a great weekend. Luke [Garrett] left the door open for me [in Race 4], it gave me the opportunity to get in front and make a run for it and that’s what I did. I saw Norbi [Kiss] and Steffi [Halm] fighting and we were good until the last lap. I defended Norbi a little bit too early and had a slight lock-up. But all in all, I’m pleased. We started the weekend really down, we were slow, the slowest of the field. The team all got together and figured out what was wrong and pushed into a direction and it’s worked.”
Taylor’s fellow Briton Smith said: “It’s a nice turnaround for the team. I had a good start, and it was a really good race, I really enjoyed it but Steffi [Halm] wouldn’t let me breathe. I didn’t think I’d get out for qualifying so to win is special. It’s a good boost [for the season], the team has worked really hard to get us out on track. We’ve had all sorts of problems thrown at us but that’s racing and you take the rough with the smooth.”
Clemens Hecker and Luis Recuenco were also among the Chrome scorers at Slovakia Ring.
The Goodyear FIA ETRC heads to the Nürburgring in Germany next for rounds three of the season from 9-12 July. Click HERE for event and ticket information.
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