Goodyear FIA ETRC Q&A: John Newell
John Newell hit back from a winless start to the season to land the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship’s Chrome category title during a final-round showdown with Mark Taylor, last year’s champion.
This is what the MAN-powered NWT Motorsport driver from Great Britain had to say after his late-season charge proved the difference.
You’re the Goodyear FIA ETRC Chrome champion for 2026. How good does that sound?
“It’s superb, I’m over the moon with that. It worked out that little bit easier than I thought it would do but once we started pulling a gap, I could relax a bit, just kept it safe and it was done.”
But what a transformation, no wins until Autodrom Most at the end of August and then it seemed as though you couldn’t stop winning…
“If the first half of the season had started like that, we’d have been home and dry a long time ago. Compared to where we were mid-season to where we are now, we’re in a completely different place.”
Was there ever a moment when you doubted that you’d come out on top as Goodyear FIA ETRC Chrome champion at the end of the season?
“When we got to Nürburgring [in July] and we were still struggling I thought it might not be possible. But after that it just come alive, and we were gone. We just keep moving forward now, we’ve had a cracking season, it was great to win the Chrome tile, there’s lots of testing now and we start fast next year.”
Motor sport is a team game so how crucial was your team in the success you achieved during the 2026 season?
“The team has worked endlessly, night and day to get this truck right and they’re still working hard. Without them and my sponsors we couldn’t do it.”
You’ve spoken on many occasions about the support you’ve received from your Löwenpower team-mate Sascha Lenz. Just how has he helped you?
“He’s helped me phenomenal with my driving, he comes over to England, he tests with me, we do sim together, he’s like my brother. One hundred per cent he deserved to finish second overall, I could have done with giving him a hand [in the final race of the season].”
Full 2026 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship standings are available by clicking HERE. All results are subject to final confirmation by the FIA. Revisit the 2026 season on YouTube and stay tuned for more on the Goodyear FIA ETRC.
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