Goodyear FIA ETRC Slovakia Ring day one round-up: Kiss doubles up by 0.010s in thrilling finish
Norbert Kiss claimed a victory double in dramatic circumstances as the chase for Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship glory continued at the Slovakia Ring today (Saturday).
Having triumphed in Race 1 from pole position, reigning Goodyear FIA ETRC champion Kiss made it two wins from two in a thrilling finish to today’s second race, defeating fellow MAN-powered driver René Reinert to first position by 0.010s.
Reinert looked to have done just enough for his first win of 2026 but couldn’t fend off the charging Kiss – who started eighth on the partially-reversed grid – in a thrilling drag race to the line.
Steffi Halm, who had pressured Reinert for the lead during the early stages, completed the podium as the top eight were separated by a mere six seconds, such was the intense battle for positions.
While Reinert conceded there was “some disappointment if you lose the win in the last corner”, his second-place finish represented a remarkable change of fortune after he missed qualifying while his team rushed to replace a broken gearbox and lined up on the back of the Race 1 grid.
Earlier, Kiss beat title rival Jochen Hahn to victory in Race 1 ahead of Sascha Lenz. But a DNF in Race 2 for IVECO-driving Hahn due to a mechanical issue means Hungarian hero Kiss tops the provisional Goodyear FIA ETRC standings by 19 points ahead of his German rival, a six-time European champion. But with two races scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) that could all change.
Mark Taylor took a win double in the Chrome category with John Newell second and Steffen Faas third in Race 1. Faas then beat Newell in Race 2 but it’s Newell who leads the provisional ranking, six points ahead of defending champion Taylor.
Flash reports from Race 1 and Race 2 are available at the links below. Go to the Sportity app using the password FIA_ETRC_26 for all results and standings. Register to access the new Goodyear FIA ETRC media hub by clicking HERE. Revisit Race 1 and Race 2 on YouTube.
Race 1:
https://www.goodyearfiaetrc.com/news/kiss-storms-to-slovakia-goodyear-fia-etrc-glory
Race 2:
Race 1 and Race 2 overall winner Norbert Kiss said: “It was a good start in Race 1 and I was in front and clear for the braking zone at the first turn, so it was nice, I didn’t have to fight much at the start. I did no mistakes, so it was good and it was nice to win. Race 2 was very exciting, René was doing a really good job defending so it was really hard to get into position, for a few laps it was just not working. In the last lap I kind of already gave it up, then I catch up to him and was very close and could make him defend into the last turn in a very unusual manner, which caused him to miss the apex a bit. I put my nose in and tried to have a good exit as much as possible. Then on the outside of course he was coming back a little bit, it was very close, the closest finish in truck racing I think.”
Race 2 runner-up René Reinert said: “For sure there’s some disappointment if you lose the win in the last corner, but, it’s okay, Norbi is really fast here and can play with his truck and do amazing things. He deserved the win. It was immense pressure, but you had to stay really focused and with the tyres getting hotter you had to decide where you brake and when you brake, there are a lot of things you have to manage in your head. After missing qualifying and starting the first race from 14th position and finishing eighth we get the first place for Race 2. It was a good start and everything was fine until the last corner.”
Race 1 and Race 2 Chrome winner Mark 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.”
All drivers are racing with Goodyear’s new-for-2026 tyre, which features 60 per cent sustainable materials, while tomorrow will provide the second opportunity of the season for fans to vote for the Goodyear Wingfoot Award on Instagram during Race 4.
Following a 15-minute Warm-up from 09:00 local time tomorrow (Sunday), Qualifying 4-5-6 is due to begin at 10:25 with Race 3 scheduled for 13:30 and Race 4 from 15:30, with qualifying and both races streamed live on YouTube.
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