Wait worth it for Lenz in Goodyear FIA ETRC

Lenz, without a Goodyear FIA ETRC victory since 2022, snatched the lead from fellow MAN-powered driver René Reinert with an around-the-outside move at the first corner and never looked back, securing first place with a margin of 6.288s.

Reinert excelled to fend off IVECO-driving Jochen Hahn despite intense pressure, as Hahn completed the podium ahead of Race 1 winner Norbert Kiss.

“I have a very good start,” said Lenz, who was restricted to seventh place in Race 1 following a run through the gravel trap exiting the first turn. “René gave me the place because we could drive together through the first corner and then next one I am on the inside and I can go. Then I make no mistake, I can drive nicely and I’m really happy for the team. We had bad luck in the first race because we had a lot of damage, but my team did a really good job that I can drive and I am happy for my team. You can [pass on the outside of the first corner] only if you have on the inside one guy who gives you the space. In the first race I was given no space and was completely out and this is the difference.”

Reinert said: “Sascha was better at the start, he braked really late on the outside, I give him the space for sure but the right side is better than pole position because inside it too close, you have to reduce too much the speed. Behind Sascha I find my pace, some small mistakes, I wanted to stay behind him, really close, but every lap I lost two or three tenths. Then came Jochen. He tried to make me nervous but I am happy I did not make a bigger mistake on the brakes to keep hold of second place, it’s nice. You cannot think too much, you have to stay focused watching in the front and really don’t think much about mistakes but how you can do things right, this is more important and makes the difference.”

Hahn added: “John make a really good race before me but I look where it’s possible to do the overtake. I see in the first sector I am the fastest in all the practices and there I can do something and I overtake him at the second corner. He opened the door and I have a little more speed, he see it and this is fair play because sometimes you have to open the door when somebody comes. It’s good and nice to race with him. René also made a fantastic job, I found no place to overtake in the last laps. But I can hold Norbi, podium again, good day.”

John Newell, who ran third initially, took back-to-back Chrome category wins in fifth overall as Antonio Albacete finished sixth ahead of Steffi Halm and Chrome contenders Mark Taylor, Luke Garrett and Stefan Kursch.

“It couldn’t have gone any better,” said Newell, who was unable to fend off Hahn through the second corner on lap six before slipping behind Kiss in quick succession. “The pace was fantastic and to keep the others behind was brilliant. Jochen sold me a dummy and I fell for it, hands up. It is what it is but it’s job done [in Chrome].”

Luis Recuenco was 15^th at the end of lap one but fought back to finish 11^th in his Mercedes-Benz with Freightliner-powered Steffen Faas 12^th after a pit visit for penalty marker infringements.

José Eduardo Rodrigues finished 13^th having been hit with a five-second penalty for opening-lap contact with Taylor, which left the Portuguese driver’s MAN with front-left bodywork damage. Taylor had been hampered by understeer through fast corners and instability under braking in Race 1 but found his race truck more to his liking in the second counter of the day.

Jonathan André, who finished third in Chrome in Race 1, retired from the top 10 on lap six but Clemens Hecker was a non-starter.

Round five of the 2026 Goodyear FIA ETRC at Circuit Zolder continues tomorrow (Sunday) with a 15-minute Warm-up from 10:05 local time followed by Qualifying 4-5-6 at 11:05. Race 3, which is scheduled for 12 laps, is due to begin at 14:20 with the 12-lap Race 4 set to get under way at 17:05. Watch the action live on YouTube. Click HERE for live timing. Results are available via Sportity using the password: FIA_ETRC_26.