The races in Le Mans ended with a double victory for MAN teams: Jochen Hahn took second place in the third race, securing the championship title.
– After eleven years, I have reached the goal of my dreams – said the European champion during the official evening gala. – Besides that, I am happy that after a long break, I managed to win the championship title for Germany again!
The vice-champion was Antonio Albacete, who in the final third of the season once again contributed to increasing the attractiveness of the championship through his exceptional commitment to fighting for victory. Already on Saturday, Lutz Bernau’s team secured the championship title in the team classification. The pair of Antonio Albacete and Uwe Nittel were entered for this race, defeating two Renault teams and both Freightliners of the Buggyra team.
– We are happy that we managed to win the championship title. We owe the unique atmosphere of the final race to Jochen Hahn, the winner of the European Truck Racing Championship title. MAN’s success is further highlighted by the European vice-champion title won by Antonio Albacete and the team victory. We treat this as an additional impulse that will allow us to enter the next season at full throttle – says Björn Loose, head of MAN’s motorsport department.
Jochen Hahn’s victory is the eleventh individual win for drivers using MAN brand vehicles in recent years. MAN cars competed in 2011 against strong competition from other brands. But as early as the second week of the championship, Jochen Hahn decisively took the lead, winning all races held as part of the championship in Misano, thus taking the lead in the general classification.
The MAN team participating in the race was led to the finish line by experts from the engine competence center in Nuremberg, who deal with engines used in racing cars. Artur Klein’s team is responsible for the proper preparation of the engines of the cars participating in the races and for providing service along the championship route.
MAN teams also represented the full spectrum of Truckrace championship participants in the 2011 season. In addition to participants with a professional organizational structure, MAN drivers classified as amateurs were also able to present themselves. Among others, Spaniard Javier Mariezcurrena celebrated his victory in Nogaro loudly, and another multiple champion, Finn Mika Mäkinen, and Jose Bermejo were listed in the top ten. Bermejo achieved his greatest success in his home races in Jarama near Madrid. The Hungarian Oxxo team had a lucky hand, presenting a new driver in Zolder. Norbert Kiss missed a podium spot by a hair in his debut performance, and in one of the four races in his second appearance at the Jarama competition, he achieved a sensational victory. Kiss also found himself on the podium of the final race in Le Mans and is considered one of the most promising talents of this series: he received the “Rookie of the Year” title.