Truck Racing 2020: The “Corona Season” for Steffi Halm

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Steffi Halm and Jochen Hahn in front of their new trucks

Even a horsepower of 1,100 cannot stop Covid-19. That’s why this year’s FIA European Truck Racing Championship starts much later than usual. Instead of starting in May, it will not start until August and, instead of eight races, only six will be held this season. Here is the complete list:

  • Most: August 29th – 30th
  • Zolder: September 12th – 13th
  • Jarama: September 26th – 27th
  • Le Mans: October 3rd – 4th
  • Hungaroring: October 17th – 18th
  • Misano: November 14th – 15th

Nevertheless, all the racers competing in the 17-member line-up are evidently happy that there is a plan and that there is a chance. Steffi Halm from Team Schwabentruck – which is sponsored by febi – is also looking forward to the early start of the season which she stated during the presentation of her new Iveco S-Way: “The season was planned to start much earlier. It’s clear to us that the deadline is now at the end of August and that’s where things will start; that’s what we are working towards. They are trying to get us back to Most for testing, but the plan is in place and we are well prepared. The trucks are well prepared.”

A Good Year: 2019

In 2020, she intends to build upon the strong performances from last year where she took first place in the team championship with Jochen Hahn and finished fourth in the individual classification. “It was the second year for me with Team Schwabentruck and Iveco. Of course, there are always weekends that don’t run so well and, unfortunately, the Nürburgring was the worst weekend we ever had. But, all in all, it was a good year. We were able to improve and that’s also the plan for 2020: to improve further and take another step forward.”

In 2019, Steffi Halm was able to gain several places on the podium

However, she will have to give up the race at the Nürburgring this year: Since all major events in Germany are prohibited until the end of August, the Truck Grand Prix in the Eifel region was also cancelled. A bitter loss for the entire championship, as Steffi underlines: “Of course it is the absolute highlight not only for us Germans, but also for all the other drivers. I think we should gather our energy, go all the way through the races that are planned for this year, and then perform twice as strongly at the Nürburgring next year.”

Impressive New Truck

Until then, she can use the time to familiarise herself with her new truck. The Iveco S-Way R – the official name of the racing version – impresses with strong statistics – 6,000 Newton metres, 1,100 hp, 5.3 tonnes in weight – and, once again, features various febi components, including regular febi brake discs which continue to prove their stability and performance under the extraordinary stresses of a truck racing.

But apart from the inner values, the outward appearance of Steffi’s vehicle is also impressive: “Sure, in the end, the times must be right. But I am incredibly proud to be able to drive such a great truck this year. For me, the visual appearance is always decisive as well, because you create a positive feeling and that can always contribute to being fast in the end”.