APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Norbert Kiss Extends Truck Racing Lead with Zolder Rain Double
Norbert Kiss delivered a dominant wet-weather performance at Circuit Zolder to secure two victories and extend his championship lead.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-09-13T19:50:00.000Z - 3 min read
Norbert Kiss delivered a commanding wet-weather performance at Circuit Zolder to claim two decisive victories during the second day of the Belgian Truck Grand Prix. The reigning champion showcased his prowess in tricky conditions, capitalizing on changing weather to expand his provisional championship lead to 105 points with only two events and eight races remaining in the season. Having shared Saturday honors with Sascha Lenz, the Hungarian driver seized control on Sunday by mastering the rain-soaked asphalt.
The opening Sunday encounter, designated as Race 3, saw Kiss convert his tenth pole position of the season into a victory. Torrential rain prior to the start threatened to derail the schedule, prompting a brief delay before conditions improved sufficiently for competition. Kiss noted that while pockets of standing water remained across the circuit, the majority of the track dried enough to establish a consistent rhythm. Antonio Albacete crossed the line in second position, while Lenz recovered to take third place for MAN.
Race 4 provided an even sterner test as Kiss was forced to carve his way through the field from an eighth-place grid slot. Executing a series of daring maneuvers on the outside lines, he steadily worked his way forward before reeling in Jochen Hahn, who had commanded the opening eight laps in his IVECO. Kiss praised the improved grip levels that allowed him to brake late and execute decisive overtaking moves. Hahn ultimately settled for third, with Lenz splitting the pair to secure second place.
In the secondary Chrome category, Steffen Faas put on a masterclass for tankpool24-Racing by sweeping both encounters in his division. Faas navigated a messy opening start in Race 3 that involved a tangle between Sascha Lenz and Steffi Halm, quickly capitalizing on rival mistakes to build a comfortable gap. Although he admitted to falling for a tactical dummy from Hahn during the action, Faas successfully defended his position to secure a double victory weekend for his team.
The battle for the Chrome championship standings remained fiercely contested as the series left Belgium. Defending division champion Mark Taylor maintained a narrow three-point advantage at the top of the standings over John Newell, despite a rare error dropping Taylor out of the immediate podium fight during the first Sunday outing. Newell bounced back strongly in the final race to claim third in class and subsequently earned the Goodyear Wingfoot Award following a public fan vote on Instagram.
All competitors throughout the weekend continued to utilize Goodyear's newly introduced 2026 specification tyre, constructed with sixty percent sustainable materials. Meanwhile, the expert jury nominated Albacete, Newell, and Reinert for special recognition before the fan vote decided the Wingfoot Award winner. With the Zolder weekend concluded, teams face a rapid turnaround as they prepare to transport their machinery to Hannover for the IAA Transportation event before heading directly to France.
The 2026 Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship now moves toward its penultimate round of the campaign. Le Mans will play host to the next chapter of the season from September 25 to 27, featuring the traditional 24 Heures Camions event where Kiss will look to cement his grip on the overall drivers' crown.