The mechanics with support trucks departed to A1-Ring in Austria on Wednesday evening and arrived there on Thursday morning. During the evening hours the other team members were arriving and the head of the team, Martin Koloc, arrived around midnight. Similarly to Misano the weekend programme started with the press day already on Friday. After the end of the press day the mechanics changed injectors and put new brake discs on the rear axle. On Saturday it was raining already from morning hours. This weather proved to be optimum for Buggyra. During the first free practice Gerd made second best time among the dozen of super trucks. The result of the next free practice was indeed shocking, since Gerd won by 0.7 second in front of his country-mate Östreich. In the afternoon the rain stopped and the track was getting dry. This seemed to be more suitable especially for the well matured MAN trucks. Nevertheless the fifth place in the last free practice was excellent, because only a single Mercedes of very experienced Parrish from UK was able to get in front of Gerd. The measured practice took place on the track, which was already completely dry. The whole team was praying for rain but in vain and Gerd had to start the duel with time together with the other competitors. At the end of the practice it seemed that some teams have to struggle with strategy rather than with time, because the allowed number of laps was exceeded by them. After two hours of discussions FIA commissioners condemned Faure from France only. Therefore Gerd was ranked at place seven. Martin Koloc was very satisfied with the results of Saturday: "Gerd showed that on wet track he is an excellent driver and is already able to win with Buggyra. The differences in power are eliminated under such conditions, because the trucks with stronger engines cannot transfer full power to the track. If it is raining tomorrow, we have a good chance to be successful. This is a situation, in which we are strong. Anyway I will be satisfied with a decent finish of the race."
However, it did not rain. Nevertheless Gerd was fighting vigorously in the qualification run and eliminated numerous attacks of Faure. At the end the latter run down his truck with the three-pointed star and did not make it for the finish. Gerd obtained four points for place seven and was checking the sky during the lunch break once again. Although the clouds were moving around they brought no rain at all.
The next race is due in two weeks in Nogaro in France. However, Buggyra will be absent together with some other trucks. The team wants to fulfil the promise of boycott – on contrary to some others.
DO NOT FORGET - we will meet at the home circuit of Most in 96 days!
