Final event of the series of eleven races took place in Jarama immediately during the next weekend after Lausitzring. Therefore the mechanics started to drive to Spain directly from Germany on Monday afternoon. On Wednesday evening they arrived to the circuit, which is located about 30 kilometres from Madrid.
This time the programme started with three free practices on Saturday. It was overcast from the morning and the circuit was washed with light but persistent rain. This was traditionally an advantage for Gerd and in the first practice he was able to make times around fifth place. Then he had to drive to the pits a bit too early, because the oil pressure suddenly dropped. As it came out, several pieces of crushed washer from the turbocharger, which failed already on Lausitzring, got through the tube into the oil pump. Since there was a danger that some particles could get even farther, the mechanics took out the whole engine and cleaned the oil sump. Obviously these works took much time and therefore Gerd was not able to start in the second practice, which took place less than hour after the first one. However, the benefits of proper preparation proved out in the third practice, in which Gerd finished as the sixth in strong competition of MAN and Mercedes-Benz trucks. He could hardly make a better time, because the brake disc on the left front wheel cracked during the practice. After the replacement was installed the mechanics decided to check the brakes on the other wheels as well, just to be on the safe side.
For the afternoon the meteorologists announced that the clouds would dissolve and the rain would gradually stop. Their forecast was absolutely accurate. The rain stopped just before the start of time practice but the track remained considerably wet. Therefore the teams started with wet tyres. Gerd was keeping a very good sixth position, but he was able to make only four full-speed laps. Then he carefully returned to the pits. He complained that the stability of the truck was poor and that it was impossible to keep the optimum route. In the meantime the track got sufficiently dry to allow exchange of tyres. Gerd's name started to drop on the monitors announcing the rankings and in the end of the practice he was occupying only place ten. Apart from all pilots of Group A also two of Group B were finally able to make faster times than Gerd. It meant that Gerd was starting into the qualifying race on Sunday from fifth row.
In the evening the mechanics disassembled and checked the differential and the gearbox, where the origins of Gerd's troubles could be expected. However, they could not find any fault. The axle was in order as well. Then they checked the balance of the truck in order to verify whether the weight is appropriately distributed to all wheels. The results indeed showed that there were certain deviations exceeding usual tolerance limits, so the mechanics adjusted the suspension and shock absorbers. They managed the job by midnight and then after changing the overalls they still had some time to enjoy the Eurosport replay of beautiful goals of our football team in the decisive qualification match against Bulgaria.
The warm-up of Sunday morning took place in bright sun and Gerd was showing that he is a master of his job on the dry track as well. Several times he was appearing on the third place and it seemed that all problems could be just forgotten. However, the optimism disappeared after he got to the pits and reported problems with the gearbox. It was taken out immediately and taken over by the technicians of the manufacturer – ZF. After some adjustments it was put in place again and the truck was prepared for the qualifying race.
Gerd started in an excellent way. He immediately made his way to the eighth place, in second lap he overtook Faure on place seven and began to shadow the black-yellow Caterpillar of Luostarinen. However, he did not watch its back too long and in one very steep and difficult climb Luostarinen was taken over and Gerd assumed his sixth position with admirable lightness. Then Buggyra was sprinting ahead as fast as possible and it was the speed that created problems in the final curve. With his left front bumper Gerd hit the column of tyres marking the edge of the track. Fibreglass body was broken and one piece perforated a brake system tube. Yet another promising attempt to reach much desired success finished in vain.
Nevertheless the engine remained undamaged and thus before the cup race it was enough to repair plastic parts and to replace brake pads that were jammed after the damage to the brake system. Gerd had to start from place twelve, which meant a position even behind the pilots of Group B. They somehow did not want to acknowledge the power superiority of Buggyra and complicated its way forward quite a lot. Against all odds, Gerd made his way to the trucks of Group A at the cost of several hard collisions. The truck was tossing sideways and finally remained standing still in the middle of the track. Then the race was stopped due to incomprehensible reasons, just after everybody ran over helpless Gerd again. The starting field started to get arranged again to the original formation on the starting grid and Gerd, who in the meantime managed to start the engine, was approaching from behind. But the commissioners did not want to allow him to start and literally pushed him out from the track to the area of technical inspection. Extensive discussions followed and it almost looked like Gerd would be again allowed to the track but he just took off the helmet and went to watch the race from the press centre roof terrace together with Martin Koloc. So in the last race of the season he participated as a spectator only.
After the race Martin called the whole team to meat in the pits. "This season was the best I have experienced. We have got so much new knowledge and information that we can directly start the preparations for the next one. I would like to thank you all very much," said Martin in the end of his short speech. Then also Gerd Körber expressed his thanks to everybody for perfect cooperation.
In the evening the official announcement of the results for the whole season took place. Martin Koloc obtained a cup for the eighth place and a special plaque for Buggyra for the greatest benefit shown in Super Race Trucks division of the FIA European Truck Racing Cup 2001.
