The whole team was preparing very carefully for Nürburgring in Germany. There were several reasons for that, and in particular the team wanted to show the best at Gerd's home circuit. In addition the support of the spectators could be expected as well, because Gerd is very popular and the numbers of spectators are always the highest at this very circuit. According to the organizers the trucks attract even more fans than F1 races.
However, the weekend started rather pathetically for the Buggyra Racing Team. As if the well-known rule was becoming true - the more efforts are spent the less good luck can be expected. The press-day of Thursday was connected with the first free practice, but Gerd was able to finish less than four laps. The engine did not withstand the demands and had just to be written off. Another engine followed the same fate after only few dozens of metres, when Gerd was driving out of the paddock to join the practice on Friday. The mechanics hardly slept at all during several past nights and had to change until the dawn to prepare the truck for Saturday runs. But just after the entry to the first chicane their tired faces wore an expression of hopelessness and despair. The engine was again out of control and moreover Buggyra, which could not be driven properly, crashed with the red Mercedes that was passing around. That was a disappointment for Faure as well. At that moment even the head of the team Martin Koloc did not assume that this was not yet the end of troubles. During the following last free practice Gerd went straight from the pace lap into the pits - due to engine failure. Everybody was just murmuring the swear so well-known in Germany: "Scheisse."
Despite all odds the mechanics with the technicians and engineers turned on the truck again and started to prepare it for the decisive event of the day - the time practice. It is an hour of the truth - sixty minutes with maximum of fifteen laps for each pilot to try to achieve the best time. Three times Buggyra went through the photocell beam in the finish with rankings 5th, 8th and 6th. The relief of team members is immense. But just in the next lap Gerd was driving to the pits again, making everybody highly suspicious, of course. It was, however, only a technical pit-stop for the purpose of checking the truck and tuning adjustment. This is a routine for everybody, because there is still a long time until the end of the practice, and the weather could still improve until that time. From morning hours the umbrellas are alternately covering and uncovering the stands along the track. Buggyra started again to fight with the chronometer and shortly afterwards Gerd's name appeared on 4th place. Nobody minds that after the end of time practice the final result is actually 7th place. The fourth row on the start is a good place for attacking leading pilots. After three days of constant problems the engine made it. There were however still two major obstacles to be overcome until the full programme is finished. Rudolf Teichert, the chief mechanic, summarized: "In the evening we would replace front disk brakes and the differential as well, to be on the safe side. Then we have to check injectors thoroughly in addition to the routine check-up and maintenance, of course." Large fireworks were fading away above the circuit, but the mechanics were still in full work. The last ones went to bed after 3 a.m.
After a cold night the D-Day came. There is no rain. But a sort of bomb exploded above Nürburgring! FIA commissioners cancelled ten out of fifteen times achieved in the practice. What was the reason? Unauthorized modification of tyres for wet conditions - in other words too deep grooves made for better drainage of water. Out of leading pilots only Faure and the local Rehfeld of group B were able to retain their positions. The tragicomic situation was concluded by the fact that the ranking of 'culprits' on the qualification grid was drawn out of a hat! During the warm-up Buggyra was keeping on well and Gerd was driving on fifth place. The satisfaction was felt everywhere. The start of the qualifying race was expected with great tension, because a tough struggle could have been expected due to strong competitors placed to the rear of the starting field. The colourful pack was approaching the starting lights and the green lights went on. Kreutzpointner was swiftly struggling to get ahead and in the first curve he made it just behind Faure. But behind them the plastic parts started to fly through the air. The track became suddenly so narrow for the giant trucks that it resembled a mere countryside road. From the sixth row Gerd is also trying his best and pushes Buggyra to maximum performance, resulting in fifth place in the end of first lap. Then, however, he had to break intensively, because in a sharp return curve Parrish's Mercedes was standing across. Instantly Albacete and Luostarinen started to shadow Buggyra. The leading pilots of this year's series were nevertheless getting nothing free from Gerd. And it was he who could smile at the end in the finish. Albacete got penalization because of hitting the cone and then dropped behind Gerd to seventh place. Everybody in the team was indeed satisfied.
And then only the last obstacle remained to be overcome. Unfortunately right at the beginning a trivial failure occurring just when driving to the start made the things troublesome once again. Until the mechanics repaired what was wrong the others were already formed behind the pace car and Gerd had to start from the pits, which is in fact worse than the last row of the grid. In seventh lap Gerd was already the seventh and the figure seven brought him four more points to his collection. In total he made nine points when competing at home. The number is neither too big nor too small. The spectators on full stands knew it very well and Gerd rewarded their support with several dances of Buggyra. The paddock support is satisfied as well. Who would make such a crazy bet on Saturday morning?
Do not forget that we will meet at the home circuit of Most already in 47 days!
