FIA European Truck Racing Championship 2009
Sponsoring BJP Racing Team
Original PE has been sponsoring the team centred around Jean-Pierre Blaise since 2008. And the BJP Racing Team is relying on PE brake discs and pads again this season.
The next section reports the results of the races in Assen and Misano.
Image source: BJP Racing, driver Jean-Pierre Blaise
Truck race Assen (8th to 10th May 2009)
After a season start that almost got lost in the rain, Assen (Holland) was a mainly dry race. The topics that ruled this weekend however, were tyres and the controlling of the 160 kmh speed limit; tolerance thresholds no longer exist for this year. On the Friday evening, about half an hour before the final training session, the race commission announced that the 2008 Goodyear tyres will no longer be permitted. Background: Goodyear tyres are used on the front axle by all of the teams. In the time trials on Saturday, the team around Antonio Albacete shocked the competition with lap times that could not be achieved by the remaining teams. After the session, reports came in that the team had mounted 2007 series tyres on the front axle. The new regulations were also an important topic for the Original PE sponsored BJP Racing Team and driver (MAN, Belgium, start number 14). The grip of the tyres meant that the team lost between 3 and 4 seconds a race. Thus, they sat out the race on Saturday to make changes to the settings. And on Sunday, they were more successful in the second race with a 10th place. The brake discs and pads from Original PE had, according to the race team, proved themselves in 2009 as well. Despite a technical defect during the race which meant that water cooling of the brake discs was not possible, the PE brake discs showed no stress cracks and the race could be completed successfully.
Image source: BJP Racing, driver Jean-Pierre Blaise
Truck race in Misano (23rd to 24th May 2009)
Misano felt like a holiday. Over 27,000 truck racing fans enjoyed the weather, the relaxed atmosphere and a very interesting race.
This race weekend was interesting and varied for Jean-Pierre Blaise as well.
The first race on Saturday was determined by the weather. Air temperatures of 35 degrees (apparent temperature 45) and 60 degrees on the track. Jean-Pierre finished in 14 th place.
In the second race on Saturday, the race had to be aborted due to an electrical short circuit after just two laps.
But in the first race on Sunday, things worked out better for the BJP Racing Team and Jean-Pierre took thirteenth place.
The second Sunday race began with an excellent start in which Jean-Pierre Blaise was able to make good two place and finish the race in eighth position.
The team is currently placed fourteenth with three points.
Congratulations on the race success!
Image source: BJP Racing, driver Jean-Pierre Blaise
The BJP Racing Team is now preparing for the start in Albacete, Spain (6th to 7th June 2009). And we will be reporting in detail after the event. The PE Team are keeping their collective fingers crossed for Jean-Pierre Blaise and the team and hoping for a successful result.
For more information about EUROPEAN TRUCK RACING, visit www.truckracing.de.
For more information about the BJP Racing Team, see www.bjpracing.be.