The drivers started with an inspection of the truck before the driving session, to discover errors that had been secretly prepared in advance. Broken lamps, air leakages, bad fixation of the load were some things that should be discovered and adjusted by the drivers. Next station was the fuel-efficient and defensive driving out on the road, where their proficiency was judged. 

On Saturday morning, they were all tested at the difficult manoeuvring track. By 13:30 it was time to announce the six drivers who had qualified to the next and decisive phase of the Young European Truck Driver final. A massive crowd had gathered in front of the podium to where the speaker Richard Hammond was about to call up six drivers. 

It isn’t difficult to imagine what might have been going on in the heads of the 27 young truck drivers at that moment. Flashbacks of their own performance on the roads and the track during the past day. “Could I have driven more economically? Was I too careful? Was I too bold? Which of the drivers are favourites?” The uncertainties were many and the willingness to win was high. After all, the chance of driving away with a Scania R-series was at hand. 

Family members, friends and the general public who had all come to give their support became quiet. One by one they were called up by Richard Hammond: Mats Johansson from Sweden, Jiri Koblizek from the Czeck Republic, Mario Müller from Germany, Milan Jakúbek from Slovakia, Laurens D’Huyvetter from Belgium and Michele Sandri from Italy.

The six drivers were briefed about the new and technically very demanding manoeuvring track with six stations. The performances of the drivers through the pass manoeuvre, double plank, knocking pins, the gate, Z-track and slalom, could all be studied closely by the audience on a gigantic monitor as their way through the track was followed by cameras.

Nerve wrecked and exhausted the drivers could now only wait for the final verdict at the end of the day.

Congratulations to Michele Sandri for the third place, Milan Jakúbek for the second and especially to Laurens D’Huyvetter for proving himself to be the best young truck driver in Europe.

Text: Patrik Rask
Photos: Dan Boman and Carl-Erik Andersson