Norbert Kiss Strikes Early at Misano to Take Championship Lead

After four action-packed races, reigning champion Norbert Kiss leaves the opening round with three victories, the championship lead and a clear statement of intent for the season ahead.

Having already secured a double victory on Saturday, the Révész Racing driver continued his strong form on Sunday by claiming another pole position. However, Race 3 did not go entirely according to plan. Following contact with title rival Jochen Hahn, Kiss dropped down the order and crossed the finish line in sixth place.

The incident opened the door for Jochen Hahn to claim his first victory of the 2026 season. The German driver led home a memorable family one-two finish, with his son Lukas Hahn taking second place. Antonio Albacete completed the overall podium after a fiercely contested race.

Kiss quickly bounced back in Race 4. Starting from the partially reversed grid, the Hungarian moved into the lead on the opening lap and never looked back, securing his third win of the weekend. Sascha Lenz and René Reinert joined him on the podium to round off the opening event of the season.

While Norbert Kiss leaves Misano at the top of the overall standings, one of the standout performers of the weekend was Lukas Hahn. Competing in the Chrome category, the young German claimed three category victories across the event and takes an early lead in the Chrome standings with 50 points. His closest rival, John Newell, leaves Italy with 39 points.

After Round 1, Kiss leads the overall championship with 46 points, ahead of Jochen Hahn on 42 and Sascha Lenz on 37. Lukas Hahn sits fourth overall with 34 points, while Antonio Albacete rounds out the top five with 30 points.

Misano also marked an important milestone for the championship. The opening round was the first competitive outing for Goodyear’s new 2026 racing tyre, which incorporates 60 percent sustainable materials. The development represents another step forward in the series’ ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Another piece of championship history was made with the presentation of the first-ever Goodyear Wingfoot Award. Voted for by the fans, the award went to Norbert Kiss, who received 54 percent of the vote. Lukas Hahn finished second in the fan poll with 31 percent, while Antonio Albacete secured 15 percent.

With three victories from four races, a pole position and the championship lead, Norbert Kiss enjoyed an almost perfect start to his title defence. Only the setback in Race 3 prevented a clean sweep of the weekend.

The Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship now heads to Slovakia Ring on 6-7 June for Round 2, where Kiss’ rivals will be looking to close the gap before the Hungarian can build further momentum in the title race.