There were two further podium places for Huthwaite’s Taylors Trucksport Racing team in the second round of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship in Slovakia, writes Paul Horton.

Driver Mark Taylor had a fine weekend with a second and third place on the final day in the Chrome class to hold on to third place in the Chrome championship.

“What a weekend,” he said. “Saturday went OK, but we narrowly missed out on two podiums. Tyre wear was a problem in the blistering heat.

“Sunday’s two races went really well, two podiums, a second place, and in the last race I was on course for a top spot on the podium, but after some damage we took third.”

Taylors were third in the Chrome championship ahead of the third round in Zolder, Belgium, at the end of June.

In the third race in Slovakia, Mark started well to hold eighth place overall, second in the Chrome class, and looked on target for top spot on the podium.

He tried hard to move up a place to seventh, knowing he had a good five-second advantage on those behind him.

But by lap eight Mark settled for eighth place overall and a podium second place in his class.

A reverse grid for race four was to his advantage and he lined up on the scorching track in pole position. As the pace truck peeled off and the lights went out, Mark kept everyone at bay up until the fifth lap. Championship leader Norbert Kiss had moved up from eighth on the grid and eventually overtook him.

Mark was holding on to second overall when, with a rival on his inside and another to the outside, there was contact between all three. Mark came off worst, his left rear was hit with damage to the wheel rim and a slow puncture.

A slowing truck because of the damage meant an eventual ninth place, third in class, but he was so close to top spot on the podium.

PHOTOS: Richard Kienberger Photography