However, he will be up against a group challengers possessing renewed vigour.

2014 runner-up, Jochen Hahn, has built a new truck, which he has tested on the Most circuit in the Czech Republic – and with which he has recorded some encouraging times. Worryingly for his rivals, Hahn believes the new truck offers him significant scope for development.

Third place last year, Antonio Albacete and the CEPSA Truck Team, have also acquired a new truck; the truck driven in last year’s championship by Lutz Bernau.

The top three were extremely close in 2014, with all three leading the championship at some point throughout the season - it was only at Le Mans that the title fell to the Hungarian, Kiss.

Behind them, the Buggyra drivers David Vrsecky and Adam Lacko return as team mates in their Freightliners with the intention of adding to the championship battle at the front.

As with 2014, reverse grid races will remain both a spectacular part of the championship, and a crucial element to the title race. In each round, the top eight drivers from Races 1 and 3 will start Races 2 and 4 in reverse order, creating some intense racing.

On change for the 2015 season is in the distribution of points. Unlike in previous years, where reduced points were awarded for the reverse grid races, now each race over a round will offer the same number of points. From 1^st to 10^th place, points are now awarded as follows for every race; 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1.

Team Truck Sport Bernau will welcome the category’s only female driver for 2015, with the arrival of Germany's Ellen Lohr, who is coming off a strong season with Team JRT. She will replace Switzerland's Markus Bösiger, who has retired from competition.

Likewise with Anthony Janiec, who was one of the outstanding drivers at the end of the 2014 season, will be hoping to get off to a similarly strong start for 2015; if he does, he’s another name that could be right in the thick of the championship. He’ll be doing it with a new team, though, having moved to Team Lion Truck Racing in the off-season.

The other big team news is the expansion of Team Tankpool 24 to two Mercedes for the new season. With the return of Germany's Roland Rehfeld alongside young André Kursim, this team is doing everything it can to vault itself up the standings.