Britain’s biggest racers to thrill Thruxton crowdsHuge grid of incredible racing trucks to line up at UK’s fastest circuitTight at the top after two intense rounds at Brands Hatch and Pembrey
The BTRA British Truck Racing Championship thunders into Thruxton this weekend (14/15 June) for the third round of its 2014 campaign. One of the British Automobile Racing Club’s best-loved and most impressive series, the BTRA has enjoyed a fantastic start to the year with action-fuelled outings at Brands Hatch and Pembrey, and now it comes to the fastest circuit in the UK for another weekend of titanic racing action.
It’s tight at the top of the standings, and with five quick-paced races at every event, the BTRA Championship undoubtedly provides the biggest bang for your buck in UK motor sport. With two classes and reversed grids across the meetings, there are guaranteed thrills n’ spills on both Saturday and Sunday. In Class One, Chris Levett leads the way by just four points from Mat Summerfield, who is himself only six markers ahead of Steve Thomas. Class Two is every bit as close, with Simon Reid topping the table from Steven Powell and Steve Rothery.
The sun-soaked Brands Hatch curtain-raiser produced some enthralling wheel-to-wheel racing featuring a great variety of competitive machinery. The Class One battles comprised the mighty MANs plus two rapid Renaults, a pair of speedy Scanias and a Mercedes – all of which headed the field at some stage. Victories were shared between Summerfield, Richard Collett and Levett, leaving proceedings well-poised for the following outing at Pembrey.
The superb south Wales circuit attracted a bumper crowd of spectators for the next event. Glorious weather greeted the grid of magnificent machines, and whilst many of the experienced drivers were busy banging into each other, Levett took his Renault to one win and another four podium places to go top of the table. Sharing the best weekend score of 44 points was the consistent Thomas driving a MAN, collecting a hat-trick of triumphs and brace of fourth-place finishes.
The only other competitor to reach the top step of the Pembrey podium was Stuart Oliver in his Scania, picking up a win in the second Saturday race – but along with MAN drivers Summerfield and David Jenkins, it wasn’t otherwise a weekend to remember for the front-running contender.
With so much going on, all eyes will be on Thruxton this weekend – the Hampshire speedbowl will see the huge headlining 1200bhp+ leviathan machines go wheel-to-wheel at the home of the BARC in five more exciting showdowns, which are sure to attract big crowds.
It’s not just the trucks that will thrill the Thruxton crowds this weekend, however. Having skipped a visit in 2013, the Mini Se7en Racing Club will provide a plethora of supporting classes, generating variety and contrast to the monster machines at the top of the bill. The Dunlop Mini Se7en Challenge cars are back to entertain in Hampshire, and will once again be racing flat-out at record speeds at what is the one-litre pocket rockets’ fastest outing.
As the younger but more powerful siblings of Mini Se7en, 1.3-litre Mini Miglias will likewise be tearing up the tarmac at average lap speeds of over 94mph around the 2.36-mile circuit, and are joined by two other Mini-tastic classes – the Mini Se7en Classic series and the Invitation class.
“It’s always a spectacular sight to see the trucks racing flat-out at Thruxton,” enthused Thruxton Group Managing Director Bill Coombs. “The championship is in great shape with some really fierce battling in both classes, and after a bumper attendance at Pembrey last time out, we’re expecting to see busy spectator banks this weekend.
“Truck racing is undoubtedly the most captivating spectacle in UK motor sport, and it’s always special when they come to Thruxton for some pedal-to-the-metal action. Fans will be treated to plenty more electrifying racing, too; not only do we manage to fit in five scorching truck contests, but there’s much more on the bill to keep everybody entertained – so come along and find out what all the fuss is about!”
Tickets can be purchased in advance from as little as £8 via the official www.thruxtonracing.co.uk website or by calling the ticket office on 01264 882200.
