After months of excitement and anticipation, the British Truck Racing Championship makes its eagerly-anticipated return at Brands Hatch this weekend (April 4-5) and all eyes are on Division 1 to see who can grab the early initiative.
Five blockbuster races headline what promises to be an Easter extravaganza at the Kent venue, with the series’ premier class boasting an entry list that includes champions, contenders and race winners.
Heading the field is the reigning champion, Ryan Smith. The Worldwide Truck Racing driver has been perfection personified over the past decade and he heads into the new campaign with the opportunity to re-write the history books.
Smith’s ten consecutive titles has put him on the fringes of becoming the very first driver to win the coveted crown on 11 occasions; and armed with his Daimler Freightliner boasting a striking new look, the Derbyshire racer will be hard to bet against.
Remarkably Smith isn’t the only driver that could become an 11-time champion this year. Stuart Oliver also sits on ten titles and the Volvo VNL racer will be eager to reclaim the throne he once continuously occupied.
Contenders are everywhere when it comes to Division 1 however and former champion David Jenkins is someone who cannot be discounted. Another to sport a revised livery this year, the MAN driver knows what it takes to win so expect him to be on the pace from the get-go.
Beyond last year’s top-three, multiple race winners Michael Oliver, John Bowler and Steven Powell will be worth keeping an eye on as they each look to kick-start their respective campaigns off on a high.
Elsewhere, a potential dark horse in Division 1 can be found in the shape of DS Racing’s Nathan Smith. Following in the footsteps of his father David Smith, the second generation racer is poised to embark on his first full season in the series this year.
Last season, Smith tallied podiums at the International Truck Prix at Donington Park before then stepping up at short notice to replace his Dad at the Brands Hatch finale – where he then went on to win a sublime race.
The list of potential front runners doesn’t stop there though as Tom O’Rourke will be targeting more race wins whilst Neil Yates and Richard Collett will be eager to build on the podium finishes they picked up in 2025.
Completing the entry list for the opening round of the season are two returning faces, Simon Reid and Craig Reid. After a cutting their teeth on the European stage for a couple of years, the Iveco duo are back and ready to mix it on a full-time basis.
