Brands Hatch is set to play host to an Easter extravaganza of track entertainment this bank holiday weekend (April 16/17) as the British Truck Racing Championship kicks off its 2022 season in front of what is expected to be a packed trackside crowd.
Coming off the back of a sensational 2021 campaign, the series returns bigger and better than ever with an exciting seven-event calendar – which starts and ends on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit – and 20 full-season entries across Division 1 and Division 2.
Whilst there is a plenty of buzz about what is to come on-track this year, plenty of excitement can be directed away from it too with promoters Trucksport UK having strengthened their ties with key sponsors such as Giti, MV Commercial, VisionTrack, TRP Truck & Trailer Parts, Fruehauf and Truck & Driver.
In addition, every race will be streamed live online for free on the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel throughout the year – meaning fans of the heavyweight behemoths never miss a lap.
Six-time champion heads Division 1 ranks
Division 1 boasts an impressive 13 trucks for 2022 and every one of them will be looking to clinch the coveted championship crown when the season culminates in November.
Having won six consecutive titles, Ryan Smith undoubtedly enters the year as the driver to beat. Raising the bar year-on-year with his impressive win rate, the Mansfield racer will be looking to continue re-writing the history books as he targets a sensational seventh title in-a-row.
Former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver have been the main protagonists to the defending champion in recent times and both are back for another season as they look to add to their impressive racing CV’s.
Armed with a wealth of experience, both Jenkins and Oliver know what it takes to win the big prize and each of them will be drawing on their vast knowledge to hit the ground running around the famous Kent venue this weekend.
Former Division 2 title winner John Newell has established himself as a regular front-runner in the series and he, like Mark Taylor, will line up once again as they bid to take the fight to the aforementioned trio.
Two drivers that will be worth keeping a keen eye on is Steven Powell and Craig Reid, both of whom have graduated from Division 2. Title winners in 2020 and 2021 respectively, the pair are stepping up and given their track records, they will likely be in the mix from the outset.
Throw into the mix the likes of returning fan favourite Richard Collett, Michael Oliver, Bradley Smith, Simon Reid, Simon Faulkner and Tom O’Rourke and you begin to see why the battle for supremacy is wide open in the BTRC’s premier class.
Battle for Division 2 crown wide open
In Division 2, seven trucks will be competing for overall honours and picking a potential champion is set to be as difficult as ever.
One notable name that stands out on the entry list is the return of double champion Luke Garrett. After a year away competing in the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Garrett is back on British shores and looking to add another title to the ones he clinched in 2018 and 2019.
Fellow former champion Adam Bint is also back and after showing plenty of front-running pace last year, the series stalwart will be hoping that this is the year he returns to the top of the truck racing mountain.
John Powell and Brad Smith have become regular visitors to the podium in the past and both will be keen to make sure that continues throughout 2022. Elsewhere, Craig Evans, John Borthwick and the returning John Bowler will all be chasing glory too, making Division 2 an unmissable spectacle.
Brands Hatch braced for blockbuster action
The British Truck Racing Championship curtain-raiser at Brands Hatch is always packed full of thrills and spills and this weekend looks set to be no different as the mega machines take centre stage for five races around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit.
Saturday 16th April | Qualifying: 09:20 / Race 1: 12:25 / Race 2: 16:40
Sunday 17th April | Race 3: 10:55 / Race 4: 13:10 / Race 5: 16:10
All races will be streamed online for free via the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel with Saturday’s broadcast beginning at 12:15 and Sunday’s at 10:15.
Tickets information for the event can be found by visiting HERE.