The battle for supremacy in the British Truck Racing Championship was blown wide open at Pembrey Circuit this past weekend (May 17-18) as the UK’s biggest motorsport series headlined Convoy Cymru with five action-packed races.
Writing the latest chapter of the 2025 season in South Wales, a bumper crowd flocked through the gates of the Carmarthenshire venue to witness edge-of-the-seat entertainment, high drama and a number of milestone moments.
In Division 1, reigning champion Ryan Smith endured contrasting fortunes as he went from winning both races on Saturday to suffering mechanical woes on Sunday. Adam Bint, Michael Oliver and Stuart Oliver would also triumph, underlining just how competitive the grid is this year.
Over in Division 2, Simon Cole and Jake Evans renewed their battle from Brands Hatch as they shared the spoils that were on offer once again; Cole claiming a hat-trick of wins whilst Evans wa able to tally a brace of his own.
With it being Convoy Cymru the BTRC was just one of many attractions for fans to enjoy as Pembrey showcased everything from live music and monster truck rides to a show truck display and trade stands – plus much more – over the course of the weekend.
Four different winners as Division 1 fight heats up
As was the case at Brands Hatch, qualifying on Saturday morning saw reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith top the times by more than half a second and with it, claim the Giti Pole Position Award.
Laying down a marker to the rest of the field by setting his fastest time at the start of the session, Smith ultimately had the luxury of sitting back and watching on as the likes of Michael Oliver, Stuart Oliver and David Jenkins attempted to topple him.
The Daimler Freightliner driver was wheel-perfect in the weekend’s opening race as he converted his front-row start into a flawless victory. Holding firm as the field barrelled into Hatchets Hairpin, Smith soon broke clear and ultimately triumphed by more than ten seconds.
Behind him, Michael Oliver had been comfortably running in second place before a gearbox issue brought his race to a premature end. His demise elevated Stuart Oliver and Jenkins onto the podium, with the pair entertaining fans as they duelled for second and third respectively.
Race two was a near carbon copy performance by Smith as he stamped his authority on proceedings by winning by more than 20 seconds. While he scampered off into the distance, an almighty battle for second place behind him had fans gripped.
Oliver Jnr initially upheld runners-up laurels but his pace soon diminished and having produced a defensive masterclass in the early exchanges, David Smith came to the fore to claim a career-best finish of second. Jenkins would fight back from some early travails to secure third late in the day.
Former Division 2 champion Adam Bint took on a starring role in race three as he produced a defensive masterclass to claim his maiden win in the premier class ahead of John Bowler and David Smith, who was back on the podium for the second successive race.
Starting on the front row, Bint controlled the pace in his Mercedes Actros and despite having to withstand immense pressure from the chasing pack, the fan favourite held on to take the chequered flag and record what was a breakthrough result.
History was then made in the penultimate contest of the weekend as Team Oliver Racing claimed a momentous 1-2-3 finish, with Michael Oliver leading home his ten-time champion father Stuart Oliver and team-mate Martin Gibson.
Hitting the front from the get-go, all three Giti-backed machines ran line astern at the front with the Oliver duo gradually pulling clear as the race unfolded. For Gibson, his race was slightly more pressurised as a host of contenders kept him honest all the way to the finish.
The weekend’s fifth and final race saw high drama play out as Ryan Smith – who had been spun out of contention in race three and was then hit with mechanical issue in race four – looked on course to take a routine lights-to-flag victory.
Building up a lead of more than five seconds, Smith suddenly was forced to dive into the pit lane with smoke pouring off his machine. With his race at a premature end, the Oliver duo took control of the lead – with both drivers enjoying a handful of laps out front.
On the run to the finish, Michael slowed ever so slightly to allow Stuart to chalk up his third win of the season. Finishing hot on their heels was former champion Jenkins, who had been a permanent fixture on their rear bumpers throughout.
Cole and Evans strengthen Division 2 title challenges
Blockbuster entertainment was there for all to see when it came to Division 2 over the course of the weekend as Simon Cole and Jake Evans walked away with a share of the spoils in South Wales.
Qualifying on Saturday morning set the tone for what was to come as Cole blasted his way to the Giti Pole Position Award. In what was a pulsating session that saw the likes of Evans and Bradley Harvey on top at one stage, Cole dug deep in the closing stages to light up the timesheets.
The Iveco TGS driver then made the most of starting at the front as he produced a measured drive to claim his fourth victory of the campaign in race one, while Evans and Sami Ojanen completed the podium.
Cole extended his winning streak in race two to cap off a perfect Saturday at the track by comfortably winning ahead of Ojanen and Evans, the latter having found a way past Harvey in the closing stages.
Race three on Sunday morning saw Cole extend his winning streak to six successive races as he just narrowly edged out Evans to top spot. Having seen his lead eaten into by the series debutant, over a number of laps, a red flag ultimately brought an early finish, ensuring Cole was victorious.
Evans would have his moment on the top step of the podium in race four however as he underlined why he is serious contender in the battle for the covered crown this season by producing a superlative drive.
Contact early on unfortunately forced Cole to visit the pit lane and when Ojanen suffered his own mechanical misfortune, Evans took full advantage to triumph ahead of fellow rookies Harvey and Callum Eason.
Cole would bounce back from his earlier travails to claim runners-up laurels in the final race of the weekend as Evans – who found a way past the experienced racer at mid-distance – triumphed once again. Harvey would also star as he bagged another third place finish in his DAF LF.
To view the full classification of results from all British Truck Racing Championship sessions at Pembrey, CLICK HERE.
All five races from the second meeting of the season will be available to view on the British Truck Racing Championship YouTube channel HERE.
The 2025 British Truck Racing Championship season continues on July 5-6 when the series travels to the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton Circuit.