Champions will be crowned at Brands Hatch this weekend (November 1-2) as the British Truck Racing Championship brings the curtain down on one of its most competitive ever seasons.
After 29 blockbuster races, the UK’s biggest motor racing series returns to the Kent venue – scene of the season-opener back in April – with the destiny of both the Division 1 and Division 2 titles still to be decided.
A sellout crowd is expected to be in attendance and while fireworks are advertised for Sunday evening, plenty of early sparks are set to fly across the final five races of what has been an unforgettable year for the super-sized series.
In Division 1, history could be made this weekend as Ryan Smith bids to retain his title for a tenth successive year; an achievement that would also see him equal the all-time record of ten titles that is currently held by his closest challenger, Stuart Oliver.
Smith has been the toast of the series’ premier class for the best part of a decade now however the 2025 campaign has seen him have to raise his game even further, such has been the level of competitiveness.
Three pivotal wins last time out at Le Mans enabled the Daimler Freightliner driver to open up a 35-point advantage in the standings; a healthy margin to have going into the finale but one that is by no means comfortable.
Leading the chase for Smith is ten-time champion Stuart Oliver. Bouncing back from a lacklustre 2024, the Volvo VNL racer has been in sublime form this year and will be one to watch as he chases after what could be a record-extending title win.
With a maximum of 105 points on offer around the Indy circuit, three more drivers – David Jenkins, John Bowler and Michael Oliver – arrive in mathematical contention for overall honours and they too will undoubtedly look to play their part in deciding where the coveted crown ends up.
Beyond the championship protagonists, both Martin Gibson and Steven Powell are hunting after their first wins of the season while David Smith is looking to add to the two he has already scooped this year.
Neil Yates was a podium finisher at Brands Hatch back in April and would dearly like another trophy before the year is out whilst Tom O’Rourke – a winner at Thruxton – will be focused on putting his recent run of bad luck behind him.
Completing the Division 1 ranks is Le Mans podium finisher Richard Collett and the duo of Adam Bint and John Powell, who are each making a triumphant return to competition after sitting out the past two rounds.
Staggeringly, the top two in Division 2 cannot be separated with Jake Evans and Callum Eason tied on 427 points – a remarkable feat given the twists and turns that have taken place over the course of the campaign.
Evans’ superior win record sees him have the edge on Eason via tie-break rules however neither driver – who are both in their first year of truck racing no less – can be discounted from walking away as a deserving champion.
Arguably it makes the task for both drivers very simply; whoever scores the most points this weekend will be champion…..or will they? That question can be asked because there are two other drivers in mathematical contention, Sami Ojanen and Bradley Harvey.
Both Ojanen and Harvey have punched in some standout drives throughout the year and they’ll need to do so again if they’re to topple the top two and be crowned champion come Sunday evening.
Division 2 is completed by guest entry Willem Breedijk and Archie Handy, who for this weekend will jump behind the wheel of Simon Cole’s Iveco. Handy’s father, Cole, has confirmed that he will not race due to ongoing work commitments. Another absentee for the weekend will be 333 Motorsport’s Graham Poole.
Saturday 1st November
Qualifying – 09:25 / Race 1 – 12:05 / Race 2 – 15:45
Sunday 2nd November
Race 3 – 10:40 / Race 4 – 12:30 / Race 5 – 15:40
