Pembrey Circuit will provide the setting for the British Truck Racing Championship’s penultimate event of the season this weekend (October 7/8) – with no less than six colossal contests poised to take centre stage.
As the super-sized series heads toward its final showdown at Brands Hatch next month, every point that is up for grabs in South Wales is set to be crucial in the race to be crowned champion in both Division 1 and Division 2.
The picturesque British Automobile Racing Club venue will take on extra significance too as it stages an additional race on the schedule. Alongside the five usual blockbuster bouts, Thruxton’s postponed fifth race from back in July will also be run.
Chase is on in Division 1
It’s been another ultra-competitive season in Division 1 however one driver – reigning seven-time champion Ryan Smith – has again been the cream of the crop and he could well secure an unprecedented eighth crown this weekend.
Charging to no less than 14 race wins so far, the Daimler Freightliner driver has been in superlative form this year and he’ll be fully focused on trying to secure an unassailable lead at the head of the standings.
Former champions David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver lead the chase for the Mansfield racer, with just one point separating the pair in second and third as they head into the weekend.
Jenkins made a triumphant return to the top step of the podium not once, but twice at Snetterton whilst Oliver has been punching in a string of front-running results at almost every event. Both of them will be well worth looking out for.
Another driver that will undoubtedly garner plenty of attention is Bradley Smith, who sits fourth in the standings. Still chasing that elusive breakthrough win, the youngest driver on the grid is rapidly becoming one of the standout talents in the series’ premier class.
Elsewhere, Steven Powell has enjoyed a return to top five form in recent rounds whilst both Simon Reid and Michael Oliver – son of ten-time champion Stuart – have both tasted victory already.
Further down the order, Craig Reid and John Bowler have enjoyed their fair share of highs over the course of the campaign, with Richard Collett guaranteed to be riding a wave of momentum after scoring his first podium of the year last time out at Snetterton.
Tom O’Rourke has been a podium finisher too and he’ll be eager to add to his silverware collection. Meanwhile, both Simon Faulkner and Neil Yates have been making progress round-by-round and more is expected to come from both again.
Rounding out the Division 1 entries is Jock Borthwick, who looks set to make a popular return to the series, having not raced since the Convoy Cymru at Pembrey following a road traffic accident in the summer.
Four go for glory in Division 2
The battle for supremacy in Division 2 has been captivating this year and as the series returns to Pembrey, no less than four drivers remain in realistic contention to lift the coveted title.
At the top of the pile is the driver that has been leading the way since the opening weekend of the campaign back in April, former champion and Volvo White Aerodyne driver Adam Bint.
PairIing relentless speed with consistency this season, Bint carries a 14-point lead into the weekend and you can expect him to be all guns blazing as he bids to add to the five wins and countless other podium finishes that he has racked up so far.
It goes without saying that whilst Bint holds the advantage in the points, momentum is firmly behind NAPA Racing UK’s Paul Rivett – who arrives at Pembrey having won a staggering eight of the last nine races.
Now sitting second on the leaderboard and with Bint on his radar, the striking yellow and blue MAN could very well be a tour-de-force as Rivett bids to put himself in the pound seat ahead of the series finale.
Hot on the heels of Bint and Rivett is one driver that definitely can’t be discounted from making his mark on the destiny of this year’s championship, John Powell. Boasting an abundance of experience, the DAF driver is no stranger to being in the mix for outright honours.
Elsewhere, not far behind Powell – just seven points in fact – is the determined Craig Evans. Still searching for his maiden win of the season, the 35-year-old will be one to watch as he looks to up the ante heading into the business end of the season.
The wily veteran Jim Bennett – who turned 74 just a few months ago – has been punching in strong performances in his trusty Seddon Atkinson and he too will be worth keeping an eye on as he bids to score his first podium of 2023.
Rounding out the Division 2 runners is fan favourite Simon Cole. Having made a mid-season switch from Division 1 to drive an Iveco, the Cole Trucksport racer has already stood on the rostrum and you’d be hard-pressed to against there being more on the horizon.
Don’t miss any of the action
As was demonstrated when the British Truck Racing Championship starred at Pembrey back in May, edge-of-the-seat entertainment is all-but guaranteed and this weekend promises to be no different.
Saturday 7th October | Div 1 Qualifying: 12:00 / Div 2 Qualifying: 12:25 / Thruxton Race: 14:45 / Race 2: 16:50
Sunday 8th October | Race 2: 09:30 / Race 3: 11:50 / Race 4: 14:05 / Race 5: 16:20
All races will be streamed online for free via the British Truck Racing Championship’s YouTube channel with Saturday’s broadcast beginning at 11:50 and Sunday’s at 09:15.
Ticket information for the event can be found by visiting the Pembrey website HERE.
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