The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce that the Pickup Truck Championship will return to the BARC in 2026 and be managed and promoted by the Truck Sport organisation that runs the British Truck Racing Championship.
Set up in 1997 by SHP, the company of Sonny and Barbara Howard, the Pickups have been racing with BARC for almost 30 years. In that time, the championship has become hugely popular with both fans and drivers and has been a mainstay of the truck racing package for many years. This new arrangement will see the series not only return to the BTRC programme after a one-year hiatus, but also join the Truck Sport stable.
Truck Sport has been responsible for the management and promotion of the British Truck Racing Championship since 2020. In that time, they have helped to grow the sport, raise standards, increase the audience and attract commercial partners to be part of one of the most exciting packages in British motorsport.
The Pickups will enjoy a 7-round championship in 2026, supporting all six of the UK rounds of the BTRC, delivering some of the biggest spectator audiences in UK motorsport, as well as being live streamed around the world. They will also make their regular annual appearance at the American Speedfest event at Brands Hatch in June.
Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive: “I would like to pay tribute to Sonny and Barbara, as well as all the team at SHP, who have given so much to this amazing championship over the years. Very few people realise just how much work it takes to run a championship and the success of Pickups has been entirely down to their commitment and dedication. I believe that this new structure enables us to preserve their legacy and continue their excellent work.”
Stuart Oliver, Director Truck Sport: “We are very excited to bring Pickups into our operation and continue Sonny and Barbara’s great work. Over the past five years we have taken the BTRC to new levels, improved the spectacle and brought new partners to the sport. We believe that there is a natural synergy between the big trucks and the Pickups and I sure the audiences both live and online are going to love the complete package.”
Sonny Howard, Director SHP: “Barbara and I believe that handing over the Pickup Truck Racing Championship to Truck Sport will give Pickup Racing an exciting long-term future. We would like to thank the BARC and the Truck Sport management team for their hard work securing its legacy and carrying on what was conceived and has been built on over the years, ensuring its growth, longevity and success.”
Further details, including a full 2026 calendar, will be released in due course.