The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a super-sized bank holiday weekend at Brands Hatch as the British Truck Racing Championship and TCR UK Championship took centre stage for the first time in 2026.
In front of a packed crowd at the Kent venue, the BARC delivered an Easter extravaganza of on-track entertainment as a number of categories hit the tarmac to kick-start their respective campaigns.
Topping the bill were five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship. With each mighty machine weighing in at more than five tonnes and producing in excess of 1,200bhp, the UK’s biggest motor racing series certainly wowed the crowds.
Division 1 – the championship’s premier class – saw four different drivers open their accounts for the season around the Indy layout. Craig Reid was the first to strike as he snared pole position in qualifying before then converting it into a lights-to-flag victory in race one.
Reigning champion Ryan Smith then hit the front in race two as he claimed a commanding win before Stuart Oliver, the man he is tied with on ten career titles, recorded back-to-back triumphs in his Volvo VNL.
Arguably the biggest cheer of the weekend came in the fifth and final contest as one of the series’ most experienced drivers, Richard Collett, rolled back the years by soaking up a torrent of pressure to clinch a famous win.
Division 2 proved to be equally as competitive over the course of the weekend however one driver stood head and shoulders above the rest, reigning champion Jake Evans. The MAN racer scored four wins from five races, with John Powell being the only driver to beat him.
The TCR UK Championship provided a snapshot of how open the coming season could be as three different drivers ended up standing on the top step of the podium.
Jac Constable was the first to strike in the touring car series as he emerged victorious from a remarkable race that saw a number of the leading contenders all fail to finish due to damage and/or mechanical issues.
History was then made in the weekend’s second bout as Jenson O’Neill-Going became the youngest ever TCR UK race winner. The talented teenager had to work for it too as he soaked up a torrent of pressure from the experienced Max Hart, who hounded him all the way to the finish.
Last year’s runner-up Callum Newsham closed out proceedings as he bounced back from a non-score in race one to triumph. The Scotsman was flawless in a frantic finale, hitting the front early before then pulling clear as the laps ticked by.
The weekend marked the start of a new era for the Pickup Truck Racing Championship too as the popular series raced under the Truck Sport UK banner for the very first time.
While some things were different for the series, one thing that hadn’t changed was how thrilling the racing was, with three drivers walking away with a win apiece.
Aaron Thompson was the first to strike as he produced a sublime dive down the inside of Dale Gent at Paddock Hill Bend to win race one before Allen Cooper charged to glory in race two, fending off a charging Mark Willis late on.
Reigning champion Ryan Hadfield closed out the action as he managed to break clear of an almighty scrap for the remaining podium places to clinch a comfortable lights-to-flag victory.
More than 30 cars lined up for the start of the Civic Cup season and as expected, the tin top series delivered masses of entertainment.
Wesley Swain had the honour of taking victory in a hard-fought opening contest before Junior Saloon Car Championship graduate Wilf Butler showcased his talents by triumphing in just his second start in the category.
Jake Hewlett then closed out proceedings as he managed to break clear from the pack to win ahead of Dave Marshall, Matt Wilkins and one of the star performers from last year, Alistair Camp.
Elsewhere, Oli Willmott proved to be the cream of the crop when it came to the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport as he picked up from where he left off last year as he guided his MINI Cooper S to three wins from three races around the Indy circuit.
There were further celebrations in the CMMC Super Saloon Series / Production Saloon Series too as Rod Birley chalked up his 300th and 301st career wins at Brands Hatch.
To view the full classification of all results from Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.