Tag: BTRC

British Truck Racing Championship shakes up calendar for 2026 season

The British Truck Racing Championship is delighted to today (October 10) announce its full calendar for the 2026 season.

Ahead of next month’s season finale, the UK’s biggest motor racing series has locked down its dates for next year, sticking to the tried and tested format of seven events and a total of 34 races.

While the circuits that the championship will visit remain the same as previous years, the order in which they will run has been shaken up by organisers Truck Sport and the British Automobile Racing Club.

Brands Hatch will provide the setting for the annual curtain-raiser in early April before the heavyweight behemoths then set course to the fastest circuit in the country, Thruxton, in mid-May.

The annual visit to Pembrey in South Wales moves to a slot in late June whilst the action at Snetterton takes place two months earlier than usual, moving from its traditional September spot to July.

Donington Park retains its customary headline position in August before the penultimate meeting of the season sees the championship hit the road to France to race at Le Mans in late September.

As has been the case for a number of years, the super-sized series will then close out its season back at Brands Hatch, where a capacity crowd is expected to see fireworks will fly both on and off the track.

Steve Thomas, Truck Sport Director, said: “We’re delighted to be able to share our calendar for the 2026 British Truck Racing Championship season, which sees a slight twist on what is a tried and tested formula.

“Continuing with the brilliant mix of circuits that have made up our calendar in recent years but along with the British Automobile Racing Club, we’ve been able to shake things up in terms of the order and ensuring we race once a month.

“We’ve seen first-hand that the BTRC is as competitive – both on and of the track – as it ever has been and I’ve no doubt that next season will see us continue to hit new, ground-breaking heights.”

2026 British Truck Racing Championship Calendar

April 4-5 // Brands Hatch Indy // Rounds 1-5
May 16-17 // Thruxton // Rounds 6-10
June 20-21 // Pembrey // Rounds 11-15
July 11-12 // Snetterton 300 // Rounds 16-20
August 8-9 // Donington Park // Rounds 21-25
September 26-27 // Le Mans // Rounds 26-29
October 31-November 1 // Brands Hatch Indy // Rounds 30-34

Pickup Trucks return to BARC to join with British Truck Racing Championship

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 TruckSport 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 TruckSport stable.

TruckSport 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 TruckSport: “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 TruckSport will give Pickup Racing an exciting long-term future. We would like to thank the BARC and the TruckSport 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.

Big BARC weekender delights fans at Snetterton

One of the biggest British Automobile Racing Club meetings of the year had everyone on the edge of their seats this past weekend (September 20/21) as a number of high-profile championships took centre stage at Snetterton.

With the end of the 2025 campaign drawing closer into sight, every point proved to be crucial around the Norfolk venue as a whole host of leading contenders positioned themselves for what promises to be a captivating title run-in.

Heavyweight thrills and spills were dished up by the British Truck Racing Championship where a total of eight different drivers charged to race-winning glory across Division 1 and Division 2.

The series’ premier class saw reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith enjoy a flawless Saturday as he snared pole position and two race wins; and he would back that up with a trio of podiums on Sunday as John Bowler, David Jenkins and Michael Oliver also triumphed.

In Division 2, the pendulum in the title race swung back and forth with points leader Bradley Harvey firstly enduring engine issues. His travails opened the door for Jake Evans and Simon Cole to win – as did Sami Ojanen and for the first-time ever, Callum Eason.

The TCR UK Championship saw a shake up in the race for its coveted crown as the tin top series staged two races in contrasting conditions. When all was said and done, Adam Shepherd walked away as the man in the box seat ahead of the series finale in November.

Shepherd arrived at Snetterton trailing Callum Newsham by six points in the standings however he flipped things on his head as he firstly set a sublime lap in qualifying to net pole position before then going on to triumph in race one.

The Capture Motorsport driver was in a league of his own as he romped to victory ahead of the charging Newsham in his new Hyundai Elantra N TCR and series debutant Maximus Hall, who was competing for the first time in a Lynk & Co.

While race one was held in overcast conditions, the weekend’s second contest saw the heavens open and it was a case of who could keep it on the track. George Jaxon emerged as the driver for the job as he splashed his way to a maiden TCR UK win over Brad Hutchinson and Hall.

Adding to the Snetterton spectacle over the course of the weekend was the latest instalment of the Britcar Endurance Championship, which also saw its competitors have to battle treacherous conditions.

The Amspeed duo of Dom Malone and Adam Smalley proved to be the class of the field though in their Porsche 991.1 Cup car as they lapped the entire grid on their way to victory. Team BRIT’s Noah Cosby and Aaron Morgan were second, with the Brookspeed duo of Andrew Dawber and Nathan Wright completing the podium places.

Elsewhere, there was nothing to separate Wilf Butler and Josh Selvadorai in the Junior Saloon Car Championship as they bolstered their title chances with a win apiece whilst Oli Willmott and Andy Langley shared the spoils in the MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport.

Liam McGill was perfection personified in the Milltek Civic Cup as he cruised to a dominant double before the Caterham Graduates Racing Club ended its association with the BARC with a quartet of races that were won by James Hapgood, Thomas Gunter and Henry Heaton.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Snetterton, CLICK HERE.

Every race from the weekend is also available to watch via the BARC YouTube channel HERE.

BARC enjoys fun in the sun at Convoy in the Park

Big crowds, scorching temperatures and breathtaking wheel-to-wheel action played its part in ensuring the British Automobile Racing Club delivered a sublime weekend of entertainment at this year’s Convoy in the Park.

Regarded as one of the biggest events on the national motorsport calendar, the two-day spectacle saw a number of different championships take centre stage on-track while countless attractions – including show trucks and live music – starred around the venue.

Headlining the on-track entertainment were five colossal contests from the British Tuck Racing Championship, with the super-sized series reaching the midpoint of the 2025 season with its typical dose of thrill and spills.

The battle for supremacy in Division 1 remains as fierce as ever with four different drivers standing on the top step of the podium in Leicestershire. Michael Oliver was the first to strike as he claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one, having secured pole position in qualifying.

David Jenkins then became the ninth different winner of the season in race two before David Smith and reigning champion Ryan Smith each made their mark, claiming a win apiece. The weekend finished in the same way that it had began, with Oliver cruising to a superb win in a frenetic finale.

Over in Division 2, Jake Evans bounced back from engine troubles at Thruxton to reignite his championship challenge. The MAN TGX driver won four out of five races and could well have made it a clean sweep had it not been for Sami Ojanen tallying his first win of the season.

That wasn’t to be the only truck racing that took place though during the weekend as the coveted International Truck Prix made a welcome return to the schedule for a third successive year.

Boasting an entry list that was packed with high-profile names such as Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness MBE, spoils were ultimately shared between former BTRC competitors Mark Taylor, Jamie Anderson and Simon Reid.

Elsewhere, the Britcar Endurance Championship wrote the latest chapter of its season with an astonishing 90-minute race that was decided on the very last lap of the race – between team-mates no less.

AmSpeed and their Porsche 991 Cup cars proved to be the class of the field throughout the 65 lap contest with the pairing of Ash Muldoon and James Kellett going head-to-head with their stablemates Dom Malone and Adam Smalley.

With almost the entire field being lapped by the two cars, Muldoon and Kellett ultimately managed to hold off Malone and Smalley to triumph by a little over two seconds at the chequered flag. Completing the podium was the Raceworks Motorsport duo of Chris Bingham and Michael Lyons.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship is poised for a spectacular title run-in over the coming months as Josh Selvadorai enjoyed a near-perfect weekend under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Arriving at Donington Park with ground to make up on points leader Wilf Butler, Selvadorai delivered a mesmerising performance behind the wheel to win races one and two. The talented teenager came oh-so close to making it a hat-trick too, however Oliver Kerr managed to hang on.

Simon Allaway’s monstrous Lotus Esprit V8 was the talk of the town as the CNC Heads Sports/Saloon Car Championship arrived at Donington Park and it remained a topic of conversation throughout the meeting as Allaway dominated proceedings.

Allaway swept aside the opposition to snare pole position in qualifying and he then drove off into the distance to win both races by more than 20 seconds – underlining the superiority of his machine.

Over in the Track Action Racing Club, Paul Roddison continued his fine run of form to win twice in his Skoda Octavia whilst Ben Wilkinson narrowly pipped Nathan Williams to victory in the solitary OT Publishing Coupe Cup with Toyo Tires contest.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

Every lap from the two-day event is also available to watch on demand via the British Automobile Racing Club YouTube channel HERE.

BTRC and Britcar headline blockbuster weekend at Convoy Thruxton

Thruxton Circuit reverberated to the sounds of horsepower this past weekend (July 5/6) as the British Truck Racing Championship and Britcar Endurance Championship headlined Convoy Thruxton.

The latest in a string of high-profile events to take place at the popular Hampshire venue, Convoy Thruxton saw a bumper crowd flock through the gates for two days of blockbuster entertainment – both on and off the track.

Five full-throttle races from the British Truck Racing Championship topped the bill and like previous events this year, the super-sized series didn’t disappoint as it delivered edge-of-the-seat enjoyment and nail-biting drama.

Division 1 underlined just how competitive the grid is this season as five different drivers charged to victory. Reigning champion Ryan Smith kicked off proceedings as he dominated race one and he appeared to have done the same in race two before he was disqualified post-race.

The Daimler Freightliner driver was issued the black and orange mechanical flag and required to make a visit to the pit lane however he never did, instead completing the race. Smith was subsequently kicked out of the final result which in-turn handed the win to Stuart Oliver.

Tom O’Rourke, David Smith and John Bowler then proved popular winners on Sunday as each of them produced a flawless defensive drive to secure a maiden race win apiece. Their triumphs now mean seven different drivers have won in Division 1 so far in 2025.

Over in Division 2, championship leader Jake Evans had hoped to extend his advantage at the top of the standings but a catastrophic engine failure in practice meant that he could only watch on from the sidelines.

With Evans out of contention, Simon Cole stepped up to the plate to tally a hat-trick of wins however issues with his windscreen prevented him from starting the remaining two races. That allowed Weaver Motorsport’s Bradley Harvey to secure a feel-good breakthrough brace.

The Britcar Endurance Championship made its first visit to Thruxton in almost a decade and its eclectic mix of monstrous GT machines lapped every inch of the 2.36-mile home of the British Automobile Racing Club.

FF Corse & Red River Sport duo Bonamy Grimes and Johnny Mowlem, driving a Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO, snared pole position in qualifying but they could do nothing to stop Amspeed’s Dom Malone and Adam Smalley in the races.

Driving their Porsche 991 Cup car, Malone and Smalley were victorious by more than 11 seconds in a frantic opening contest. They then upped the ante even more in race two to sweep aside the opposition and triumph by almost a full minute.

In fact, Woodrow Motorsport’s Nathan Wells and Raceworks Motorsport’s Chris Bingham were the only drivers to stay on the lead lap in race two – such was the dominance of Malone and Smalley.

The MINI CHALLENGE Clubsport with Airtec Motorsport continued its season with three more races and just like its season-opener at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone, the weekend belonged to Oli Willmott.

Arriving at Thruxton as the driver to beat, Willmott was at times in a league of his own as he charged to top spot in qualifying and then claimed a hat-trick of race wins. Andy Langley, Ian Trundley and Freddy Hewitt would end up being the best of the rest.

Also featuring over the course of the weekend were races from the 750 Motor Club and the much-loved Monoposto Championship.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Thruxton, CLICK HERE.

You can also re-watch all the action by heading over to the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.

Jake Evans learning his Truck Racing craft

There is something about climbing into your truck, closing the door and hitting the road. A sense of freedom, a sense of journey, a sense of purpose… then you throw in another 20 trucks all scrambling for the same piece of road at race tracks around the country! The British Truck Racing Championship is like nothing else – with Britain’s biggest racing series set to haul into Hampshire this weekend for Convoy Thruxton.

On the road for the very first time is Jakes Evans – who is racing through his first season in Division 2. We caught up with the Staffordshire driver as he explains how he got started and how his remarkable first season is going.

“When we were younger, we couldn’t afford to go circuit racing at a fairly high level and raise the money and budget for cars, so we turned to trucks – an industry that we are in already and made practical and commercial sense. We built this truck ourselves and we raced it as a team for another driver.

“We sat out 2024 and whilst on the sidelines I wanted a new challenge. We had run the truck for a number of years without a huge deal of success – there was a competitive Division 2 when we last ran it. I was itching and bored – looking at different ways to get out and do something. I looked at car racing like MINIs – but when you have the truck sitting there, it was too tempting to get behind the wheel of it myself. The whole rolling assembly was there, truck and trailer, and we worked hard to bring our previous sponsors and some new ones onboard and put a package together to do a season together.”

But it’s not just a simple case of building or buying a truck and going racing, you have to properly train and go through several important steps for safety and progression as Jake explains.

“There’s a couple of ways into it. I already had my Class C truck DVLA licence through work – something you need to have before you start and then you can apply for your ARDS licence. Once that is completed you apply for a National Truck licence from Motorsport UK. What you can’t do is compete with it without a letter from a circuit manager to prove you have tested somewhere for a minimum amount of hours. Those hours have to also be under tuition of a Division 1 driver. Bradley Harvey and I have started this year, and we went to Pembrey with Dave Jenkins for two days and we did all our tuition and we were signed off there. That’s the only way for a novice now. It’s been really beneficial for me as we wouldn’t have had the same level of confidence coming into Brands Hatch without that time and knowledge from someone like Dave.”

First weekend and it’s straight in at the deep end at Brands Hatch. How was Paddock Hill in a truck then?

“That first weekend at Brands was a strange experience for me. I have never done any circuit racing before. I had never driven the truck before the pre-season test at Pembrey to get my licence signed off. Brands Hatch was an eye opener as Pembrey was nice and flat, but going into Paddock in a truck was something else. When you feel that weight transfer as you go down into the compression and up again it’s a phenomenal experience.

“Being a bit higher up – you get a decent perception of the corner – you have that better viewpoint than you would say in a car, but when you are in a race, door-to-door two sometimes three wide – ideally two wide it’s a bit nerve-racking. We have a fair set of drivers in Division 2 – despite a few of us being novices, the standards are high and you feel safe when out racing.

You mentioned a Division 2 truck. For those new to truck racing – what’s the difference to a Division 1 truck?

“The Division 2 truck is a more basic beast. The Division 1 trucks are lighter, more powerful, with different springs and dampers. The regs allow them to be higher performing components than we are allowed. Division 2 used to be, but not anymore as things move on more of a road derived tractor unit come racing truck. Now there is a little more flex. We built this ourselves from two chassis rails up. We have a Division 1 style subframe – trying to make it the best of what it can be. The engine and gearbox are heavy which makes it a Division 2 truck.”

Jake leads the Division 2 standings with a strong 49 point margin as the series prepares for Thruxton. What was the opening round of the season like?

“Brands Hatch was all about getting my feet under the table and getting consistent results and seeing where we are against the competition and then start winding more and more from there. Mechanical reliability, reducing driver errors and trips to the gravel, and not breaking things are all on the mind every race. We took two wins on the opening day and that has given us the confidence to be able to challenge for the championship this year. I would have never believed it had you told me that would have happened. We might not be the quickest everywhere – but this year consistency is the key.

“I have never done Thruxton – that’s going to be some experience! Never done Snetterton or Le Mans so that will also be new. I did my ARDS at Donington so that will help a little. An absolute baptism of fire this year, but if we can have good weekends like the start of the year – then it’s all good and hope Thruxton will be the same.

This weekend the British Truck Racing Championship speeds into Thruxton for five heavyweight bouts around the Hampshire speed bowl. You can purchase you tickets to see the giants live at https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/british-trucks.

BARC delivers all-out entertainment at Convoy Cymru

The British Automobile Racing Club enjoyed a scorching weekend both on and off the track at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales this past weekend (May 17/18) as a number of different championships took centre stage at Convoy Cymru.

On what is one of the biggest events on the calendar for the Carmarthenshire venue each year, a bumper crowd poured through the gates to soak up the sunshine and to see what Wales’ biggest and best truck show had to offer.

While the likes of show trucks, monster truck shows and rides, live music, trade stands and double-decker bus rides headlined the attractions off-track, the heavyweight behemoths of the British Truck Racing Championship were the undoubted stars of the show on it.

Delivering five action-packed races, the battle for supremacy across Division 1 and Division 2 rightfully had fans on the edge of their seats as the momentum of the 2025 campaign was kicked up a gear or two.

Reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith endured a weekend of two halves, the first of which started positively as he snared pole position and two dominant race wins in his Daimler Freightliner on Saturday.

That would be as good as it would get for the Worldwide Truck Racing driver though as contact and mechanical misfortune would scupper his chances on Sunday. Instead, Adam Bint charged to a popular maiden win before Team Oliver Racing dominated the remaining two races.

Michael Oliver led home a historic 1-2-3 finish for the successful squad in the penultimate bout before ten-time champion Stuart Oliver came to the fore in the final race of the day to tally a third win of the season.

In Division 2, last year’s runner-up Simon Cole enjoyed a similar superlative Saturday to Smith as he too was wheel-perfect in his Iveco TGS. Clinching pole position in the closing stages of qualifying, Cole then made no mistakes out front to win races one and two.

The Cole Trucksport driver maintained his front-running form into Sunday’s opening encounter as he again triumphed before title rival Jake Evans underlined his credentials as a serious contender by winning races four and five.

Those with a passion for tin tops were well catered for as the Classic Touring Car Racing Club descended on the Welsh countryside to write the latest chapter in what has already been a captivating 2025 season.

The Everard Pre-66 Touring Cars rolled back the years and it was local racer Endaf Owens that made home advantage count as he guided his Austin Cooper S to a commanding race win in the weekend’s curtain-raiser.

That performance set the tone for the remainder of the meeting too as Owens triumphed by more than 20 seconds in race two before he completed a clean sweep in race three, tallying a third win in equally impressive fashion.

Nic Grindrod showed similar levels of dominance in the Shell Oils Group 1 Touring Cars as he made the most of his Ford Escort to power his way to a pair of race wins. His hopes of claiming a hat-trick was ended in the finale by the hard-charging Jonathan Corker.

Rounding out the nostalgic touring car action were three races that amalgamated PRG Trailers Classic Thunder, Rikki Cann Historic Thunder Saloons, Trackhub.uk Pre-93 Touring Cars, Burty Pre-03 Touring Cars and Burton Power Blue Oval Saloon Series together.

William Davison – who traditionally cuts his teeth among the Pre-93 ranks – proved to be perfection personified in his BMW E36 M3 as he swept aside the opposition to secure all three wins that were on offer.

The Adrian Flux Insurance MG Owners Club Championship delivered a trio of enthralling races and it produced an exciting new battle for outright honours between James Cole and multiple title winner Steve McDermid.

McDermid entered the weekend as one of the form drivers however it was Cole that took the fight to him in races one and two, winning both contests in imperious fashion. Undeterred, McDermid fought back in race three to beat Cole by three tenths of a second.

Rounding out the weekend’s unmissable entertainment was the latest instalment of the Classic 2CV Racing Club, which staged two sprint races and a 90-minute endurance bout around the 1.456-mile circuit.

In the sprint races, the experienced Nick Crispin won a remarkable opening contest that saw the top five drivers covered by a little under seven tenths of a second at the chequered flag.

Sebastian White-Jones then triumphed in the weekend’s second race before doubling up the following day in the endurance bout, teaming up with Luca Proietti to give Podium MotorWorks the win.

To view the full classification of results from Pembrey Circuit, CLICK HERE.

You can also watch all the action back from Convoy Cymru by heading over to the official BARC YouTube channel HERE.

Smith eyeing a decade of dominance in British Truck racing

Reigning British Truck Racing Champion Ryan Smith is eyeing an unmatched milestone in 2025. The Englishman is setting out on the quest to lift ten, back-to-back titles in the British Truck Racing Championship – a feat never been done before. With one race meeting completed at Brands Hatch, the series heads to Pembrey in south Wales for Convoy Cymru this weekend (17-18 May) with another five blockbuster races lined-up.

The British Automobile Racing Club caught up with the man carrying the number one on the doors, as he spoke about his 2025 hopes, the new regulations, growth of the sport and his long lasting legacy.

Ryan, it’s good to be back racing – are you happy to get going again for a new challenge?

“After the winter, it’s always good to get going – with the new regs and restrictors from Trucksport and BARC we had a chance to test pre-season and have a good build-up and feeling – it’s great to be back.”

The restrictor in which Smith is referring to, are new air restrictors fitted to the truck turbos in 2025. Reducing air flow into the spooling turbo – this creates less power and these are bestowed to the three fastest trucks after every weekend. They come in three different sizes – 63mm, 65mm and 67mm and are fitted to the top-tier Division One trucks based on performance. The top three in the standings in 2024 received them ahead of round one and ahead of Pembrey – the top three in the standings after Brands Hatch will carry them in Wales – creating an exciting moveable feast that gets played out over the course of the season to keep the racing action nice and close.

“We all got together – Motorsport UK, BARC, Trucksport and all the drivers to talk about it. We have won the title nine-times on the bounce which is an amazing feat, but BARC and Trucksport have a duty of care to all competitors and spectators and the fans to make it more interesting. Do we feel hard done by, yes, but we respect the regulation and we will rise to the challenge and get on with it and at Brands Hatch it didn’t hold us back too much.”

And that it didn’t, as Ryan and his Worldwide Truck Racing team haul their way to Pembrey with an 11 point lead at the top of the standings. But, putting it into real terms – what does the restrictor mean for the series – now it’s had a weekend in action.

“The power difference is big from the rolling start – once we get rolling and seems to be better – but we are between 200-300 horsepower which does hurt a lot. Out of the slower corners at Pembrey – it will be hard – but nothing in life worth having is easy. Spectators want to see different winners and they want to see good racing and I hope we can provide that for them with this. I do get it and I understand it, as the championship is heading in the right direction. Does it hurt us, yes – but it will probably even out over the year, and I hope by the time the championship comes back to Brands Hatch in November it will be close. Ideally with us ahead!

One thing that is clear and evident to see is the close racing and accessibility of the championship, with fans, families and first time spectators all getting close to the machines and gladiators with everyone welcomed with open arms into a very friendly paddock. Ryan is one of the most popular figures with fans young and old in search of the elusive selfie or signature.

“When Ben Taylor came into BARC, and got working closer with Trucksport – the sport has gone from strength to strength. BARC are trying to make it as fair and exciting as possible and that’s great as the sport is growing – the crowds are growing. The amount of people that came onto the grid at Brands Hatch and said ‘wow this is the first time i’ve been truck racing – I love it – i’ll be back’ is mega.I think that’s what truck racing has. It is a unique motorsport – it’s the biggest billboard in motorsport – it has an opportunity to grow at a rate of touring cars and so on in this country and we feel we are in the right hands with BARC.”

Smith hailing from Mansfield might have nine titles to his name, but has only been racing the big behemoths for 11 years. Truck racing isn’t necessarily something you just wake up and decide to do. Or is it?

“I did drifting previously and my Dad was an engineer for a team called Translitre for Barry Lee and Paul Mac in trucks. He was the chief mechanic and in the nineties, I used to come and watch the racing as a child and the owner – Ken Howard was someone I looked up to. I forgot about truck racing for many years until my brother rang me out of the blue one day and said – ‘have a guess where I am…watching truck racing at Brands Hatch.’ Three days later I had a race truck and the rest is history.

With nine titles under the belt – you would think the Daimler Freightliner driver would be packing-up, being quite content with his laurels, but think again, with another six race weekends still to play out – the target has been set for Smith and he is like a bull ready to charge.

“The fire is still there for me – the quest for 10 pumps me up even more – I want the 10th title – I really want to be the best British guy of all time to have raced a truck and to try and leave a legacy in a sport that’s growing and growing and going places. Will somebody come along and knock me off – of course they will… just not today.”

You will be able to see Ryan Smith continue his title defence and his strive to become a ten-time British Truck Racing champion at Pembrey this weekend. Those who can’t be trackside can also enjoy a ringside seat with all five races broadcast on the BARC and British Truck Racing YouTube channels across Saturday and Sunday.

BARC delivers Easter extravaganza of entertainment at Brands Hatch

The British Automobile Racing Club served up a bank holiday blockbuster at Brands Hatch this past weekend (April 19-20) as the British Truck Racing Championship rumbled into life for the first time this season.

In front of a packed crowd at the world-famous Kent venue, the heavyweight behemoths lifted the curtain on a brand-new campaign with five colossal contests that had everyone perched on the edge of their seats.

Reigning nine-time champion Ryan Smith entered the weekend as the serial favourite and he duly lived up to all expectations as he underlined his credentials by powering his Worldwide Truck Racing Daimler Freightliner to pole position in qualifying.

Smith converted his front-row start into an impressive lights-to-flag victory in race one however he far from had things his own way as he was pushed all the way by fellow former title winners Stuart Oliver and David Jenkins.

While Smith would go on to triumph twice more over the course of the weekend, ten-time champion Oliver also made a welcome return to the top step of the podium as he chalked up a brace of his own.

Further back, fans were treated to plenty of breathtaking moments as the likes of Tom O’Rourke, Martin Gibson, David Smith and John Bowler all found themselves in the thick of the action across both days.

In Division 2, youthful exuberance and wily experience was on full display as debutant Jake Evans and last year’s runner-up Simon Cole enjoyed a share of the spoils. Evans reigned supreme on Saturday by triumphing twice before Cole came to the fore on Sunday, tallying a hat-trick of wins.

The Classic Touring Car Racing Club made its second appearance of the campaign and the first of three trips to Brands Hatch this year. Armed with a bumper grid of iconic saloon cars, a trip down memory lane proved captivating for all involved.

Defending Pre-66 Touring Cars champion Ian Thompson was wheel perfect in his Lotus Cortina as he claimed two wins while Jonathan Corker ruled the roost in his Datsun 510 in the weekend’s two Pre-83 Touring Car contests.

Elsewhere, Piers Grange proved too hot to handle in the amalgamated Pre-93 Touring Car, Pre-03 Touring Car and Blue Oval Saloon Series races, winning both in impressive fashion from behind the wheel of his monstrous Ford Escort.

Rounding out the CTCRC entertainment were two races from the flame-spitting Classic Thunder and Historic Thunder categories. Colin Voyce showcased why he was the driver to beat last year as he followed suit and guided his Ford Escort to a clean sweep of race wins.

Variety was the spice of life when it came to the Milltek Civic Cup – which was back in action after a pulsating curtain-raiser at Donington Park last month – as three different drivers stood on the top step of the rostrum.

Former TCR UK champion Lewis Kent clinched the bragging rights in the opening bout however he was unable to repeat his heroics in race two as Jack Ruddell edged out Jake Hewlett to win. Liam McGill then added his name to the honours list with a commanding race three victory.

The Junior Saloon Car Championship wrote the latest chapter of its 2025 season with a thrilling two races around the 1.2-mile Indy layout. Unfortunately, the series’ third race was abandoned on Sunday due to barrier damage from a previous race.

In the contests that were run, Josh Selvadorai took the chequered flag on the road in race one however a ten-second penalty for exceeding track limits dropped him down the order and in-turn, handed Luca Masarati a maiden victory.

Fuelled by the disappointment of missing out in race one, Selvadorai made no mistake in race two as he came out on top of an almighty battle with Wilf Butler to claim a hard-fought victory.

Rounding out the weekend at Brands Hatch were also races from the moobob Caterham Academy Championship and the Track Action Racing Club.

Home to drivers that are taking their first steps into motorsport, the Caterham Academy delivered its traditional close-quarter racing that culminated in Max Richardson beating Kyle Townend by just a tenth of a second.

In Track Action, TCR UK race winner Adam Shepherd got behind the wheel of a Honda Integra DC5 to win in somewhat commanding fashion. Like the JSCC, the series’ second race was unfortunately abandoned due to barrier damage on Sunday.

To view the full classification of results from Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

Every single race is also available to watch at the click of the button on the BARC’s official Youtube channel, HERE.

BARC closes out 2024 season with blockbuster Brands Hatch title-decider

The British Automobile Racing Club brought the curtain down on its 2024 season in spectacular style at Brands Hatch this past weekend (November 2/3) as the final batch of champions were crowned in front of a sell-out crowd.

Concluding what has been a year to remember for the Club’s championships, series, centres and venues; two days of blockbuster racing provided the backdrop to a fitting finale around the Indy layout.

Headlining the action was the British Truck Racing Championship, where Ryan Smith continues to re-write the history books in his Daimler Freightliner as he claimed a remarkable ninth consecutive Division 1 title.

Arriving at the Kent venue with one hand on the coveted crown, Smith was wheel-perfect as he blitzed the opposition to claim pole position in qualifying and then swept his way to all five race wins that were up for grabs. 

Behind him, former title winner David Jenkins edged out Steven Powell to clinch second overall whilst Michael Oliver and Stuart Oliver also stood on the podium over the course of what was a frenetic weekend.

In Division 2, John Powell made his dreams a reality as he finally savoured championship glory after edging out Simon Cole to top spot. The pair were virtually inseparable throughout the meeting however a non-finish for Cole in the finale allowed Powell to reign supreme. 

At the front of Division 2, the spoils of victory went to former champions Adam Bint and Paul Rivett – with the latter closing out his reign as defending champion with four superlative victories in his NAPA Racing UK MAN. 

The battle for supremacy in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy went down to the wire with Westbourne Motorsport’s Harry Hickton ultimately doing enough to beat his team-mate Sam Gornall to the title by just two points. 

Hickton went into the final meeting of the season sitting second in standings, 31 points adrift of the top of the table. Bagging pole position in qualifying, Hickton then outscored Gornall to close the gap in race one while James Black triumphed up ahead.

The Hampshire racer then claimed a critical fifth win of the season in race two to take the lead in the points before shadowing Gornall all the way to the chequered flag in the finale, which in-turn ensured he clinched the Drivers’ Championship. 

Remarkably, the difference between the top two in the Junior Saloon Car Championship was even closer than in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, with the bonus point for setting the fastest lap in the final race being the deciding factor.

Concluding its 10th Anniversary season with six drivers in contention, it boiled down to a straight shootout between Harry Smith and Jonathan Moore – and as always the one-make series had everyone on the edge of their seats as the pair scrapped for the right to call themselves champion.

James Sherrington scored victory in race one but with Moore finishing ahead of Smith it set up a tantalising title showdown. In a final contest that was truncated with red flags, Moore finished first on the road however confirmation of a champion remains to be decided virtue of how many laps were completed.

The Pickup Truck Racing Championship was another category that crowned a new champion as Dale Gent finally climbed to the top of the mountain after just coming up short during the past few years. 

Going into the weekend at the top of the standings, Gent held his nerve to score the points that he required while Ryan Hadfield and Matt Simpson enjoyed a share of the spoils at the front of the field. 

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was the Mini 7 Racing Club’s O-Plate Winter Shootout. Aaron Smith and Rupert Deeth were undoubtedly the cream of the crop as they dominated all three races, with Smith narrowly beating Deeth on each occasion. 

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, CLICK HERE.

BARC TV: What’s On This Weekend – November 2/3

The British Automobile Racing Club brings the curtain down on its 2024 season at Brands Hatch with a title decider that is guaranteed to provide fireworks – both on and off the track.

Headlining the action will be five colossal contests from the British Truck Racing Championship as the destiny of the Division 1 and Division 2 crowns are settled in what promises to be a heavyweight showdown.

They aren’t the only titles to be decided either as champions will be crowned in the Junior Saloon Car Championship, Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Vertu MINI CHALLENGE Trophy and Mini 7 Racing Club Winter O-Plate Shootout.

Make sure you don’t miss any of the on-track entertainment by using the key timings and links below:

Saturday 2nd November | 12:05 | WATCH HERE
Sunday 3rd November | 09:45 | WATCH HERE

To find out more information on this weekend’s race meeting at Brands Hatch, including the official entry lists and timetable, CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss any of the action from a BARC LIVE event by subscribing to our YouTube channel HERE.

British Truck Racing Championship lights up Le Mans

The 2024 British Truck Racing Championship is set for an unmissable title showdown after a action-packed penultimate event of the season at Le Mans this past weekend (September 28/29) ensured that the battle for supremacy in Division 1 and Division 2 will go down to the wire.

Marking the series’ first trip to mainland Europe in more than five years, the outing in France proved to be memorable as the heavyweight behemoths shared the bill with the FIA European Truck Racing Championship – producing four blockbusters contests in the process.

Ryan Smith ensured he now has at least one hand on the coveted Division 1 title after delivering a wheel-perfect performance during the series’ maiden visit to France and the world-famous Le Mans circuit.

Arriving at the Bugatti course with a commanding advantage at the top of the standings, Smith wasted no time in laying laid down a marker to the rest of the field as he blasted his way to pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session.

With a front-row start guaranteed for race one, the Daimler Freightliner driver quickly pulled clear of the chasing pack and went on to claim a comfortable lights-to-flag victory ahead of David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver.

Starting from the rear of the grid for race two, the Mansfield racer utilised every possible overtaking opportunity to charge up the order before wrestling the lead, and ultimately the race win, away from Michael Oliver in the closing stages while John Bowler finished third.

Dominating Sunday’s qualifying session as the sun rose over the iconic venue, Smith was unrelenting out front in race three as he dominated proceedings to win by almost 20 seconds ahead of the Team Oliver Racing duo of Stuart and Michael.

He then arguably left his best performance until the very end as he carved his way from the rear of the field before going head-to-head with Steven Powell. The latter delivered a mesmerising defensive drive for a number of laps before Smith finally found a way past with a few tours to go.

That victory, his fourth in as many races in northern France, ensured that he now heads to Brands Hatch within striking distance of the crown while the likes of Powell and Jenkins will need to dig deep if they’re to overhaul the current eight-time championship holder.

Arriving at Le Mans, just one point separated John Powell and Simon Cole at the head of the Division 2 standings however that gap has now widened after Powell romped to a hat-trick of race wins over the weekend.

With NAPA Racing UK’s Paul Rivett unable to compete, the battle for this year’s title is poised to boil down to between Powell and Cole – and every point therefore is crucial from now until the final chequered flag falling at Brands Hatch.

Like the aforementioned Smith, Powell enjoyed an unbeaten Saturday in his DAF as he claimed pole position around the 2.600-mile layout and then followed it up with an impressive brace of race wins.

Behind him, former champion Adam Bint and main protagonist Cole completed the podium in race one before Cole and Willem Breedijk – who made a welcome return to the series in his Volvo – claimed second and third in race two.

Bint would be the driver to break Powell’s winning streak on Sunday as he triumphed in race three ahead of Powell however crucially Breedijk occupied the final spot on the rostrum, costing fourth placed Cole a handful of points.

Powell returned to winning ways in the final contest albeit it was the most difficult of the lot as he withstood race-long pressure from Bint to triumph by a little under one second. As he had done earlier in the day, Breedijk got the better of Cole to snatch third while Archie Handy was fifth.

To view the full classification of results from all British Truck Racing Championship sessions at Le Mans, CLICK HERE.


All four races from the penultimate event of the season are available to view on the British Truck Racing Championship YouTube channel HERE.


The British Truck Racing Championship will bring the curtain down on its 2024 season at Brands Hatch on November 2/3.