TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURE
Graham Holborn
The drivers of Division One and Division Two for 2025
“ They’ re very much based on road-going trucks,” reveals Snell.“ The cabs are removed to fit the roll cages then put back around them, with a lot of the bodywork reworked with fiberglass because that makes it easier and cheaper to replace. The engines are enhanced a little and moved back slightly to help with the weight balance, which is split three fifths front, two fifths rear.
“ The rear axles come from normal trucks and the height and the floor level are all set in the regulations. Aerodynamics are free reign, providing they stay within the size limit of the truck, so you get a range of different looks between the trucks, with some running bull noses and some run straight fronts.”
Davies started on 4th January 1990 and his first car race was the event at Easter, with the BARC Saloon Car championship as the main event. Since then, he has welcomed an incredible roster of motorsport names to the circuit, attracted by the privacy and the challenge of what is widely acknowledged as an extremely taxing layout.
“ We used to have Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost down here a lot with McLaren in the early days and Ayrton said it was his favourite test venue,” Davies proudly states.“ He was very keen on his engineering and the amount of data they could get back within just a mileand-a-half gave them so much to work on, covering lots of different aspects of performance.
“ It is a damn good circuit – probably the best mile-anda-half circuit in the UK, even if I do say so myself! It puts a lot of pressure on the car and the driver, and you really do have to have a good car and be a good driver to perform well here, because it is very fast in certain areas but very technical in others.”
In the days when F1 was allowed open testing, Pembrey became a popular destination due to its variety of fast sweeping corners and tight hairpins – as well as the ability to rent it at a relatively low cost and run privately, away from prying eyes. As well as McLaren, Davies also hosted Arrows, Benetton, Jordan and Williams F1 teams at the track during that era.
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The circuit has had several updates and is a popular testing and racing facility
To further increase safety, speeds are limited to a maximum of 100mph – although their acceleration from 30-100mph is takes just five seconds, and the drivers will assure you that is extremely fast at the wheel of a 5-tonne racing truck.
The Championship visits six-rounds each season and includes two events at Brands Hatch that bookend the season, along with trips to Pembrey in Wales, Thruxton, Donington, and Snetterton, plus an overseas round at Le Mans in September.
Graham Holbon
Each racing weekend involves five races lasting 15 minutes each, ensuring that the racing is short and sharp, with plenty of wheel-to-wheel action.
“ Each track has its merits when it comes to racing,” says Snell.“ Some drivers like Thruxton or Snetterton because of the speed, while others prefer Donington because you need more driving ability. Pembrey has a lot of trucking history and its combination of tight turns and fast straights make it really interesting, particularly the start going straight into a hairpin!
Revolution- May 2025
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