| TOP NEWS :: Brands Hatch Truck Superprix :: |
The final meeting of the British Racing Championship 2005 took place at the prestigious Brands Hatch circuit over the weekend of 5th/6th November, a welcome return after a ten year absence. There was never any doubt that it was going to be a close fought finale with Steve Horne (ERF) starting the event just one point ahead of Dave Jenkins (Sisu).
Saturday was relatively quiet with the qualifier being the only outing of the day. In fact, with no major problems to sort out, teams were to be seen during the afternoon cleaning their trucks and cars – a missed opportunity for earning a few bob offering a car valetting service!
For spectators, there was a variety of car racing with Legends Cars, Formula Renaults, Ginettas and Renault Clios on track. Meanwhile, about eighty show trucks were being lovingly polished ready to be judged in the competition categories and for the two lap cavalcade around the track, which was proudly led by Steve Elliot in the John Toulson Dalesman Bullnose Scania. For their drivers, it was a thrill to be able to say they had driven the Brands Hatch circuit – and some of them would have loved to have done so at the same speed as their racing colleagues!
British Championship Races
Sunday was a day of continuous activity for the truck racing teams, starting with the first of the two Championship races. It was Richard Walker (MAN) who took the lead, but slipped back half way through allowing Ross Garrett (Foden) to pull ahead, completing the fastest lap and winning the race. Battling it out behind him were Dave Jenkins and Steve Horne who finished second and third respectively. This result heightened the tension as it meant that the two of them were heading into the final race on equal points, with Ross Garrett closing the gap only three points behind. In Class B it was first season driver Terry Gibbon (Volvo) who took top points.
The drivers returned to the track in the wet conditions which were the order of the day and the race turned out to be one to thrill the crowd. Third placed Ross Garrett (Foden) started in pole position, with previous Brands Hatch winner Richard Walker (MAN) also at the front of the grid. The latter got off to a good start, but unfortunately spun off the track onto the grass at Graham Hill Bend after several laps, losing his position and leaving Garrett to storm ahead. The battle was on between Championship point leaders Jenkins (Sisu) and Horne (ERF), and it came to a climax in the final lap at Druids Hairpin when Horne clipped the Sisu, causing both trucks to veer off into the gravel. Jenkins recovered to continue racing, but fell back in the placing whilst Horne was forced to retire. Thus both drivers lost their chance to take the 2005 title and Ross Garrett won the Championship in spectacular fashion with a one point lead.
Mat Summerfield (Seddon Atkinson) had arguably the most amazing race, starting right at the back of the grid to finish in second place. Richard Collett (ERF) finished in a very respectable third position, with Walker in fourth and a very disappointed Jenkins in fifth.
The race winner in Class B was Garry George (Foden), followed by young Terry Gibbon (Volvo). The Class B Championship title was taken by a deserving Andrew Hardy, driving George McCumisky’s Ford Cargo in which Paddy McCumisky lifted the same title in 2003.
Truck Superprix Trophy
As if that all wasn’t enough excitement for one day, there was still more to come at the end of the afternoon when drivers took their ballot drawn positions on the grid for the Truck Superprix Trophy. Exultant Champion Ross Garrett (Foden) went all out for another victory, but he was caught up at Paddock Hill Bend during the seventh lap by Mat Summerfield (Seddon Atkinson) who, spurred on by his earlier success, again rocketed through from his apparently unlucky draw at the back of the grid. Mat knocked Ross into a spin sending him into the gravel where he almost tipped over, causing the excited crowd to gasp!
Richard Walker (MAN) regained his form after starting seventh on the grid, pulled up to third position by Druids on the opening lap, and quickly took the lead for the rest of the race to lift the winner’s trophy.
A delighted Terry Gibbon (Volvo) came in third after overtaking former championship contender David Jenkins (Sisu) who had fallen back after getting entangled in the Summerfield/Garrett incident.
The fading light, rain and mist all added to the atmosphere as the drama unfolded on the track. The excitement in the crowd was electric – proof, if it were needed, that the return to Brands Hatch had been a great success for spectators and competitors alike.
© Marion Jones – British Truck Racing Association. This article may be re-printed providing the credit line to the BTRA is printed.
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