| TOP NEWS :: FINAL ROUNDS DELPHI BRITISH TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP BRANDS HATCH – OCT 31 / NOV 1 :: |
FINAL ROUNDS DELPHI BRITISH TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP BRANDS HATCH – OCT 31 / NOV 1
ALL-ACTION CLASS ‘B’ BRANDS BATTLE: AS TV ‘GUEST’ DRIVER ANDY AKINWOLERE SPINS /ZANDBERGEN WINS - BUT BALL TAKES THE CROWN. BUSINESS AS USUAL IN CLASS ‘A’ AS OLIVER WINS AGAIN!
Wild and wet; that was the weather forecast for last weekend – but it also summed up some of the on-track action in the final rounds of the 2009 Delphi British Truck Racing Championship at Brands Hatch.
On Saturday all attention (and numerous television cameras) was focussed on the DAF piloted by Andy Akinwolere – the Blue Peter TV Presenter who was making his debut in Roger Brookfield’s machine.
In treacherous wet practice conditions Andy did extremely well – posting 6th fastest time!
The Saturday Class ‘B’ outing started off well; with a reasonably dry track everybody safely negotiated Paddock Hill bend – and the opening lap passed off without and ‘incidents’.
Out-going Champion Cees Zandbergen was making a welcome ‘comeback’ and the Dutchman showed his Scania had lost none of it’s speed as he quickly established a healthy lead – well clear of the close battle for the runner-up spot featuring Garry George (Foden), Ben Horne (Volvo White) and local lad Steven Powell (Ford).
But Akinwolere was involved in his own mid-field scrap – and unfortunately ran wide exiting the trick Graham Hill Bend. The DAF snapped sideways and clipped the unfortunate Elton Boocock, lifting the rear wheels of the Seddon well clear of the ground and ending Elton’s hopes of 2nd spot in the championship. Some skilful avoidance action from Adam Atkins and other following drivers averted total chaos – and the race continued.
Akinwolere escaped with minor damage and after a full 360-degree spin very quickly rejoined the action at the back of the pack. In the closing stages the TV presenter closed in on Jim Bennett – finally outbraking the orange Seddon into Paddock Hill bend.
David Ball (Seddon) finished a steady 6th – some way behind on-form Andy Lovenberry (Sisu)… but it was enough to ensure he could claim the Delphi Class ‘B’ title.
Sunday’s opening Class ‘A’ race saw seriously wet conditions – and for a while it appeared that newly crowned champ Stuart Oliver was not going to run away with all the silverware. Initially Chris Levett and David Jenkins headed Oliver – but both dropped back and very soon it was “business as usual” as Stuart and his MAN sped into the lead. Matt Summerfield pushed hard and only 2.7 seconds separated the duo at the flag with ‘Jenks’ recovering from an ‘off’ to claim the final podium spot.
Carl Brookfield coped well with the conditions to claim a fine 4th while Ricky Collett narrowly avoided the barriers to rejoin in 5th with Roger Brookfield competing the top six in his DAF.
After a considerable wait – with a revised timetable putting the final two truck races at the end of the day – the Class ‘B’ boys were back in action.
Zandbergen was again cleanly away at the head of the pack – pulling away to complete a ‘double’ victory in his Scania.
Andy Lovenberry had given the spectators on Paddock Hill a fright as he spun off into the gravel trap… the Sisu going onto two wheels and looking set to roll before gently crashing back to earth.
But the real action was again in a fabulous scrap for second with George and Horne locked in combat throughout. As the race progressed this developed into a five-way battle as Powell, David Ball and Boocock (charging from the back of the grid) started to line-up. Unfortunately the red flag came out to stop the race early with another truck parked in a dangerous position.
The final race of the season was another cracker with all the Class ‘A’ contenders aiming to finish on a high. Summerfield made one of his usual ‘well anticipated’ flying starts – but Oliver soon had the race under control and headed the ERF driver.
Levett had started from the back and the Bird’s MAN was really flying (clocking a 59.335 secs. best lap) and he soon reeled in everyone but the leading duo. It took Chris a while to get by Summerfield – and then he had his sights clearly focussed on race leader Oliver. But the 10-laps were soon completed and Stuart held on to take the flag by 0.919s.
Summerfield held off Jenkins to take the final podium spot with Collett completing the top five ahead of Terry Gibbon who must have been pleased to end the day in 6th.
Another exciting season of British Truck racing (with the Delphi BTRA series contested over a total of 34 races) is now completed. With an entry of 29 trucks at Brands Hatch the sport is clearly in good health – and the Delphi British Truck racing championship can justifiably claim to be the best national truck series in Europe!
See you next year!
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