(^96) Summer 2019 Truck & Driver
TRUCK RACING
Championship standings
DIVISION 1
1 Ryan Smith MAN 118
2 David Jenkins MAN 115
3 John Newell MAN 99
4 Mark Taylor MAN 89
5 Stuart Oliver Volvo 41
6 Ray Coleman MAN 37
7 Clemens Hecker MAN 36
8 Cees Zandbergen Scania 36
9 Simon Reid Iveco 13
10 Richard Collett MAN 0
DIVISION 2
1 Luke Garrett MAN 112
2 Paul Rivett MAN 98
3 Steve Powell MAN 87
4 John Bowler Daf 86
5 Brad Smith Daf 86
6 Erik Forsstrom Sisu 71
7 John Powell Daf 70
8 Trevor Martin Scania 60
9 Simon Cole Mercedes 43
10 Jim Bennett Seddon 36
11 Frans Smit Scania 35
12 Adam Bint Volvo 14
13 Nimda Kraal Volvo 8
14 Graham Powell Renault 7
- with Simon Reid
notching his maiden
podium of the year.
Smith would bounce back in
emphatic style in race three as
he produced a stunning last lap
overtake to triumph. Mechanical
issues forced Reid to miss the
third bout, which saw another
incident take place between
Newell and Taylor.
Remaining at the front of the
action, Jenkins and Smith went
back and forth for outright
honours over the course of the
15 minutes’ track time, and those
who had lined the spectator
bankings were treated to a
memorable battle.
Swapping positions on
several occasions, Smith left it
until the final tour before making
a move stick into Spitfires.
Fending off Jenkins for the
remainder of the lap, Smith
crossed the line to record yet
another victory, while Jenkins
and the recovering Newell
rounded out the rostrum.
Bringing the curtain down on
the weekend was an exciting
fourth and final Division 1 race.
With both classes combined
together the outcome proved to be
the same as Smith completed a
memorable hat-trick. Jenkins and
Newell capped off their weekends
with podium finishes too.
Division Two
Reigning Division 2 champion
Luke Garrett extended his
advantage at the summit of the
MV Commercial BTRA
Championship Division 2
standings at the Pembrey Circuit,
winning two of the four races.
Both Paul Rivett and Steve Powell
ensured they remained within
touching distance of Garrett too
as they also triumphed.
Kicking off the defence of his
title in style at Brands Hatch, the
MAN driver was in scintillating
form as he powered his way to a
near-perfect performance aroundthe picturesque South Wales
venue. Garrett began the
weekend as the man to beat in
Division 2 qualifying as he
stormed to the top of the
timesheets, clinching his second
successive pole position.
Starting on the front row of
the grid, Garrett was a tour de
force in the opener as he broke
clear of the rest of the field and
onto victory. Storming into the
first corner in the lead, Garrett
was unchallenged as he
extended his advantage at every
chance he got.
Behind, Simon Cole found
himself in strife through the
opening sequence of corners
with Erik Forsstrom and John
Bowler making their way into
second and third respectively.
From there the battling duo held
station to finish behind Garrett,
while Cole fought back from as
low as sixth to clinch fourth.
Race two at Pembrey proved
to be one to remember for those
in attendance as four-time
Renault UK Clio Cup champion
Rivett scored his maiden win in
the series. Having starred at
Brands, the WDE Motorsport
driver showed his class with a
stunning drive to put the rest
of the field on notice that he
will be one to watch.
Starting fourth, Rivett
scythed his way through the
order to cross the line after lap
one in first, and that was to bewhere he would stay. Bowler
backed up his earlier podium
with another strong drive.
Further down the order Garrett
didn’t begin to make his way up
the order until the second half of
the race. Picking his way pastfellow competitors one by one,
the race one winner valiantly
fought his way into third place as
the chequered flag flew.
Despite the dawn of a new
day on Sunday, the same theme
ran through the Division 2 ranks
as Garrett further strengthened
his position with a second win of
the weekend. Powering into
the lead as the lights went
out, the defending
champion took up his
customary position at
the front of field and
broke away from the
chasing pack. Cole
and Bowler were to
be the closest
challengers to the
leader, finishing
second and third.
The final race of the
weekend at the Pembrey
Circuit witnessed Division 1
and Division 2 amalgamated to
bring the curtain down on
another unforgettable two days
of track action.
Having gone somewhat under
the radar throughout the course
of the weekend, the bright yellow
MAN of Powell came to the fore
in the final race as he soaked up
late pressure from Garrett and
Rivett to score his second win of
the season.Luke Garrett has set the pace early on in Div 2Mark Taylor has made a promising start to his season