The Truck Racing and fireworks took centre stage at Brands Hatch at the weekend and boy they did not disappoint.

David Jenkins claimed a dominant victory in the first British Truck Racing Championship contest of the truck racing on Saturday.

Then on Sunday with a rearranged race added to the schedule, Ryan Smith was crowned British Truck Racing Champion for a tenth time.

On Saturday Jenkins started from pole position after fastest qualified Ryan Smith was given a three-place grid drop for overtaking under yellow flags. Jenkins may have been fortunate to inherit his position at the front of the grid, but he made no mistake once at the front.

The MAN TGS driver was never challenged at the front, leading every single one of the 16 laps to pass the chequered flag more than seven seconds clear of the next truck. That was Smith who fought back through to claim the second spot on the podium, just ahead of main title rival Stuart Oliver. Behind that, Martin Gibson and Richard Collett rounded out the top-five.

The second scheduled race of the weekend got underway later in the afternoon, but was halted immediately following an incident to allow for circuit repairs.

Then on Sunday, Smith had to wait until the second race of the day after driving to second in the opening contest at the wheel of his Daimler Freightliner. This was behind the MAN TGX of his namesake, Nathan Smith, who impressively resisted pressure to claim a first ever victory in the BTRC. Ryan Smith’s main title rival Stuart Oliver was third in his Volvo which was just enough to keep the championship going, but Ryan Smith wouldn’t have to wait much longer.

Indeed, the multiple reigning champion secured a decade’s worth of titles with an impressive victory in the penultimate race of the weekend. Ryan Smith drove home just under four seconds ahead of David Jenkins to make certain of the prize and draw level with Oliver as joint record holder for the most titles in the BTRC.

The final race of the day featured a popular result with local landlord Steven Powell storming to a first win of the year on home turf. Powell fended off Michael Oliver and the charging Ryan Smith to secure a visit to the top step of the rostrum.

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