The Brands Hatch centenary season headline event calendar got underway over the Easter Weekend with some entertaining Truck Racing.

The curtain raiser certainly provided the usual thrills and spills as the 2026 season got underway, and if the weekend is anything to go by then the season ahead will be thoroughly entertaining.

Craig Reid and Ryan Smith shared the spoils as the British Truck Racing Championship got underway with two races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on Saturday.

Smith entered the season as the hot favourite for a record-breaking 11th consecutive crown, but qualifying offered an indication that he was going to have to fight for it. Reid seized pole position at the wheel of his Iveco, with John Bowler securing second in the first of the MAN entries. David Jenkins and Michael Oliver also managed to outqualify Smith, who was fifth.

Reid made the absolute most of this platform to surge to an impressive lights to flag victory in the curtain raiser. He hardly looked challenged throughout, driving home to a winning margin of almost two-and-a-half seconds from Bowler. Michael Oliver completed the podium ahead of Smith, who secured fourth.

For the second race, Smith lined up on pole alongside Reid and fended off his rival as the lights went out. But those watching were denied a chance to see a fight between the duo play out on circuit with Reid losing ground before retiring to the pits with an ailing truck.

That cleared the way for Michael Oliver to take second place from Jenkins, both of whom enjoyed an improvement from their result in the earlier race. Nathan Smith was fourth ahead of Stuart Oliver who claimed his first top-five result of the season.

Easter Sunday was an occasion to celebrate for the veterans of the British Truck Racing Championship at Brands Hatch, with long-time series stalwarts Stuart Oliver and Ricky Collett sharing the three available victories.

Stuart Oliver won the first of these in the morning at the wheel of his Volvo, settling into the lead early on before being hunted down by fellow 10-time title winner Ryan Smith. The chasing driver threatened to pass his rival for what would be a record-breaking 11th British Truck Racing crown, but was forced to settle for second, just under three tenths behind. Surprisingly, that would prove to be Smith’s second and last trip to the podium of the weekend.

Another former champion, David Jenkins, joined them on the podium, just over five seconds behind the victor. Neil Yates was fourth, ahead of Michael Oliver, son and teammate of the race winner.

The penultimate race of the weekend also went Stuart Oliver’s way, though this time it John Bowler who crossed the line in second position as his nearest rival. Jenkins produced a repeat trip to the podium in third however, one place ahead of Smith. Michael Oliver secured a second top-five in as many races as he continued his strong weekend-long showing.

The final race of the weekend produced a popular victory for Ricky Collett, a regular on the British Truck Racing scene since the early ‘90s. The experienced campaigner was forced to fight for it though, facing race-long pressure throughout the entire 16-lap distance.

Collett was hounded by the chasing pack throughout the contest, but negotiated slower lapped traffic ably to just keep his yellow MAN truck at the head of the field. He passed the chequered flag just over three tenths ahead of Michael Oliver, who kept his rival honest right until the line.

Craig Reid completed the podium, ending the weekend on a high after his Saturday victory, with Jenkins and Smith completing the top-five.

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