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Ryan Smith Kicks Off Title Defense with Strong Performance at Brands Hatch
Ryan Smith launched his quest for a record-breaking 10th consecutive British Truck Racing title with a promising showing at the Easter Brands Hatch season opener, securing three victories out of five races and finishing third in the remaining two.
The newly implemented rule that limits air intake for the top three points contenders introduced a level of competition among the leading drivers, including Smith, Stuart Oliver, and Steven Powell, based on their standings in the 2024 championship. Smith, who was the fastest qualifier, claimed victory in the first race on Saturday with relative ease, followed by Oliver and David Jenkins.
However, Smith’s fortune took a hit in race two when he was overtaken by Michael Oliver at Druids, causing him to drop to 13th place. Smith managed to recover commendably to finish in third, though he was unable to compete with the front-running Oliver and Jenkins.
Sunday’s races featured a reverse grid format, adding unpredictability to the competition. An early incident during the third race led to a chain reaction that halted play, with Jenkins’ truck sustaining significant damage. Smith capitalized on this by winning the race after successfully contesting a track-limits penalty. He notched another win in the following race, although the action was interrupted when Graham Poole rolled his truck into the gravel trap.
In the final race, Bradley Smith started from pole position, but Stuart and Michael Oliver quickly passed him. Despite this, Ryan Smith and Jenkins kept pace, eventually overtaking Bradley Smith before the race concluded. The Olivers were too far ahead by that point, securing a family victory.
In addition to truck racing, Lewis Kent and Alistair Camp celebrated their success in the Civic Cup at the Donington Park opener, with Kent adding another win on Saturday after Camp—who started from pole—suffered a drop to fourth due to a track-limits penalty after initially finishing third behind Liam McGill.
Unfortunately for Kent, a broken driveshaft ended his chances in the second race, allowing Jack Ruddell, starting from pole position due to the previous race’s reversed top ten, to take command and fend off challenges from Jake Hewlett and Camp to secure his first Civic Cup victory. McGill later claimed his first win of the season in race three, finishing ahead of Camp while leading a tightly contested pack of cars.
The Junior Saloons drivers were scheduled for a three-race weekend, but damage sustained during the Truck finale led to the cancellation of their final race. Josh Selvadorai showcased his speed by winning both completed races, although penalties pushed him to fifth in the first race, handing the win to Luca Masarati. Selvadorai redeemed himself in race two, taking the first-place finish, followed by Wilf Butler and Masarati.
The weekend also featured a significant presence of Classic Touring Cars, highlighting various racing eras. The standout performance came from Ian Thompson’s pre-1966 Lotus Cortina, which secured two wins throughout the eight races. A tense first race saw Alan Greenhalgh’s V8 Ford Falcon struggle with its line as he sought to hold off the nimble Cortina, ultimately straying off course. In race two, Aaron Smith, who started from the back, made a spectacular drive to win after passing the Falcon in a decisive maneuver at Druids and maintaining his lead through the high-speed sections of the track.
The packed schedule also included a debut showcase for the latest intake of Caterham Academy novices, with Max Richardson setting the pace by two-tenths of a second. However, a second round of Track Action races on Sunday was scrapped following the incident during the Truck finale.
Highlights from the Pre-1966 Touring Car Races
The contests involving pre-1966 Touring Cars provided exhilarating moments for the spectators, culminating in impressive performances that underscored the rich history and competitive spirit of the event.
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