BTRC expects showdown after lighting up Le Mans
The 2024 British Truck Racing Championship is set for a title showdown after the penultimate event of the season at Le Mans, on 28-29th September, ensured that the battle for supremacy in Division 1 and Division 2 will go down to the wire.
Marking the series’ first trip to mainland Europe in more than five years, the outing in France proved to be memorable as the heavyweight behemoths shared the bill with the FIA European Truck Racing Championship – reportedly producing four blockbuster contests in the process.
In Division 1, Ryan Smith edged closer to a ninth consecutive title as he claimed a clean sweep of race wins while John Powell pulled clear in the Division 2 standings courtesy of what is described as three clinical victories.
Those results now mean that both championships will be decided at the final round of the season, which takes place around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on 2nd-3rd November.
Super Smith reigns supreme
Ryan Smith ensured he now has at least one hand on the coveted Division 1 title after delivering what was said to be a wheel-perfect performance during the series’ maiden visit to France and the Le Mans circuit.
Arriving at the Bugatti course with an advantage at the top of the standings, Smith apparently wasted no time in laying down a marker to the rest of the field as he blasted his way to pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session.
With a front-row start guaranteed for race one, the Daimler Freightliner driver reportedly pulled clear of the chasing pack and went on to claim a lights-to-flag victory ahead of David Jenkins and Stuart Oliver.
Starting from the rear of the grid for race two, the Mansfield racer is said to have utilised every overtaking opportunity to charge up the order before wrestling the lead, and ultimately the race win, away from Michael Oliver in the closing stages while John Bowler finished third.
Dominating Sunday’s qualifying session as the sun rose over the venue, it’s claimed Smith was unrelenting out front in race three as he dominated proceedings to win by almost 20 seconds ahead of the Team Oliver Racing duo of Stuart and Michael.
He then arguably left his best performance until the very end as he carved his way from the rear of the field before going head-to-head with Steven Powell. The latter delivered what has been described as a defensive drive for a number of laps before Smith finally found a way past with a few tours to go.
That victory, his fourth in as many races in northern France, ensured that he now heads to Brands Hatch within striking distance of the crown, while the likes of Powell and Jenkins will need to dig deep if they’re to overhaul the current eight-time championship holder.
Powell assumes control in Division 2
Arriving at Le Mans, just one point separated John Powell and Simon Cole at the head of the Division 2 standings, however, that gap widened after Powell romped to a hat-trick of race wins over the weekend.
With NAPA Racing UK’s Paul Rivett unable to compete, the battle for this year’s title is poised to boil down between Powell and Cole – and every point therefore is said to be crucial from now until the final chequered flag falling at Brands Hatch.
Like the aforementioned Smith, Powell enjoyed an unbeaten Saturday in his DAF as he claimed pole position around the 2.600-mile layout and then followed it up with a brace of race wins.
Behind him, former champion Adam Bint and main protagonist Cole completed the podium in race one before Cole and Willem Breedijk – who made a return to the series in his Volvo – claimed second and third in race two.
Bint would be the driver to break Powell’s winning streak on Sunday as he triumphed in race three ahead of Powell, however, Breedijk occupied the final spot on the rostrum, costing fourth placed Cole a handful of points.
Powell returned to winning ways in the final contest, albeit it was said to be the most difficult of the lot as he withstood race-long pressure from Bint to triumph by less than one second. As he had done earlier in the day, Breedijk got the better of Cole to snatch third while Archie Handy was fifth.
To view the full classification of results from all British Truck Racing Championship sessions at Le Mans, CLICK HERE.
All four races from the penultimate event of the season are available to view on the British Truck Racing Championship YouTube channel HERE.
The British Truck Racing Championship will bring the curtain down on its 2024 season at Brands Hatch on 2nd -3rd November.
