Saturday, September 19 2015

Ryan Smith was quickest in qualifying ahead of this weekend's five rounds of the British Truck Racing Championship at Snetterton today (Saturday).

Smith, last year's Division 2 runner-up and a contender for this year's Division 1 title, stole the honour of being fastest from 2011 champion David Jenkins on his final lap of the session, moments after the chequered flag had been shown. His lap in the ex-European Truck Championship MAN was four tenths faster than the similar machine of his rival.

Third place was taken by ten-time champion Stuart Oliver in the Volvo, just over a second adrift of the leader, whilst reigning champion Matt Summerfield was fourth quickest, another eight tenths in arrears. Fifth was Steve Thomas, so the five title contenders locked out the top five places.

Oly Janes was best of the rest in sixth place, heading reigning Division 2 champion Simon Reid, now racing in the top category. Richard Collett, Shane Brereton and Ray Coleman completed the top ten, but with a reverse-grid system employed for the races and championship order used to determine the starting order for the opener, there are no guarantees that these times will translate into race pace later on today.

Division 2 championship leader Steven Powell led his class, and after suffering engine failure in his regular mount yesterday, has had to borrow Ryan Colson's truck for the weekend. Nevertheless, he was over a second clear of Luke Garrett and Adam Bint.

The opening race of the weekend will take place at 1:15pm today.

British Truck Racing Championship Qualifying
1, Ryan Smith, Truck Sport Racing, MAN TGA, Div 1, 2:27.595
2, David Jenkins, Team Digraph, MAN TGX, Div 1, +0.403s
3, Stuart Oliver, Team Oliver Racing, Volvo RH 13, Div 1, +1.121s
4, Matt Summerfield, Summerfield Trucksport, MAN TGS, Div 1, +1.902s
5, Steve Thomas, Team Thomas Racing, MAN TGX, Div 1, +3.333s
6, Oly Janes, Janestrucksport with Briarwood, Freightliner MKR 08, Div 1, +4.268s
7, Simon Reid, Reid Trucksport, MAN TGX, Div 1, +4.759
8, Richard Collett, MAN TGX, Div 1, +5.205s
9, Shane Brereton, Scania, Div 1, +6.545s
10, Ray Coleman, Lantern, Renault, Div 1, +9.666s

Tickets for the British Truck Racing Championship at Snetterton on 19/20 September are available on the gate for £14 to adults and £8 to 13-15 year-olds on Saturday and £23 to adults and £12 to 13-15 year-olds on Sunday, with free admission for under-13s. For more information call 0843 453 9000 or click here.