Smith shines in Truxton Truck Racing Sunshine

Jul 01, 2019

Reigning three-time MV Commercial BTRA Championship Division 1 title holder Ryan Smith served up a perfect performance at Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (June 29/30), taking a clean sweep of victories to extend his lead in the standings.

Roaring back into life after a six-week break, the heavyweight behemoths of the championship descended on the Hampshire venue revved up to put on a show for the bumper crowd that had turned out to line the grass bankings.

Qualifying around the fastest circuit in the UK proved to be a frenetic affair with the searing temperatures pushing both drivers and machines to their limit.

Continuing his rich vein of form, three-time champion Smith proved to be too much for the opposition as he stormed to his first pole position of the season. Topping the times with a 1:37.489, the MAN driver powered to the summit of the time-sheets ahead of David Jenkins and Richard Collett.

Fans were treated to a blockbuster opening race as Smith and Jenkins went wheel-to-wheel for outright honours. Trading places in the opening laps, the champion pairing had fans on the edge-of-their-seats before Smith took control and began to pull away – going on to score his sixth win of the year.

Having endured a luckless start to the year, Collett got back on-track at Thruxton by holding station throughout the ten-lap race to clinch a first podium of the season.

Smith’s charge continued on Sunday as he showcased his overtaking prowess with a scintillating drive from the back row for race two. Starting sixth, Smith picked his way through the field and onto yet another win ahead of Jenkins and this time Ray Coleman.

Lights-to-flag dominance was the story of the third encounter as Smith again exerted his dominance around the home of the British Automobile Racing Club. Along with Jenkins, Smith broke away from the chasing pack and cantered to the chequered flag whilst Collett picked up further silverware in third.

With all eyes on the multiple champion to see if he could complete an unprecedented clean sweep at Thruxton, Smith brought the weekend to a close in Division 1 with a fourth win, cementing his place firmly at the summit of the drivers’ standings.

Mark Taylor and John Newell joined Smith on the rostrum to ensure that every Division 1 competitor ended the event with at least one podium finish.

The MV Commercial BTRA Championship continues its 2019 season with a trip to mainland Europe next on the calendar, as the stars of the UK joining some of the biggest names in the world at the Nurburgring on July 19/20/21.

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