OLIVER CLINCHES CROWN WITH THREE WINS - BALL CLOSES ON CLASS ‘B’ TITLE DESPITE BOOCOCK TRIPLE
The second visit of the season to Pembrey produced the usual frantic first-turn action that the Welsh circuit has become renowned for – with the Class ‘A’ races generating some particularly spectacular action.
Reigning champion Stuart Oliver was again the class of the field – the Hexham haulier collecting maximum points as he powered his MAN to three victories plus three fastest laps, thereby securing the Class ‘A’ Delphi British Truck Racing Championship crown with one meeting to spare.
But it could have all gone wrong for Oliver as some ‘over enthusiastic’ behaviour from some of his rivals nearly saw him eliminated at Hatchets Hairpin on more than one occasion!
The first outing of the weekend saw Oliver taking a win while David Jenkins (MAN) recovered well from a first lap clash to take the runner-up spot from Mat Summerfield (ERF). Out of luck Ricky Collett (MAN) had to be content with 4th while Roger Brookfield (DAF) completed the top five.
The second race saw Oliver under early pressure from Chris Levett – but the blue MAN of the Worcestershire racer was showing signs of a hard season in the hands of Frenchman Lacheze and started to fall apart mid-race…forcing Levett to settle for second. Collett grabbed the final podium spot in front of young Terry Gibbon (MAN) while Jenkins and Summerfield had to fight through from the back to take 5th and 6th respectively after colliding following Dave’s sideways ‘moment’ under braking on the first corner!
The start of the final race of the weekend was equally spectacular as Collett suffered brake and brain fade… sliding inside everyone at the chicane with his wheels locked, heavily side-swiping leader Oliver.
Stuart survived the assault and brought his somewhat bent MAN home to another victory in front of Summerfield and Gibbon. Jenkins was an early retirement with suspension damage having climbed on top of Summerfield at the rolling start while Collett also had to call it a day after struggling on five tyres and broken springs for three laps. That allowed Roger and Carl Brookfield to move up to 4th and 5th respectively.
CLASS ‘B’: TRIPLE WIN FOR BOOCOCK
Elton Boocock enjoyed a superb weekend in Wales – bringing his Seddon Atkinson home in first place in all three Class ‘B’ races, netting a total of 32 points and giving him a slender hope of snatching the championship crown from David Ball in the final at Brands Hatch.
Steven Powell was also charging hard – the Kent driver taking his nimble Ford Cargo to two runner-up spots and one 4th to keep him in the championship chase.
Ball had a troubled weekend; he’d arrived in Pembrey with a commanding 30-point advantage over Powell with Boocock a further 5 points adrift. Ball’s plan was to “do a Button” – play it safe and collect some good results to secure the title.
But after a cautious start in race one he was hindered by the oil leaking from Garry George’s Foden and had to settle for fourth – behind Boocock, Powell and George.
Race two was a disaster for Ball; his truck sprung a fuel leak and officials black flagged him after the parade lap…so zero points while Boocock, Powell and George bagged the podium places again.
The champion-in-waiting had better fortunes in the final race; blasting his Seddon Atki from the back of the pack, Ball overhauled everyone except Boocock and claimed the runner-up spot plus one valuable extra point for fastest lap. With just two rounds of the Delphi British Championship remaining (at Brands Hatch on November 1) Ball holds a healthy 20-point lead over high-flying Boocock and just needs 3 points (one 8th place) to grab that crown!
As usual there was plenty of close combat throughout the Class ‘B’ pack with Brian Burt enjoying a good weekend at Pembrey as he took his Volvo White to one 4th and two 5th places, moving him up to equal 7th overall with the same total as Garry George.
The ‘Rookie’ racers all performed well in Wales; Trevor Martin (ERF) and Jim Bennett (Seddon) scoring points in all three races. But it’s Oscar Clark – with a 5th, a 7th and a DNF in his Volvo – who looks set to claim the newcomer’s crown.
The final rounds of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship at Brands Hatch on November 1 are sure to be fiercely contested – the famous Kent circuit always presenting a unique challenge and producing great racing. Adding further excitement will be the welcome ‘comeback’ of 2008 champion, Dutchman Cees Zandbergen in his Scania plus BBC TV presenter Andy Akinwolere from ‘Blue Peter’ making his debut in the Brookfield DAF.