So, the finale, and down to the wire for Simon and Frankie vs. John Powell to be crowned in Division 2 of the BTRC for 2024.  We knew it would be tough, but with a fully rebuilt rear suspension set up in Frankie we had high hopes for the weekend.

Testing went well on Friday, with a few very minor modifications to the new “rear end” and back suspension set up.  The revisions completed since Le Mans were very beneficial, allowing the power from the MAN engine to be better applied.  This gave a significant increase in handling and performance – even if Simon had to find a new “sweet-spot” for the truck.  The revised “back-end” further highlighting the required modification to the front suspension – but that is for the Winter break…

Qualifying went well, and the truck was really on the pace with our championship competitors, lifting our spirits after a very “reliable” season, but one where we always seemed to be a little off the pace – but no longer – we were on it.

Saturday saw some very close racing between the top competitors in Division 2, in one instance a little too close as “JP” mounted the rear end of 41.  The two bumpers interlocked, and Simon part carried and part towed John for 1/3 of a lap of the Brands Hatch circuit, including the full length of the pit straight.  But “rubbing” is racing as they say!  A few repairs and out for the second race of the day – and a little more “bullying” from fellow competitors with a few body panels removed – for the first time in the season.

Sunday, saw less “brutal“ racing with some excellent dicing with fellow competitors, and the honours broadly shared between Simon and John.  Then, for us at least, it all went a little awry in the final race, with a failure in the water cooling system.  This resulted in a loss of both water pressure (needed to cool the brakes, intercooler, and radiator) and compressed air (required to prevent brake application).  Simon parked up the truck in pit lane.  So, the championship went to the wire with 34 races, 34 starts for “Frankie” and Simon, and 3 DNF’s (two due to cooling water issues and a third due to a throttle sender unit) – 2nd overall in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship 2024.

Archie in “Ovlov” no 40, had an uneventful weekend, getting used to racing a 5.3 tonne monster around the tight “Indy” circuit.  A little different from the Saxo and Fiesta that he spent 4 years racing at the same circuit in Junior Saloons.  Archie brought the uncompetitive Volvo home safely every time, getting faster and faster throughout the weekend as he perfected his race craft lap after lap.  His sideways style, and crowd pleasing driving is a credit to his ability to control a 1,000hp, 5.3 tonne race truck, and an indication of what the future could be if Archie can secure a drive in a competitive truck – remember he’s “only” 19 and the youngest truck racer in Europe. And 4th overall in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship 2024.

Archie, in his first season, kept that truck on the track throughout every race, with no spins, or trips into the gravel traps or onto the grass, no tyre walls touched and the original set of body panels – very few competitors (if any) can achieved that throughout a full season.

As to next year – well “Frankie” is already in pieces and stripped down to start the required front end modifications and maybe a few other surprises too.  But we need YOUR help to get Archie a better Race Truck, so his unquestionable talents are not restricted by the “machinery”.

THANK YOU to ALL our wonderful sponsors; to the businesses who help us out in kind, or with cash (although we accept cheques too of course!), we could NOT do this without you ALL – no matter how big or small your help – this team of family and friends could not do this without YOU.  YOU made it possible for Simon, and now Archie, and put father and son on the track as much as the rest of this family and friends based team.  THANK YOU. (but we always need more help of course).

Come and see us all, cheer on Archie and Simon and “THINK PINK” at the Circuit if you can – we are always happy to chat and show you our race trucks – unless we are repairing them of course, in which case best to give us some space to work safely. 

If you cannot visit the track, then remember to check out the “BARC” live feed on YouTube – or of course on “catch up” later.

CTS#41 and CTS#40; Simon, Archie, John, Conner, John, Colin, Sam, Toby, Martin & Guy