Pickup Truck Racing is an auto racing series, running in the United Kingdom, including races on road courses and (historically) ovals. It was the only racing series that raced on the Oval Circuit at Rockingham Motor Speedway until it closed in 2018.
History
Launched in 1997 by Sonny Howard, the Pickup Truck Racing series, intended to bring the American pickup truck culture to Europe, is for purpose-built racing specials. They have a tubular space frame chassis, are powered by a 2-litre multi-valve twin-cam engine and weigh . The race trucks are designed to place an emphasis on driver ability.
In 2001, the Pickup series became the main support for the Rockingham-based oval SCSA (then called ASCAR) racing series. At this time the pickups were right hand drive in configuration and as such not permitted to race on the anti-clockwise 1.5-mile speedway. An oval course was created to allow the drivers to compete.
For the 2003 season, the pickups were converted to left hand drive and finally allowed onto the oval track, as can be seen.
Pickup Truck Racing is unique in 'big' oval racing, in that unlike e.g. NASCAR, the trucks have rain tyres, wipers and rear safety lights, and will race on the ovals in the wet. Speeds are about slower than when racing in fully dry conditions.
Pickup Truck Racing is also the only racing series in the UK for which no race-by-race entry fees are charged. Mallory Park continues to host oval events in the series following the closure of Rockingham Motor Speedway.
As of 2026, it has been brought under the management of the British Truck Racing Championship.
Technical specification
Pickup Truck Racing is a single make series, and the trucks are governed by the Pickup Truck Racing regulations. The chassis is made by SHP Engineering, who are also responsible for the vehicle used in T Cars, a series for young drivers.
The main flexibility in the regulations comes in the choice of engine. From 2011 the trucks could be fitted with either a Vauxhall petrol injected 2-litre red top engine or a Ford Duratec engine, both of which are four-cylinder engines with a 2-litre capacity and 16 valves.
In 2010, the front end of the pickup trucks was changed with the choice of either an Isuzu Denver Max LE or a Ford Ranger front. Later in the year a Vauxhall front was then also introduced to the championship.
2017 race dates DateTrack25 & 26 MarchBrands Hatch8 & 9 AprilRockingham22 & 23 AprilPembrey13 & 14 MayRockingham10 & 11 JuneBrands Hatch1 & 2 JulyRockingham22 & 23 JulyDonington Park9 & 10 SeptemberSnetterton30 Sep & 1 OctRockingham4 & 5 NovemberBrands Hatch
Race format
Under normal circumstances race weekends follow the traditional format of practice and qualifying on the Saturday, and two races on Sunday. Qualifying is used to shake the car down and work on the setup, and to meet the MSA requirements for race entry of three qualifying laps, and not to set the starting grid.
The grid is set by reversing the top ten qualifiers (whoever qualifies 10th will be on pole, and whoever qualifies 1st will start from 10th). The top ten qualifiers also receive points, starting from 20 and decreasing by two for every place until 10th place, after which drivers receive zero points. Rookies always start from the rear of the grid as do competitors who have broken seals on controlled components such as differentials. Drivers can also elect to start from the back should they wish to do so.
At some circuits, qualifying takes place on Saturday morning, with the first race on Saturday afternoon and the second on Sunday.
Previous seasons
For the 2009 season, races took place on weekends between March and November. There were racing weekends at six different circuits; the majority of the races were held at Rockingham Motor Speedway but others were held at Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Silverstone, Pembrey, Donington Park and Oulton Park. Each round comprised two races, making a twenty-two round competition in total.
2009 saw a number of rule changes:
Qualifying
One qualifying session was held, split into two sections. The fastest ten drivers in the first session made up the first ten places on the grid, but in reverse qualification order. The second session was the same, but for race two.
Success ballast
The podium finishers in each race were subject to the application of success ballast as follows:
1st: 30 kg 2nd: 20 kg 3rd: 10 kg
Ballast was applied up to a maximum of 70 kg. 10 kg was removed each time a truck finished outside of the top three.
Sprint/feature races
Two events hosted a Sprint/Feature race format, one at Rockingham and one at a road course.
The series continued to operate two championships: the Oval Championship and the Overall Championship.
Previous champions Note: 1997 was the inaugural year and as such, races were not part of a championship.
Year Overall Champion Oval Champion Top Rookie 2022 Reece Jones George Turuccki 2020 n/a covid 2019 George Turricki George Turricki Simon Ward 2018 Scott Bourne Paul Tompkins Dale Gent 2017 Scott Bourne 2016 Freddie Lee 2015 Michael Smithmichael smith 2014 Michael Smith michael smith 2013 Antony Hawkins Nic Grindrod 2012 Steve Dance Phil White Paul Jones 2011 Steve Dance Steve Dance Paul Tompkins 2010 Steve Dance Nic Grindrod Charlie Weaver 2009 Pete Stevens Pete Stevens Greg Wood 2008 Gavin Seager Gavin Seager n/a 2007 Steve Dance Paul Poulter Neil Tressler 2006 Nic Grindrod Nic Grindrod John Stant 2005 Nic Grindrod Paul Poulter Paul Poulter 2004 Gavin Seager Mark Willis Martin Heath 2003 Steve Dance Steve Dance Mark Willis 2002 Gavin Seager n/a Nic Grindrod 2001 Lee Caroline n/a Davy Philp 2000 Lee Caroline n/a Phil White 1999 Kevin Clarke n/a Pete Wilkinson 1998 Jeff Simpson n/a n/a
Points system
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 200 195 190 185 180 175 170 165 160 155 150 145 140 135 130 125 120 115 110 105 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st 32nd 33rd 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40
Any other classified finishers receive 20 points and any non-finishers receive 10 points except in the case of disqualification.
References
External links
SHP Engineering website