Pickup Truck Racing

Pickup Truck Racing is an auto racing series, running in the United Kingdom, including races on road courses and (historicaly) ovals. It was the only racing series that raced on the Oval Circuit at Rockingham Motor Speedway until it closed in 2018.

This article is about the British motor racing series. For generic pickup truck racing, see pickup truck racing.
Pickup Truck Racing
CategoryPickup truck racing
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugural season1997
ConstructorsSHP Engineering
Engine suppliersVauxhall, Ford
Drivers' championSteve Dance
Official websitePickupTruckRacing.com

History

Launched in 1997 by Sonny Howard, the Pickup Truck Racing series, intended to bring the American pickup truck culture to Europe,[1] is for purpose built 230 bhp (170 kW) racing specials. They have a tubular space frame chassis, are powered by a 2 litre multi-valve twin-cam engine and weigh 900 kg (2,000 lb). 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 18 mph 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.[2]

Technical specification
Pickup Truck
Overview
ManufacturerSHP Engineering
Body and chassis
ClassPickup truck, Race car
Powertrain
EngineVauxhall 2 litre, Ford Duratec 2.3 litre 2 litre
(229 bhp)
TransmissionFour speed manual transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2720 mm (107.1 in)
Curb weight870 kg (1918 lb)

Pickup Truck Racing is a single make series, and the trucks are governed by the Pickup Truck Racing regulations.[3] 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
Date Track
25 & 26 March Brands Hatch
8 & 9 April Rockingham
22 & 23 April Pembrey
13 & 14 May Rockingham
10 & 11 June Brands Hatch
1 & 2 July Rockingham
22 & 23 July Donington Park
9 & 10 September Snetterton
30 Sep & 1 Oct Rockingham
4 & 5 November Brands 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 10 qualifiers (whoever qualifies 10th will be on pole, and whoever qualifies 1st will start from 10th). The top 10 qualifiers also receive points, starting from 20 and decreasing by 2 for every place until 10th place, after which drivers receive 0 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
Main article: 2009 Pickup Truck Racing season
Pete Wilkinson's pickup being prepared for the first 2007 race

For the 2009 season, races will take place on weekends between March and November. There will be racing weekends at six different circuits; the majority of the races were held at Rockingham Motor Speedway but others will be held at Brands Hatch, Thruxton, Silverstone, Pembrey, Donington Park and Oulton Park. Each round will comprise two races, making a twenty two round competition in total.

2009 will see a number of rule changes:

Qualifying

One qualifying session will be held, split into two sections. The fastest ten drivers in the first session will make up the first ten places on the grid, but in reverse qualification order. The second session will be the same, but for race two.

Success Ballast

The podium finishers in each race will be subject to the application of success ballast as follows:

1st: 30 kg 2nd: 20 kg 3rd: 10 kg

Ballast will be applied up to a maximum of 70 kg. 10 kg will be removed each time a truck finishes outside of the top three.

Sprint/Feature Races

Two events will host a Sprint/Feature race format; one at Rockingham and one at a road course

The series will continue to operate two championships: the Oval Championship and the Overall Championship

Main article: 2008 Pickup Truck Racing season
Main article: 2007 Pickup Truck Racing season

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
2019 George Turricki George Turricki Rich Ayling
2018 Scott Bourne Paul Tompkins Dale Gent
2017 Scott Bourne
2016 Freddie Lee
2015 Michael Smith
2014 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
  1. "What are Pickups? : History". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  2. "No Entry Fees for 2008". Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  3. "2007 Pickup Truck Racing Championship : Sporting, Technical & Commercial Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2007.
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