%CODE1%
We know the United Kingdom to be a source of great touring car racing, so it’s no surprise that lorry drivers would provide equally incredible track footage. Around a stereotypically dreary, wet, and cloudy track we are treated to a look into the world of European truck racing. Now we’re not talking hauling loads, drag racing, or hill climb, we are talking true road-racing. These drivers pilot their purpose built machines around the track with the same grace and precision of a low-slung sports-car.
The field of vehicles varies greatly, features mostly European cab-over-engine truck like Scania, and MAN, but it appears there are a few front engine American entries on the track. These trucks clearly have full tubular cages, improved steering geometry, and suspension to handle a road course the way they do. Impressively almost no body roll is evident in these high-riding commercial vehicles.
To quote one of the drivers “I mean this truck weighs 6,200 kilos, and when you’ve got it 80 mph in a four-wheel drift sideways, there’s nothing, nothing, better.” To see these drivers rotate around corners, crossed-up on the steering, it is an impressive sight.
The driving in the British Truck Racing Championships is a take no prisoners attitude toward track manners. Bump-drafting, and putting each other off track in the pursuit of a position appears to be all part of the race.
This clip is only a preview for a film by Tim Higham, entitled Truck Racer. This sort of racing brings a whole different perspective to diesel performance. These are some pits we’d like to walk through and speak with the competitors who have devoted their racing passion to trucks.
You might also like
Good Idea? Installing ARP Head Studs One At A Time On A 7.3-Liter Power Stroke
Cody Bulifant demonstrates the one-at-a-time method for installing ARP Head Studs on a 7.3-liter Power Stroke.
