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Ryan Smith wins sixth successive Truck Racing Championship title at Brands Hatch

KentOnline reporter
multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk
05:00, 12 November 2021  | Updated: 10:20, 12 November 2021

By Simon Hildrew

A sell-out crowd at Brands Hatch on Sunday witnessed an action-packed day with Ryan Smith claiming his sixth consecutive Truck Racing Championship title.

Going into the weekend, just five points separated the top three drivers in Division 1, with former champion David Jenkins holding a small advantage over Martin Gibson and Smith, with five races to play for.

Ryan Smith won four out of five Truck races to take the title at Brands Hatch. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936553)
Ryan Smith won four out of five Truck races to take the title at Brands Hatch. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936553)
Steven Powell, from Wrotham Heath, claimed two first places in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936762)
Steven Powell, from Wrotham Heath, claimed two first places in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936762)

Smith stormed to four victories with Jenkins scoring the other and the title going down to the wire in the final encounter, with Smith winning by just nine points.

In the Division 2 category, Kent drivers fared well in the final standings. Last year's champion, Steven Powell, from Wrotham Heath, claimed two wins and second place overall.

Simon Cole (41), from Dartford, who scored a best of two third places in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship races comes under attack from Steven Powell. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936760)
Simon Cole (41), from Dartford, who scored a best of two third places in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship races comes under attack from Steven Powell. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936760)
Gravesend's Tony Smith finished a best of third place in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936759)
Gravesend's Tony Smith finished a best of third place in Division 2 of the British Truck Racing Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936759)

Dartford's Simon Cole managed a best of two third places and seventh in the championship. Father and son team, Tony and Bradley Smith, from Gravesend, have been competing in both divisions this season, with dad Tony claiming 12th spot in both and Bradley ending up sixth in Division 2. Bradley is now looking to move up to the top division full-time for 2022.

Bradley Smith, from Gravesend, finished a best of fourth in Division 1 of the British Truck Racing Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936757)
Bradley Smith, from Gravesend, finished a best of fourth in Division 1 of the British Truck Racing Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936757)
Maidstone's Loui Hounsell was 10th and 14th in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races, in his Citroen Saxo VTR. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936756)
Maidstone's Loui Hounsell was 10th and 14th in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races, in his Citroen Saxo VTR. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936756)

The Junior Saloon Car Championship provided some frantic and close racing, with Maidstone teenager Loui Hounsell performing well all year. He concluded his fine season with the runner-up spot in the Rookie class and seventh overall in his Citroen Saxo VTR.

Nathan Dew, from Herne Bay, finished ninth in the Pickup Truck racing championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936767)
Nathan Dew, from Herne Bay, finished ninth in the Pickup Truck racing championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936767)
Paddock Wood's Danny Hunn (39) finished eighth in the Pickup Truck racing championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936765)
Paddock Wood's Danny Hunn (39) finished eighth in the Pickup Truck racing championship. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936765)

In the closely fought Pickup Truck Racing championship, Herne Bay racers Reece Jones and Nathan Dew finished fifth and ninth in the final standings after some excellent results this year. Paddock Wood's Danny Hunn claimed eighth place.

Scott Kirwan, from Herne Bay, finished first and 24th in the Classic Touring Cars, Allcomers Race, in his Renault Clio 2000. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936748)
Scott Kirwan, from Herne Bay, finished first and 24th in the Classic Touring Cars, Allcomers Race, in his Renault Clio 2000. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936748)
Guy Martin was filming for a new TV show and took part in the Classic Touring Cars, allcomers race, in this 1960s Trabant 600RS. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936741)
Guy Martin was filming for a new TV show and took part in the Classic Touring Cars, allcomers race, in this 1960s Trabant 600RS. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936741)

The two Classic Touring Cars, Allcomers races, attracted a fine and varied grid of saloon cars from over four decades. Most successful of the Kent drivers was Herne Bay's Scott Kirwan, who bagged victory in race one in his Renault Clio 2000.

Former motorcycle racer and TV star Guy Martin also competed in the first race, driving a 1960s Trabant 600RS but retired with mechanical problems on the final lap.

Margate's Harvey Dent was 12th and 14th in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936754)
Margate's Harvey Dent was 12th and 14th in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936754)
Jacob Baldry, from Greenhithe, finished 19th in both races in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936755)
Jacob Baldry, from Greenhithe, finished 19th in both races in the Junior Saloon Car Championship races. Picture: Simon Hildrew (52936755)

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