PAUL RIVETT’S DONINGTON DOMINANCE
16 Aug 2023
Convoy in the Park returned to Donington for another super-sized showcase of truck racing. The fully loaded event featured massive display areas with hundreds of show trucks, combining with headline racing from the 2023 British Truck Racing Championship as it reached its midpoint of the season.
Amidst the show truck displays and five-tonne beasts producing 1,000 horsepower, NAPA Racing UK’s truck driver, Paul Rivett, engraved a defining chapter in his BTRC career, propelling himself decisively into the title contention with a weekend performance that stands as one of his strongest yet.
QUALIFYING AND RACE 1
As the fourth qualifying session of the season got underway, Paul Rivett quickly stormed to pole position. In Race 1, however, misfortune struck as the blue and yellow machine suffered a turbo boost pipe failure, prompting an early pit stop. But impressive work by the NAPA Truck mechanics meant Rivett re-entered the race, albeit two laps behind. Remarkably, he managed to clinch the fastest lap despite the setback, showcasing his resilience and team’s dedication.
RACE 2
Taking off from pole position, Rivett executed a great getaway, however an unfortunate collision in the first corner resulted in damage to both a wheel and the water tank, leading to a critical loss of brake-cooling water. Undiscouraged, Rivett showcased his incredible driving skills, pushing through the setback and managing to extend his lead. His determination paid off, as he finished the race a remarkable seven seconds ahead of Craig Evans, solidifying his position at the front of the pack.
RACE 3
Sunday’s inaugural race of the day, Race 3, was met with drizzly conditions, turning the track into a slippery challenge. Despite the adverse weather, the excitement remained high as Rivett lined up on the front row once again.
As the race begun, Rivett maintained his lead into the first corner and continued to pull a gap to behind. Impressively, Rivett managed to stay on par with the faster Division 1 trucks, defying expectations. As the race progressed, the weather deteriorated, adding an extra layer of complexity to the already demanding race. But this didn’t faze Rivett as he took the chequered flag to win the first race of the day.
RACE 4
Lining up in fourth place, Rivett faced an eventful start. A red flag was raised on the first lap due to a big collision, temporarily halting the race. When proceedings resumed, Rivett exhibited his skill by making a remarkable move, advancing to the third spot. His determination didn’t stop there, as he continued his ascent, eventually claiming second place. A stroke of fortune led him to inherit the lead and resulting in a well-deserved victory.
RACE 5
In the final race of the day, Rivett started in sixth place. As the lights went green, he quickly navigated his way through the field, rapidly ascending into third. A pivotal moment came when he executed a masterful manoeuvre on the inside of Craig Evans, propelling himself into a well-deserved second place. As the race clock ticked down with only 5 minutes remaining, Rivett’s brilliance shone once again as he orchestrated a stellar move to seize the lead. This triumph not only secured a remarkable hat trick of wins for the day, but also established his dominance with 4 victories out of 5 races over the weekend.
THE TEAM
PAUL RIVETT – NAPA RACING UK, NO.22
“It couldn’t have gone much better at Convoy in the Park with four wins. We had great pace in both the wet and dry in the NAPA truck. I’m still on Cloud Nine and might be here for a little while yet.”
The British Truck Racing Championship is next in action on September 16/17 at Snetterton.
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MEDIA RELATIONS
REBECCA TARLING
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