RIVETT BREAKS RECORD AT BRITISH TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE
04 Nov 2024
NAPA Racing UK brought the curtain down on the 2024 British Truck Racing Championship season in fine style at Brands Hatch, with pole position and four wins from five amongst the Division 2 field.
Driver Paul Rivett had kicked off his campaign at the same circuit at the start in year with an astonishing on-track performance that saw him score the Division 2 win in each of the five races and also become the first driver from the ‘second tier’ of the series to score an overall win since the two classes were combined into one field.
Whilst unfortunate issues outside his control meant Paul was no longer in contention to defend his title on his return to the Kent circuit, confidence was high in the NAPA Racing camp, with a new engine having been fitted to the MAN TGX to replace the unit that failed at Snetterton – and which prevented him from making the trip to Le Mans.
It was clear to see in qualifying that the new engine was working well as Paul powered his truck to Division 2 pole by more than a second in tricky damp conditions, setting the sixth fastest time overall ahead of a number of Division 1 machines.
Things didn’t go to plan for Paul on the opening lap of race one when Paul was forced off track at Surtees and took a trip across the grass, dropping him down to the back of the field.
However, Paul once again showed his pace from that point on as he charged back through the field in fine style to take the flag second in class, just two-tenths of a second behind Division 2 winner Adam Bint.
Paul would again start the second race of the weekend from sixth overall at the head of the Division 2 pack and he duly converted his strong qualifying position into the class victory, coming home more than twelve seconds clear of Bint to add to his win tally.
The first of Sunday’s reverse grid races saw Bint on overall pole with Paul back in ninth spot, but by lap three, the pair were together and battling for the class win.
Although a number of Division 1 trucks got briefly involved in the fight, Paul was able to make his move late on going into Paddock Hill Bend to move ahead of Bint’s Volvo and take a second win of the weekend.
Race four would be restarted after a lap one incident amongst the Division 1 runners but once it got underway, Paul was in a class of his own as he took the class win once again having battled throughout with the Division 1 truck of Neil Yates.
Paul then wrapped up the weekend with another dominant class win in the final race, crossing the line in an impressive sixth overall.
END OF SEASON STANDINGS
Having missed pretty much all of Snetterton and the subsequent round at Le Mans, Rivett’s return to the fray and to the winners’ circle saw him rewarded with third place in the standings after he was able to overhaul Archie Handy.
Paul leaves Brands Hatch with an astonishing record in 2024 of nine wins and nine fastest laps from ten races, as well as both two class pole positions at his home circuit.
TAKE A LOOK BACK
View the full classification of results from all British Truck Racing Championship sessions at Brands Hatch.
All fives races from the final event of the season are available to view on the British Truck Racing Championship YouTube channel.
The British Truck Racing Championship came to a close with the traditional Brands Hatch fireworks displayed which lit up the sky.
______________________________________________
Follow @NAPARacingUK on social media to never miss an update!
________________________________________________________________