The biggest things to hit Brands

Truck racing was once described as being “like driving a block of flats from the sixth floor”. If you think that sounds intimidating, try watching 20 of these machines hammer through Paddock Hill Bend. It sticks in the mind, to put it mildly…

The Delphi British Truck Championship provides some of the most entertaining and downright scary racing in the UK, and the 2011 season starts on March 26/27 with two rounds at Brands Hatch.

The sport began in Europe over two decades ago and now has a large following. It’s not hard to see why: each truck weighs a minimum of 5500kg, has a 12-litre diesel engine pouring out over 900bhp and an eye-watering 3000Nm of torque, and accelerates faster than a Porsche 911 to 100mph. The trucks are limited to that speed, but they hit it with ease before the pitwall starts at Brands.

It’s billed as a non-contact sport because of the sheer momentum the trucks build up. But as you can imagine with a heady mix of up to 20 trucks on track at once and a group of drivers who want to win at all costs, it doesn’t always come across as ‘non-contact’. In fact, some of the incidents during races make the BTCC’s stars look like the cast of Pride and Prejudice out for a Sunday picnic.

Stuart Oliver has been the man to beat over the past decade, winning 10 British titles and one European crown, and he shows no signs of letting up. Will he dominate again? Get yourself to Brands Hatch to find out. You’ll be blown away.

Delphi British Truck tickets cost from £17 for adults with free entry for children under 13. For details call 0843 453 90W or visit www.brandshatch.cduk