Pictures: Mohd. Nasir
The rain-hit Season II T1
Prima Truck Racing Championship saw Stuart Oliver of Team Castrol Vecton
winning the race once again at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida
on March 15, 2015. Starting second on the grid in Super Qualifying, he went on
to clinch the title for the second time, in the 16-lap final race , helping Team
Castrol Vecton grab the Team Title.
Steve Thomas of Team Allied
Partners, who qualified fastest the previous day, was the first runner-up, with
Steven Powell of Team Tata Technologies clinching the second runner-up spot.
Compared to last year, the
race this time had got better in terms
of speed and engine power. This proved to be a treat for the 45,000 spectators
gathered at the F1 track to witness the truck race. Edge-of-the-seat action for
overtaking and high speed corners had the audience roaring with each twist and
turn. The championship points were granted to the winning driver, and combined
team driver points determined the winning team.
Stuart Oliver, T1 Prima Truck
Racing Champion 2015 said “It was an amazing experience. I think one thing I
want to say is a big huge thank you to all the fans coming out all this way,
all the flags, all the caps, everything, it made such a difference this
weekend. I really, really do appreciate it.”
“The Tata Prima race trucks
were fantastic. It's been an amazing championship, with so much improvement to
the truck that it just goes to show the capability of the vehicle and how the
sport can be scaled up, with more power and speed, a delight for every
motorsports fanatic. I would like to thank Tata Motors for having all of us
over and for having done an incredible job with the Tata Prima.”
Commenting on the successful
weekend, Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director - Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors
said, “We have had a tremendous day here for the truck racing with a really
pumped-up atmosphere and we have been delighted by the response received today.
The Tata Prima race trucks proved their racing prowess and build quality in
this high intensity race. We are extremely delighted with the performance of T1
teams and drivers who have been supportive throughout the event. We would like
to congratulate the winning team, sponsors and all participants for making this
first of its kind, debut racing event, a historic day and all of the audience
for a wonderfully electric atmosphere.”
Each of these 12-modified Tata
Prima race trucks of 370 horsepower were built for the purpose, and driven by
experienced international truck racing drivers, from the acclaimed British
& European Truck Racing championships. The Tata Prima race trucks for
Season II boasted 10pc more speed (upto 130 km/hr), a new aerodynamic design,
with 10pc increased acceleration and 10pc weight reduction, over Season I of
the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship.
Oly Janes, Mat Summerfield,
Simon Reid, David Jenkins, Steven Powell, Richard Collett, Mathew Summerfield,
David Jenkins, Paul Alan McCumisky, Oly Janes, Graham Powell, Ben Horne and
Chris Levett were the other top British truck racing drivers, who participated
in Season II of the race.
The T1 Prima Truck Racing
Championship was organised by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC) and was conducted
under the aegis of FIA & FMSCI.
For Season II WABCO, JK Tyres,
Cummins, Castrol and Tata Technologies were the main sponsors, Setco Automotive
and Tata Motors Finance, were sponsors of Team Allied Partners.