NEW PLANS FOR PICKUP TRUCKS WITH NIGHT RACE AND PIT STOPS
One-off dash for the cash race part of new format
The Pickup Truck Racing Championship will feature night racing, pitstops and a ‘dash for cash’ race in 2018.
The champion of the series will come from the road course events, while a separate Rockingham champion will be crowned for the three oval meetings. All will run in the dark for the first time in 2018.
Qualifying for the night races in the championship will take place on Saturday afternoon at the normal British Automobile Racing Club meetings, with racing due to finish at around 2130hrs.
After the Grand Final, the last event of the Rockingham Championship is set for a £3000 prize pot. The additional dash for cash race – which will be worth around £1000 – will run with a mandatory pitstop and prizes for drivers across the field.
Rockingham has been given greater flexibility by Corby Council for 2018 and will run a 24 Hour race, as well as the night time Pickup races.
“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for some time but we’ve never been able to overcome Corby Council,” said Sonny Howard of the Pickup Truck Championship. “They’ve relented. Peter [Hardman], the boss at Rockingham, he wanted to do something different as well.”
Only three pitcrew members will be allowed to work on the car, and the championship will deduct a lap for any loose wheel nuts or missing wheel nuts on the car.
Former BTCC racer and Pickup frontrunner Lea Wood said of the night racing: “I think it’s a good idea and it will be really good. What Sonny has put together for the championship next year, of all the championships I’ve been involved in, I’ve never seen anyone put as much effort in as him.
“He’s so passionate about it and there’s more exciting things like the pitstop. I think it’s set to be a really good year.”
Newly-crowned 2017 Pickup champion Scott Bourne added: “I think it’s going to be one of the best things they’ve done.
“It will be nice for the public to come and watch racing under the lights. I think it will be good for the championship, something different.”