Round 20 & 21 - Pembrey

Three winners and a first circuit podium for Antony Hawkins at Pembrey

Team Rockingham’s Antony Hawkins recorded his first circuit podium with a second place at Pembrey on Sunday as three different drivers took the spoils in each of the races.

For the second time this season, the Pickup Truck Racing Championship races were held as two heats and a grand final, with the grid for the final race taken from the points amassed in the heats and then the top ten reversed.

Sunday morning’s first race saw Dave Briggs on pole and he was able to take the lead initially, but this was short lived as Pete Stevens passed the #2 truck within a couple of corners ahead of Simon Carr and Martin Heath. Dave was then forced into the pits on lap three with an electrical problem leaving him rejoining the track a lap down.

Gavin Seager was ready to join the top three party having made up eight places by lap five before also passing Martin on lap five, but the gap was too big to catch Simon in the #15. Gavin’s chase was all to no avail however as he was forced to retire on lap 12 with an engine problem, which allowed Steve Dance to take third place. Greg Wood was also to retire as he hit the tyre wall on the final lap. But Rockingham Champion Pete Steven’s solid drive was good enough to clinch his first victory of the season ahead of Simon Carr and Steve Dance.

Sunday lunchtime’s second heat saw an ailing Phil White on pole and now dosed up on Lemsip he was able to battle a little harder for position to take the early lead from Steve Dance in the Cartoon Network liveried truck and Michael Smith in the #93.

Lap eight saw a multi truck incident at the hairpin, which left Nic Grindrod’s truck facing the wrong way and looking battered. The damage forced the Selly Oak based driver to retire with both Mark Jones, Mike Doble and Lee Rogers’ races going the same way.

With Steve Dance having moved into the lead on lap ten, Damien Carr slotted into second just ahead of heat one winner Pete Stevens. Pete did have a late surge for second place, but Damien managed to get the advantage.

There was a quick turn around for the teams ahead of the grand final with damage and mechanical repairs required for several trucks. Dave Briggs was on pole for the second time of the day ahead of Martin Heath and Michael Smith. Paul Saunders had a lucky escape on the first lap as he was sent spinning towards the tyre wall, but he managed to force his truck into first gear and scrub off enough speed to control the spin and get back into the race. Lee Rogers’ frantic efforts to get out for race two were for nothing with an exhaust problem forcing him to pull over on lap two.

Dave Briggs valiant efforts to hold the lead put him under pressure and on lap five he ran wide to open the door and let Michael, Damien Carr and Antony Hawkins past. Dave then slowed and was forced to pull into the pits at the end of the lap.

On lap six Antony managed to get the better of Damien to move into second place and then began to pressurise the #93 truck’s lead. But Damien was not ready to give up on the runner-up spot and on the final lap went for a final lunge. The result was Antony just managing to keep control of his sideways Team Rockingham truck with the Clerk of the Course handing Damien a 25 second penalty which sent him down to 13th place, handing Antony the second place and promoting Steve Dance on to the final podium spot. With the door-to-door tangling going on behind him, Michael had done enough to secure his third victory of the season.