Biggest truck GP
Page 9
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• The biggest truck grand prix ever staged in Britain is expected to attract more than 50,000 spectators to Silverstone this weekend.
Around 70% of the 80 trucks competing in the grand prix will be British entries, but the organisers say there will be a strong challenge this year from Italian drivers.
Italian Challenge
Guadenzio Mantova, who was disqualified from last year's grand prix, returns in his orange Scania 142, pledging to make up for that disappointment.
His countryman Dhullio Ghislotti, who won the firstever British Truck Grand Prix at Castle Donnington in 1984, will be aiming for similar success at Silverstone.
Driver's championship leader Rod Chapman is expected to face stiff competition in the major race of the weekend from Richard Walker, who powered his Leyland T45 to victory at last month's truck grand prix at Germany's Nurburgring circuit (CM, July 26).
Chapman currently leads Class 1, the racing category for trucks of up to 223KW (299hp), while Walker leads Class 2 for trucks of between 224KW (300hp) and 268KW (360hp). In the top power Class 3 category for trucks of 269KW (361hp) to 336KW (450hp). Curt Guransson and Rolf Bjork from Sweden are scrapping for pole position.
Rally Ace
Among the celebrities taking in this year's grand prix will be Tony Pond, making his truck racing debut after a long and highly successful career in motor rallying. Pond will be driving a Leyland Roadtrain for Richard Walker's team as will Peter Duncan, the BBC Blue Peter presenter, whose antics will feature in a forthcoming programme, "Duncan Dares". The weekend of racing is sponsored by Multipart.
Former world motorcycling champion Barry Sheene will be driving his Daf 2800 at Silverstone, the track where he made his truck racing debut Last year.
Steve Parrish, also better known for his motorcyling ex
ploits, will be driving the Mitchell Cotts Mercedes 1633S — the top-of-the-range Mercedes two axle tractor which is powered by a 14.6 litre V8 diesel engine, producing 243KW (325hp).
Wheelies
One driver who plans to travel around on two wheels at this weekend's event is Steve Murty, known to CM readers for his exploits in his jetpowered truck at Commercial Motor Trucldest earlier in the year. This weekend he plans to establish a new world record by "wheelying" a Leyland Roadtrain for up to 400m.
The truck — called "Skytrain" — has been prepared by Multipart with a ZF automatic gearbox and special weights on the back axles_ Needless to say Murty will not be entering Skytrain in any of the racing events.
Monster Transit
Another non-racing exhibit will be Mike Ralph's "Monster Truck" — a brand new Ford Transit fitted with huge wheels and tyres. It will make its first public appearance at Silverstone, squashing cars in a manner made familiar by Big Foot at Truckfest in May. There will also be a number of support events at the Grand Prix, including a tractor pulling contest, a series of lawnmower races, an aerial ballet featuring powered gliders, and a street band competition involving more than 100 bands.