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Pembrey's autumn festival will give something to cheer about
publication date: Oct 7, 2011
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author/source: Peter Hughes & Robin Roberts
There will be a rumble on the asphalt this weekend when Pembrey Circuit hosts the penultimate round of the 2011 Delphi
British truck racing championship, the Pembrey Autumn Truck Racing Festival.
The series features production based tractor units
similar in appearance to those to be seen hauling freight around the roads of
Wales and beyond but beneath the skin, the differences are substantial, with
the race machines' producing in excess of 1000 horsepower, enabling them to
accelerate to 60mph quicker than a Porsche 911. Their stopping power isn't too
shabby either; thanks to water-cooled disc brakes and six, super-sticky racing
tyres.
| In the early days of the formula the main means of increasing engine
performance was to tune the fuel pump and increase airflow by installing an
enormous turbocharger, or two. Nowadays the modern diesel engines are all
electronically programmed, so the help of a factory trained engine technician
with a lap-top computer to programme the engine management system is essential
in order to run at the front.
Vast increases in power and beefed-up brakes help
the Racetrucks to perform in a straight line, but what about getting around the
corners?
The engine is significantly improved for competition use, but the
12-litre lump also plays a major role in improving the Racetruck's handling and
road-holding.
All the front-running teams take advantage of a
‘loophole' in the regulations that allows them to move the engine position, so
the traditionally very front-heavy truck ends up with a virtually mid-engined
layout.
Of course, when on a track barely wide enough to place two of these
vehicles side-by-side, the task of overtaking becomes pretty tough, especially
when the entire pack is equipped with the same potent machines and the same
desire to defend their position.
Officially, Truck Racing is a non-contact formula,
but the truth is that bumps, scrapes and exchanges of paintwork are a regular
part of the action and just as in Touring Car racing it's this physical aspect
of the sport that helps to attract enormous audiences.
| | | | Alex tests in USA for feeder series to national championship | |  | | Anglesey born racing
driver, Alex Jones from Valley, returned last week from America where he has
been testing with Sam Schmidt Motorsport in an Indy Lights car and which is the
feeder series to Indy Car - the equivalent series in the US to Formula 1 in
Europe.
Earlier this year
Alex (above) was let down at the 11th hour by his sponsor pulling out of
the Italian Formula 3 series through financial difficulties.
Unable to
source a replacement budget in time for the start of the 2011 season he has
been unable to race so far this year.
Despite not having
driven a racing car since December of last year Alex showed what he is capable
of over two days of testing with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
During the first day
at Putnam Park race track, just outside Indianapolis, Alex adapted to the 420
horsepower Indy Lights car remarkably quickly and was lapping at a good pace
within the first 20 laps. Showing little signs of rust Alex then went on to set
some impressive lap times later in the day that compared very favourably to the
times of the current Sam Schmidt Team drivers at the track earlier this year.
"This is by far the fastest and most powerful car I have driven - but I
was really pleased with the way I managed to adapt to the car.... for sure I
still have a lot of work to do but for a first outing I am very satisfied"
commented Alex after the test.
Alex returns to the
UK to work alongside his management team to build on the testing success and
secure a full time drive in the Indy Lights series for 2012. | The Championship is currently led by Welsh exile
David Jenkins and he would love nothing more than to sew up the title on "home"
ground but he will face stiff opposition, not least from multiple champion
Richard Collett while Championship rookie Luke Taylor will also be eyeing up a
win.
The weekend's race programme also includes an
exciting mix of car action including the Welsh Sports and Saloon Car
Championship and the Legends race series for 5/8 replicas of 1930s American
coupes, The MR2 Challenge is a one make series for the popular Japanese sports
cars while the fastest action of the weekend is likely to be in the BARC
Clubmans Cup for front engined sports racing cars. | | | | Visitors to Wales Rally GB are now able to purchase
a single ticket that gives access to both runs of the legendary Great Orme
Stage on Thursday 10 November 2011.
Fans will be treated to a true test of driver skill
as competitors navigate the 3.3 miles of tight, twisting, tarmac road which
make up The Great Orme Toll Road, last used on the Lombard RAC Rally in 1981.
Drivers will face the challenge of 3" high kerbs on
the seaward side of the road followed by a small wall adjacent to a vertical
drop to the sea, providing a thrilling spectacle for rally fans and families
alike.
Providing a full day of entertainment, there will
be catering, commentary, merchandise and a big screen available to spectators
on the Great Orme. Entertainment in advance of the WRC stage will include a
thrilling display of driving skill from historic rally group Slowly Sideways.
The Start for Wales Rally GB 2011 will take place
on Mostyn Street in Llandudno town centre at 2.30pm, with the first cars
arriving on the Great Orme from 2.38pm. The second stage will run from 2.55pm,
with the last cars running through the stage by 4.30pm, before heading to
Clocaenog for the final competitive stage of the first day.
The official Opening Ceremony will take place later
the same evening at Conwy Quay, in front of Conwy Castle. Free,
family-friendly, medieval-themed entertainments will be taking place from 4pm
onwards, with fireworks over the castle heralding the arrival of the first cars
shortly before 6pm.
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