Stuart Oliver proved unbeatable during the second day of racing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain – winning both the Qualifying and Cup races to retain his lead in the European Truck Racing Cup standings.
The British driver had been very quick throughout practice the previous day, clocking a lap time of 1m.37.648s – bettered only by Czech MAN driver Adam Lacko. But Oliver was relegated back to 22nd place on the starting grid after collecting a speeding penalty.
Despite this major handicap the Castrol MAN made impressive progress in the Saturday Qualifying race to finish an impressive sixth. Teenage sensation Lacko took the win followed home by Castrol-backed Egon Allgauer (MAN) with reigning champion Lutz Bernau down in fourth.
The Saturday Cup race brought further success for Lacko – holding off Allgauer to win again with Rodrigues third. Oliver was again the driver to watch setting the fastest lap as he moved up to finish fourth. Meanwhile, Castrol-sponsored Bernau lost precious ground after being spun off. He finally finished out of the points in 11th.
Oliver bettered his practice time on Sunday claiming pole with a lap of 1m.37.639s, just 0.068secs quicker than Allgauer while Bernau was third.
The Sunday Qualifying race saw Oliver at the head of the pack, setting a new lap record of 1m.36.491s – with Bernau second. Lacko made an early move to get in front of Allgauer. Bernau shadowed the Castrol MAN throughout the 10 lap race – finally crossing the finishing line just 0.48s adrift of victorious Oliver. Mid-race Allgauer regained third from Lacko with Vincent Crozier (Renault) fifth, just 0.49s down on Lacko.
For the 32,000-strong crowd the Sunday Cup race certainly produced some fireworks; Oliver headed the field into turn one while behind him Bernau, Allgauer and Lacko were fiercely disputing second place. Lacko, striking a corner tyre marker dropped back to fifth behind Crozier.
Oliver again lowered the lap record to 1m.36.102s (average speed 114.066 km/h) as he held off Allgauer’s challenge. The Austrian responded later in the race, but at the flag Oliver held a comfortable advantage of 1.721s to collect the 20 points awarded for first place. Bernau took the final podium spot, 2.5s behind.
The next race is at Misano, Italy – May 15/16
:: Pembrey - Wins... Business as usual :: It was ‘business as usual’ for Stuart Oliver at Pembrey last weekend as the MAN driver claimed another two comfortable victories in Class “A” of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship.
:: THE WINNING GOES ON AT THRUXTON :: Last weekend Team Oliver Racing was in action at the high speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.
:: Late Entry to 2010 FIA European Truck Race Championship :: 'astonished at the unsporting actions of a fellow British team entered European Championship as well as the narrow minded, short sighted actions of the FIA truck racing Stewards.
:: Oliver signs off with second Truck Superprix victory :: Stuart Oliver signed off a successful 2009 British Truck Racing Association Championship campaign by clinching his second victory of the weekend at Brands Hatch today (Sunday).
:: OLIVER CLINCHES CROWN WITH THREE WINS :: The second visit of the season to Pembrey produced the usual frantic first-turn action that the Welsh circuit has become renowned for – with the Class ‘A’ races generating some particularly spectacular action.
:: Oliver Wins at Thruxton :: The latest rounds of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship took place at a sunny and warm Thruxton circuit last weekend (August 15/16) – and saw a double win for Stuart Oliver
:: Team Oliver in China :: British Truck Racing drivers Stuart Oliver, Ben Horne and Dave Ball joined Swedish driver Mikael Johansson and Russian Mikhail Konovalov at the finals of the China Truck Racing Championships
:: Most - Czech Republic :: Sunday’s race ended in mechanical failure for Stuart when after a collision he was forced to retire.
:: Race Winning Form at Donington :: Stuart Oliver strengthened his position in the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship to 8 points with two clear wins at Donington Park on 27th July.
:: European Championship - Albacete, Spain :: An enthusiastic Spanish crowd of 20,000, saw Spanish driver Antonio Albacete take his MAN to victory on Sunday (winning both the Qualifying and Championship races).
:: Stuart to drive BTCC :: In what can only be described as the best thing that has happened to BTC Racing in its short history, Stuart Oliver – the 2007 Delphi British Truck Racing Champion – has signed to drive for BTC Racing,
:: Stuart does it for a seventh time!!! :: 2007 Champion Stuart Oliver cemented his title with a dominant victory in the second Class A race of the British Truck Racing Championship at Brands Hatch.
:: Stuart Oliver wins International Truck Challange :: Torrential rain and floods hit the South of England as teams made their way to the Thruxton rounds of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship.
:: Round 2, Zolder, Belgium :: Stuart Oliver held his eighth place position after the second round of the 2007 European Championship held at the Zolder circuit in Belgium.
:: British Championship Pembrey :: Stuart Oliver – Battles to gain a First Place Finish – Just missed another due to a ‘Racing Incident’
:: Barcelona 2007 :: Team Oliver returned to European racing with good finishes
:: MAN TG-A Complete Outfit FOR SALE! :: Team Oliver will be enhancing the team presence in both the British and European Championships for 2007.
:: Brands Hatch 2006 :: True to expectations, a crowd of thousands filled every corner of the prestigious Brands Hatch circuit over the weekend
:: Team Oliver win win win :: Champion Stuart Oliver (MAN) came back into top form with straight wins in all races and fastest laps to add to his points
:: Brands Hatch – Press Preview By JONATHAN REEVES :: Steve Horne, Stuart Oliver and David Ball had a busy day at Brands Hatch – assisting with a Press ‘preview’ for the forthcoming Truck Superprix, the final event of the 2006 season on November 4/5.
:: Team Oliver - Fastest Drag Race Truck! :: Recently, twelve of the BTRA teams, including Team Oliver, had a weekend away together at the Santa Pod Raceway.
:: Thruxton August 2006 :: Over the weekend of August 5th/6th Team Oliver was at the Thruxton circuit to participate in a weekend of truck racing events, including rounds 6 and 7 of the British Championship
:: Nurburgring - Truck Grand Prix 2006 :: Since Stuart Oliver aired the Team Oliver MAN TGA race truck at the Pembrey circuit in Wales over the Easter weekend, the vehicle has undergone extensive work to bring it back up to competitive racing standards.
:: Pembrey April 2006 :: Easter weekend saw the return of Stuart Oliver to the Truck Racing circuit when he took to the track for the first rounds of the British Championship
:: Stuart Oliver extended his lead.... :: Stuart Oliver extended his lead in the FIA European Truck Racing Cup dominating the first day of action at Alastaro in Finland while Sunday’s races brought success for Jochen Hahn.