March 2007 - Delphi Diesel Aftermarket has signed a deal to become the title sponsor for the 2007 Delphi British Truck Racing Championship which commences on 14th April at Pembrey circuit in south Wales and concludes on 4th November at Brands Hatch.
The programme emphasises Delphi’s supply of OE diesel systems to the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers including Renault, Volvo and DAF.
The deal will see Delphi branding featured on all 24 trucks competing in the series, extensive branding in the paddock areas, a range of hospitality packages and most importantly, will strengthen the relationship between Delphi and the teams, many of which already use Delphi’s range of diesel products.
Delphi offers a range of products and services for commercial vehicles including commercial vehicle fuel treatment, heavy duty diagnostic equipment and fuel system components.
“The sponsorship of this series is a great strategic fit for Delphi,” says Dave Wadsworth, UK marketing manager, Delphi Diesel Aftermarket. “Not only will we benefit from high profile branding and the association with the championship which will reinforce our reputation for diesel expertise, but we will also be able to work closely with the teams, providing them with a wide range of diesel system components and diagnostic tools to help them achieve maximum performance levels.”
The championship includes 12 rounds which run throughout the year at various circuits around the UK including Pembrey, Thruxton and Brands Hatch. It also includes two rounds which will be held at the Nurburgring in Germany, alongside rounds of the FIA European Truck Racing series which attracts more than 180,000 spectators over the weekend.
The popularity of truck racing in the UK has increased significantly in recent years. Championship organisers expect more than 250,000 spectators in total to attend the races along with television coverage of selected rounds on Eurosport.
“With trucks weighing 6 tonnes each, the races are set to be exciting for both competitors and spectators,” comments Wadsworth. “Many of the trucks feature 12 litre, six cylinder turbocharged engines, which produce more than 1,000 bhp and can propel them 0-60mph faster than a Porsche 911. Although the trucks are restricted to 100mph, it is clear to see why so many people love watching this type of racing.”
As well as high spectator numbers, the championship organisers have also reported strong demand for grid places. The British Truck Racing Association anticipate more than 24 teams will compete in the 2007 Championship.
“It promises to be an exciting year for truck racing in the UK with the highest number of entries in many years,” says Stuart Oliver, chairman of the British Truck Racing Association. “Truck racing demands high levels of reliability and performance. The Association is delighted with the support from Delphi who are well recognised at the forefront of automotive technology.”
The full calendar of races for the 2007 Delphi British Truck Racing championship is as follows:
14th / 15th April – Pembrey, rounds 1, 2
9th / 10th June – Pembrey, rounds 3, 4
7th / 8th July – Nurburgring, Germany, rounds 5, 6
21st / 22nd July – Thruxton, rounds 7, 8
20th / 21st October – Pembrey, rounds 9, 10
3rd / 4th November – Brands Hatch, rounds 11, 12