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Summerfield wins 2nd Place in the British Truck Racing Association Championship 2009

BTRC: Bosses eye Croft round for 2010

The British Truck Racing Championship has its sights set on adding Croft to its 2010 calendar after series bosses approved a demonstration run to be held there later this year.

2009 sees the 25th anniversary of the championship. As part of its TruckFest North East celebrations, five trucks will run at the Yorkshire venue on May 30/31 in the hope of paving the way for a full blooded championship round the following year.

Croft’s future is still clouded in uncertainty after local residents won a court action prohibiting its motorsport activities. But, says BTRA vice-chairman Stuart Oliver, such a ruling could play into the
championship’s hands.

“The track is not licensed yet as fully fledged truck racing venue and this is a step towards gaining that approval,” he said. “Truck racing is a viable option for Croft because restricted diesel engines are not as loud as a motorbike, a racing car or even a kart.”

25th anniversary celebrations are also scheduled for the Donington Park round on August 9
where organisers are hoping to bring together drivers who were present for the first ever
BTRA event held there in 1984.

Summerfield shows the fellow drifters how its done

Down at Snetterton Circut on the Sunday 11th October 2009, Mat Summerfield went against one of the top European Drift Champions Phil Morrison. Drifting around the bends along with Phil Morrison right beside him, hanging it out wide leaving plenty of smoke behind him, with over one thousand cheering spectators Mat gets the audiences attention.

"A Truck Drifting"

Summerfield grabs win but championship gap widens - Published on 20-Aug-2009

THE latest rounds of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship took place at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire and saw Burton-based driver Mat Summerfield collect more points in his ERF truck.

In an action-packed weekend of racing, Summerfield made an excellent start in the first race to take the lead on the opening lap, but circuit officials deemed his start was too good and he was forced to take a drive through penalty for anticipating the start. Despite this, Summerfield managed to fight back from last place to finish a creditable fifth at the finish.

In the second of the Delphi Championship races, early leader David Jenkins, in his MAN, also suffered at the hands of the officials by earning a 30-second penalty for corner cutting at the chicane, which dropped him out of the leadership battle. It was reigning champion Stuart Oliver who held on for victory ahead of the resurgent Summerfield, who put in another solid performance.

The non-championship Grand Final of the Anglo-French Challenge produced some real excitement, but the foreign visitors did not get a real look-in. In a repeat of the previous weekend at Donington Park, Summerfield kept his best performance until last with a lights-to-flag victory. The mechanical engineer kept his nerve to hold an early lead while under constant threat from Jenkins in the opening laps of the race.

The duo pulled well clear of the rest of the field, but Jenkins’ challenge ended when he collected a drive through penalty for excessive kerb hopping at the chicane.

Fortunately for him, he was so far in front that he still managed to return in second place and hold on for runners-up spot, with Oliver taking the final podium spot ahead of top French runner Philippe Arlaud (Renault).

Speaking after the race, Sumerfield said: “It’s great to score another victory, but it would have been better to get the win in the championship race to close the points gap to Stuart Oliver.” Summerfield still lies in second place in the title race as the drivers head to the next rounds at Pembrey on October 17 and 18.

Summerfield on the podium twice as his MAN ERF storms through the chequered flag


Mat Summerfield was back in the action at Pembrey, South Wales during the penultimate rounds of the Delphi British Truck Racing Championship. The driver from the Midlands wowed the Welsh spectators with 2 daring races to the flag.

Mat had strong competition for the position from Rick Collett, driving the other Summerfield built MAN. However, in the end Mat was consistent and smooth as the truck launched towards 100mph on the welsh circuit.

With 2 podium positions in the bag, the signs were good for race three. Sadly during the race, problems with the prop shaft led to an early retirement allowing Collett to come through and take mat’s third place spot.

As a late comer into the 2008 season, Mat has been consistent throughout. Whilst the championship as been decided, all eyes will be on Mat as he enters the final 2 rounds at Brands Hatch. With nothing to lose and no ‘safe game’ to play, Summerfield is sure to pull everything out of the bag and show fellow competitors what they will have to beat in 2009.

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Podium finish dashed at Redgate

Mat was set to build on the success of Germany at Donnington Park last weekend. Qualifying third the team had strong hopes for a podium finish during rounds 8 and 9 of the Delphi British championship.

Due to the technical problems with the time keeping of some the field, it was decided to start the grid in championship positions. This was a major setback for the Summerfield truck sport team due to the late entry to the season resulting in low points at this stage. However in their usual style they quickly put this behind them and were keen to get on with the first race of the day.

Maybe to keen for Mat Summerfield jumping a position on the lights. Aware of the mistake Mat allowed the field to retake the position putting him once again to the back of the grid.

Race two the truck was flying once again. Mat narrowly missing the podium finishing fourth. With fourth place on the grid and few more adjustments the Summerfield team were confident of finally reaching the podium. Mat made quick time in passing both David Jenkins and Chris Levett as he sped down the craner curves in second place. Lap two and the notorious Redgate corner was to prove fatal after an unsporting move from Chris placed the pair in the gravel with the two MAN’s one on top of the other.

Denied of the finish he deserved Mat looks forward to Thruxton next weekend.

Lord of the Ring

After a disappointing but crucial testing session at Santa Pod, the new MAN ERF proved unstoppable in Germany. Under masterful control the team starting at the back of the grid took no time in reaching thefront runners in a display that crowned Mat; ‘Lord of the Ring’!

Collecting 5th place in both gruelling races on the first outing wasagreatachievement for the team who are now developing for the next rounds at Donington back on local territory. In fact so local that Mat has developed some notoriety with the press and media close to the circuit. Look out for the big home crowd.

Santa Pod a fitting test ground

With last minute efforts from the team, the latest truck from the Summerfield team was unveiled for testing at Santa Pod last weekend (28/29 June). There was confusion regarding whether the truck should be entered into the race truck or show truck category as with all of the teams output, the new MAN ERF was gleaming and a highly polished display of engineering.

Not all ran smoothly as the truck powered down the quarter mile. Severe vibration led to the gearbox out and a few ‘adjustments’. All in a days work, but not the maiden voyage the team had hoped for. With the long haul to Germany for the Nurburgring rounds 6 and 7 only days away, things could have gone better.

By the end of the weekend Mat was confident that the team would be at the Ring and he expected to have the ‘minor’ problems ironed out.

Mat hopes for a real runaway success with truck - Published on 25-Jul-2008

A RENOWNED truck racer is hoping to purr to a podium finish at one of the biggest events in the racing calendar. Mat Summerfield, of Harwood Avenue, Branston, will be gunning for gold in the Truck Racing Championship at Donington Park on Sunday. Mr Summerfield spent six months building and customising a new racing truck from scratch in time for the big event.

The 33-year-old, who has been involved in truck racing since 1999, will have around 150 fans cheering him on at trackside. And he is feeling confident that he can give them a day to remember. He said: "It has been a developmental year for us and we are doing our best.

"Everything is now moving in the right direction, and racing at Castle Donington is always exciting, as it is the local track, and I know the course well.

"We are up against some other teams that are highly financially backed, and they have the upper hand to start with, but I am confident I can do well."

Mr Summerfield is sponsored by Barton based L H Group Services, the UK's largest independent re-manufacturer of power train products. He has spent almost a decade in racing after being introduced to it by a friend before buying a truck from fellow racer Steve Horne. The popular driver built his second truck himself and came off on Church Corner at the renowned Thruxton course in Hampshire, which 'smashed up' the vehicle.

Mr Summerfield rebuilt the Seddon Atkinson truck ready for the 2004 season, before piecing together a white Sisu two years later.

One year on the driver acquired an MAN TG-A previously owned by ex-Champion Stuart Oliver, before ending up with his latest blue and silver truck. During his love affair with the sport, Mr Summerfield has racked up a host of podium finishes and has travelled to Germany, Spain and France.