Business Fleet Africa

TRUCKS & Heavy Equipment Editor, Annelise van der Laan, was in the Indian capital, courtesy of TATA, to witness the roar of the mighty Prima racing trucks and the exuberance of the 50 000 plus spectator crowd.

“The noise was deafening, but your heart beat in tune with the exhilaration all round.”

Organised for truck drivers in India, and now in its third edition, the two drivers competed in March alongside some of the most experienced drivers across India. They were chosen to compete through one of the most comprehensive training and selection programmes for Indian drivers from Tata Motors’ fleet customers’ operations across the country.

Tata Motors launched the T1 Prima Truck Racing programme in 2014 in order to offer the excitement of truck racing to India, one of the largest commercial vehicle markets in the world, and of which Tata Motors holds 60% market share.

Over the last two years, the event has showcased the best talent in international truck racing, as well as the latest advancements in trucking technologies by the Indian manufacturer. The truck racing championship is gaining in popularity, and the fan base has more than doubled since its inception.

The winners trained for more than three months under the guidance of some of the best race instructors in India, and celebrated their victory by taking home the highest prize money ever for an Indian motorsports event – Rupees 10 lakhs (approximately R350 000) each.

In the Pro Class race category, which comprises international drivers, David Jenkins of Team TATA Technologies took top honours in the final action-packed 20-lap race, with Rick Collett and Graham Powell, both from Team Cummins, taking second and third place respectively.

Mat Summerfield of Team Castrol Vecton crossed the finish line first in the eight-lap race, and clocked the fastest lap at 1:50:691 seconds around the 3,1 kilometers racetrack.

In addition to Jagat Singh and Nagarjuna A, the Indian drivers selected for Season 3 of the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship included Bacchu Singh, Rabinder Yadav, Bhag Chand, Rajkumar Mahato, Jitendra Singh, MD Parvez, Anand, Mohd. Iliyas, Malkeet Singh and Syed Akram Pasha. The drivers all competed in black Tata Prima 4038.S racing trucks, which were identical to each other – in look, build and performance.

The Tata Prima 4038.S has a massive power output of 370bhp at 2 100rpm and a top speed of just over 130km/h.

To make these Primas fit for racing, key modifications were made to meet a mix of safety and performance needs as per the guidelines of the BTRA (British Truck Racing Association). These included significant changes to the fuel tank, brake cooling system, propeller shaft guards, racing seats and safety belts, exhaust, and the steering wheel, among others.

The trucks also went through multiple quality checks and were tested at Tata Motors’ world-class Jamshedpur’s testing facility during high-speed runs, with many modifications made to meet safety and performance standards for racing trucks.

The six teams made up of international drivers who competed in the Pro Class category competed in 12 different coloured trucks. While Tata Motors Finance was a new team, the other five teams – Tata Technologies, Cummins, Castrol, Dealer Daredevils and Dealer Warriors – were part of the two earlier editions of the championship.

Ravi Pisharody (above) is the Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors. He says: “Trucking is vitally important to the nation’s economy and the T1 Racer Program has been designed to help put a name and face to the men who deliver essential commodities across India every day. Since the inception of the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship in 2014, we have made a conscious decision to give Indian drivers an opportunity to be part of this prestigious event. We are proud to have collaborated with our customers for a shared vision in promoting the profession of truck driving.”

Tata Motors also partnered with some of the country’s leading automotive brands for Season 3 of the championship: WABCO (braking technology partner); JK Tyre (tyre partner); Castrol (lubricant partner); Cummins (engine technology partner); Tata Motors Finance (commercial vehicle financing partner); and Tata Technologies (technology partner).

The T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship is organised by MMSC (Madras Motor Sports Club) and is inscribed on the calendars of FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) and FMSCI (the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India), with safety and performance standards being followed as per the guidelines of the BTRA, who also play a role in the selection of the best British and European racing truck drivers who compete in the T1 Championship.