BARDON Mill’s truck driving sensation Stuart Oliver (right) started his push for the British title in the best possible way.

After finishing second in the British Truck Racing Championship last year, he is determined to claim an 11th title in 2017 and he got off to a flyer as he leads the series after the opening weekend of racing at Brands Hatch.

Racing alongside son Michael for a second season, it was the experienced Stuart who took the plaudits with great performances over all four races in his newly modified Volvo.

Team Oliver Racing travelled to Brands Hatch looking to improve on good seasons, and Stuart set a blistering lap time of 59.414 to put him comfortably in pole position for race one.

Michael didn’t disappoint either and managed to post a lap time of 1:01.89 to secure eighth place on the start grid.

The sun was shining for the first Class-A race of the season, and Stuart made his trademark flying start as the lights went out. He ultimately dominated the whole race from flag to flag, comfortably taking the opening race of 2017.

Michael, who started in the middle of the pack, finished eighth after holding his own among stiff competition.

As part of the reverse grid, Stuart started race two at the very back of the pack, and, after a hard-fought race, finished fifth.

This was just one place behind Michael who made good headway through the field and was locked in a lap-by-lap battle trying to hold onto third, only to be pipped to a place on the podium in the closing stages of the race.

Stuart and Michael started race three side-by-side, and when the lights went out they did not delay in putting on the pressure.

By mid-race, Stuart was in second place but the leader had pulled out significantly ahead and the Tynedale driver had to content himself with the runners-up spot.

Michael held on to a strong mid-field position until the final lap when the engine in his truck suffered terminal damage to bring his racing weekend to a frustratingly premature end.

Without his son on the start grid, Stuart started race four from the back row and he worked his way through the pack to cross the finishing line in fourth after a six truck, nose-to-tail battle.

The placings helped Stuart to first place in the championships rankings, with his confidence high ahead of the next round at Pembrey on April 22 and 23.

He said: “I was delighted with the performance of my newly modified race truck, and the performance and subsequent weekend results were far beyond expectation.

“Michael was very happy with his own performance but unfortunately a terminal engine problem brought his race weekend to an earlier than expected end. We will now implement additional performance enhancing modifications to my truck, and do some serious engine re-build work to Michael’s truck.”