Tata Prima set for biggest grid as ETRC drivers join one-make series

As Tata’s annual truck racing event grows in size, the grid for the Indian and international class is also expanding.

20 Indian drivers have been selected through Tata’s T1 Racer programme, with the field equally divided into Champion and Super Class.

For the Champion class, 16 drivers have been shortlisted from last year’s Trials round, with the list to be trimmed down to 10 based on further training sessions at the BIC.

The Super class, meanwhile, has been formulated to recruit fresh blood, with 17 new drivers selected from 3330+ nominations for further evaluation.  

In all, 20 drivers will represent the Indian tricolour on the grid - a rise of four drivers from the previous season.

The international class will also show a corresponding rise in grid numbers, with the field now comprising of 12 drivers as opposed to 10 in previous seasons.

European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) drivers will make their debut in the T1 Prima event this year, joining British Truck Racing Championship drivers who have been ever-present in the annual race.

Some of the most notable international drivers on the entry list are three-time ETRC Champion, double ETRC Champion Stephanie Halm and last year’s T1 winner David Jenkins.

1000 bhp truck

Tata Motors will showcase a new 1,040 bhp truck which has been built in collaboration with American diesel engine-maker Cummins Inc.

The new truck - which can possibly replace the current 370 bhp version in coming years - is powered by a 12-litre engine, mated to a 16-speed gearbox.

Tata claims that it can sprint from 0 to 160 km/hr in under 10 seconds, a considerable improvement from the current generation T1 race truck.

Shortlisted Indian drivers (Super class)

Shortlisted Indian drivers (Champion class)

International drivers