Four-time Renault UK Clio Cup champion Paul Rivett was delighted to begin his British Truck Racing Championship campaign with three podiums – especially after a difficult build-up to the opening Brands Hatch event.

Rivett was unable to test his Tachosys-sponsored MAN TGA truck before the race weekend and only managed a handful of qualifying laps after a few mechanical troubles with the Division 2 machine.

“On Friday we didn’t get to test at all as we had a problem with the steering box and couldn’t turn the steering wheel at all without giving it maximum revs,” explained WDE Motorsport driver Rivett. “[Fellow truck racer] Dave Jenkins was a massive help as he found a steering block for us in the Midlands so I drove up there on Saturday and we got that on the truck on Saturday night.

“So the first time I drove it was on Sunday in qualifying and I only did three or four slow laps because the intercooler hose came off. So I had no experience at all [before the first race] but I managed to get on to the fight for third place.”

In the end, Rivett dropped back after more intercooler problems and contact with another driver to finish 11th in that opening race of the four, but was encouraged to set the second fastest lap.

But things were to get much better in races two and three as Rivett was able to bag two third places after fighting his way through the pack – giving him a better starting position of sixth for the finale.

“I was able to lead the final race for a lap and ended up second,” said Rivett. “Considering we were on the backfoot going into it – I didn’t know what we were going to come across – it was a fantastic weekend and I’ve been welcomed into the paddock. Wayne Eason and the guys in the team have had lots of very late nights in the workshop working on the truck.

“I think we are third in the points which is amazing. I just thoroughly enjoyed it – it was the most fun I’ve had at a race weekend for a long time.”

The next rounds of the championship take place on May 11-12 at Pembrey in Wales – a circuit Rivett hasn’t been to since a single-seater test 18 years ago, and has never raced on!