Giti Tire truck racing: BTRC positions brand centre-stage with Top Gear

The British Truck Racing Championship put Giti Tire on centre-stage as a special feature on the premier British motoring show Top Gear became one of the company’s 2022 highlights. The manufacturer is the Official Partner and Exclusive Tyre Supplier to the BTRC, while Team Oliver, of which it is a sponsor, provided competitive success, finishing third overall. Giti’s involvement with the series went up a notch in 2022; all competition trucks were fitted with Giti Race-Tuned v1 global competition truck tyres in size 315/70R22.5 for the first time. Giti said that feedback from the teams had been “overwhelmingly positive”.

The three presenters of Top Gear focussed on trucks in a June special, passing their HGV tests before driving across the UK in new DAF, Mercedes and Scania pulling units. Their destination was Pembrey Race Circuit, where Paddy McGuinness competed in a BTRC race in a fully liveried Giti truck. The programme continues to be one of the BBC’s flagship entertainment programmes. According to The Guardian, it is watched by more than 350 million people and is shown in more than 200 countries.

Team Oliver success

Stuart Oliver celebrates three first place finishes at Snetterton in September (Photo: Giti Tire)

Giti lauded the on-track success of Stuart Oliver of Team Oliver, who raced to 19 podium finishes across all seven meetings. During the 2022 season, five races take place at each circuit, and third place in the overall standings.

With five first places in total, including three at a memorable weekend at Snetterton in September, Oliver amassed 368 points in all, one behind David Jenkins in second and 67 off comprehensive champion, Ryan Smith.

Oliver’s final standing was even more impressive following a major crash at Donington in August, in which the truck hit a tyre wall at high speed. Thankfully everyone walked away from the accident unscathed and a major rebuild saw him back on the start line just three weeks later.

Three of the 2022 meetings coincided with hugely popular family events Convoy Cymru, Convoy on the Plain and Convoy in the Park which featured a range of trucks, manufacturer and exhibitor displays plus stunt shows, live music and children’s entertainment.

Tony McHugh, TBR sales and marketing director UK at Giti Tire, said: “A key measurement of our BTRC partnership is brand awareness and promotion, so to look back on a year including Top Gear, three hugely well attended Convoy events and other packed race meetings is a huge success.

“To also take the role of Exclusive Tyre Supplier was a major decision and one which the teams embraced once they’d experienced the sheer quality of the Giti Race-Tuned v1 tyres. This has led to more enquiries about the truck and bus portfolio which again is a major part of our investment.”

(Photo: PS Images/Giti Tire)