T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2015 Gallery: Race Weekend In Pics

This was the sight that greeted us as we entered the paddock area of the Buddh International Circuit this year. Here was all 6.8 tons of race-primed heavy metal...

Ben Horne's No. 25 Tata Prima truck receiving a check by a Dealer Daredevils technician before practice began. Note the integrated roll cage of the stripped out cabin.

These steel grey Allied Partners Primas were to be an intense part of all the action over the weekend. The No. 33 and No. 9 commercial racers were piloted by Steve Thomas and Chris Levett respectively.

This was the sight the backmarkers were to get used to. Check out the huge water cylinders to precisely spray-cool the large-diameter drum brakes of the race Primas.

Oliver James in the No.22 Castrol leaving the pit lane after free practice was flagged off. Who would have thought, brilliantly organised truck racing in India?

Paul McCumisky's 99 reasons to rise early on Saturday morning...

Photo op with the drivers—the fact that most had plenty of life experience saw some scoffing, but judging by the intensity of what was to come, they'd had best zipped it.

Heavy at the end of the tunnel.

And high time high roofs came out of hiding...

Making a grand entrance on to the Buddh tarmac. This year's edition saw the trucks shed almost 700 kilograms of lard, with improved drivetrains that saw the trucks touching up to 140 km/h on the back straight.

Two T1s around C1. The biggest souped-up racers several were seeing for the first time in their lives went through four gears on average before reaching the first corner.

Thought this was going to be a fairly quiet affair. After all, how many people could be interested in a bunch of trucks going round some tarmac? I couldn't have been more wrong.

Big things also come in big sizes. An example of the embodiment of Tata's trucking might which certainly seemed up to international par.

Even with all the international gadgetry and gizmos that you could find, it was nice to see that rudimentary wooden lifting boards found equal footing alongside hydraulic jacks.

Motorsports is dangerous, there's no two ways about that...

The smell of hot brakes was a feature of the weekend. Check out the steam rising from the water-cooled braking system. Safety too, was of prime concern, and those always-on tail lamps were a regulatory requirement for all participants.

Most team garages had female technicians. Here is a lady refilling the water tanks of the brake cooling system.

Tata's exhaustive strategy for the company's truck racing future was clearly evident. India's largest auto company seeks to improve business share by engaging with second-generation owners of fleet companies, increase truck driver employment and showcase their technology.

Er, Tata Bolt. We're waiting for the Sport version...

Here's the No. 89 Cummins Prima being put through its qualifying paces by Simon Reid.

Truck racing is a non-contact sport. Ahem.

And more gentlemanly contact...

I attended the inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix three years ago in 2012. It was deja vous at the entrance of the Buddh Circuit, with a traffic backing up crisis and shopkeepers jacking up prices.

Raceday had finally arrived, and the excitement was infectious, with several performing acts to get the large crowd into a festive spirit.

Bagpipes preceded roaring exhaust pipes, and huge cheers from the excited crowd followed when the trucks parked on the grid to showcase their 2015 get up.

Vicky Chandok in the thick of it before the Super Qualifying round-he was instrumental in bringing truck racing to the country and has been involved from the start of the series.

It was selfie central the whole weekend. Even the race marshalls couldn't resist a Buddh face...

Tata Motors was not to be outdone on the glamour front too...

Taking a brake to let off some steam is good for the soul...

A fender bender, in 7-ton style.

We were allowed access to the grid as well, and this pretty lady gracefully lapped up the attention. Our excitement at being on hallowed tarmac was cut short unfortunately, because the race was almost underway.

The surface of the track saw rainfall almost throughout the whole of Sunday. These treacherous conditions were to be a real test of technique for the drivers.

Tens of thousands of Newton Metres lining up before walking the torque.

The safety truck leading the prime movers and shakers during the warm up lap before the rolling start.

The racing was furious the moment the safety truck turned into the pits. Here's Steve Thomas, who qualified first, in the lead. It was typical of the close competition between Stuart Oliver and Steve Thomas throughout the course of the race.

It was a spectacular sight-a dozen Primas braking to the beat of 48 drums.

Paul McCumisky in action in the No. 99 Prima. He failed to finish, however, and was one of the barrier's two victims, the second non-finisher being David Jenkins in the No. 69 truck.

The safety truck came out rather early in the race, with the Primas seen impatiently lining up for the rolling restart.

A right-left sequence getting the trucks to dance to the circuit's tune.

The weather cleared towards the end of the race, and a beautiful sunset provided a stunning backdrop to the much-improved Tatas.

Sideways action was all there to enjoy too, if you were concentrating during the 16-lap spectacle.

The rugby of motorsport looks set to gain even more followers, because of excellent marketing and organisation of the annual event by Tata Motors.

Back to the action, and there was a fierce battle between Stuart Oliver and Steve Thomas, the latter right on the former's tail throughout the entire course of the race. It was real thrilling stuff!

The intense battle for the lead went right down to the finish line. Seen here is Stuart Oliver leading Steve Thomas, and lining up for the final run to the chequered flag down the main straight.

Ever seen trucks doing donuts? We did, a few feet in front of us. Stuart Miller in the No.7 Prima seen here enjoying the spoils of his victory. Real goosebump stuff it was...

No doubt Steve Thomas would have liked to have won top honours, but here's a happy moment for the hard-fighting second-place driver back in the pits.

Seen here are the final results in one of the team garages. We were really in the thick of the action, kudos to Tata Motors for providing pit and grid access to us.

The winner's podium saw an ecstatic Stuart Oliver. And why not, it really doesn't get much better than defending your title in style...

Here's the man himself talking to members of the media post the race—he spoke about this year's experience, including how glad he was to be able to defend his title, and how he enjoyed the Buddh Circuit's dynamic personality with its technical corners combined with fast straights and curves. Congratulations, sir!

And just like that it was over, to Monday morning blues...