The utility is an icon of both Australia and New Zealand, but rather than using the workhorse on the building site it has also found an unlikely home on the racetrack.
More than 20 years ago, the V8 Brutes made a splash at the Adelaide 500 and soon carried across to New Zealand.
In 2018, a generational shift led to the introduction of dual cab and diesel in Australia, which led to a further evolution last year of V8s being introduced as the Gold Coast this weekend marks the end of its second season in this format.
In New Zealand, the Ssangyong Racing Series pitted identical Actyons together on track and proved successful, with talent emerging out of the category, however these instances weren’t first with the ute racing idea.
Instead, the US had a series called the SCCA Racetruck Series originating in 1987 and ending in 1991, pre-dating even the NASCAR Truck Series by eight years.
Emerging out of the popularity of sports trucks in the mid-1980s, with the racing examples using regulations close to Showroom Stock based on four-cylinder engines and rear-wheel-drive.
The engine remained as it left the factory, suspension modifications included uprated bushings and shock absorbers as brake pads were also taken from an IndyCar and improved drums on the rear. Ride height was limited to eight inches as inside a stripped interior featuring a rollcage and racing seat kept the driver safe.
Depending on horsepower output, led was used to equalise each model.
Nissan led the way early in the series as Max Jones won with the Japanese brand’s D21 or Navara as it was called in Australia.
Other models represented included the Jeep Comanche, Mazda B2000 (Bravo), Toyota Hilux, Dodge D-50, Mitsubishi Mighty Max (Triton), Ford Ranger and Isuzu Faster (Holden Rodeo), making for a field featuring variety.
Jones and Nissan won the first series as Tommy Archer in his Jeep followed in 1988, while Ray Kong made the move from Mitsubishi to Nissan as he took the title in 1989.
Peter Cunningham won the crown in 1990 for Mazda, but with naming rights sponsor Coors pulling out prior to the season the writing was on the wall as noted OEM parts manufacturer Steve Saleen took out the final championship held in 1991 in his Ford Ranger.
Although it didn’t last long, the racing was very close and spectacular as the Racetrucks contested rounds at Sebring, Mosport, Road Atlanta, Sonoma Mid-Ohio in addition to the streets of St Petersburg.
Four years later NASCAR introduced the trucks as off road racing grew in prominence through the Mickey Thompson Series.
Thailand also hold races for utes and have done so since 2013.