The end of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship season couldn’t have been better for Huthwaite-based Taylors Trucksport Racing, writes Paul Horton.

They travelled to Jarama Circuit in Spain for the final round of the series, where 37-year-old driver Mark Taylor took first-class honours — becoming the top-placed British racer and vice-champion in the Chrome class.

He returned home with 10 trophies as well, battling to second place for the season behind already-crowned champion José Eduardo Rodrigues and ahead of German Steffen Faas.

PHOTOS: Richard Kienberger Photography

Over the final weekend Taylor delivered, securing two class wins and two overall podiums, to claim that second place in class for the season.

Afterwards Mark said: “Wow, what a weekend, well what a season. I can’t believe we have had such a great second season.

“The team got stronger as the season progressed.

“We knew the weekend would be a tough one, going into it with a four-point lead, but we sealed it (second in Chrome for the season) in race three.

“Thanks to everyone for their support throughout the season, to the team, and to all family, friends, and our fans.”

A great start to race one saw Mark on the inside into turn one and eighth place by the end of lap one.

Two laps later Taylor was pulling away from Steffen. After eight laps there was a three-second gap between the two, which was extended to six seconds as the flag came out.

In the second race Mark edged out six-times European Champion Norbert Kiss by one hundredth of a second for second place overall and first place for Chrome.

The following day, in race three, the Ashfield driver was seventh overall, second in Chrome to build an unbeatable 11-point gap to become vice-champion in the Chrome class.

In the final race of the championship, Mark again started on the front row, racing in second place from the end of the first lap and ending with another podium place overall.