ENSENADA, BAJA CA – The transition from a structured, short-course racing background to the brutal, unpredictable world of desert racing is never easy, even for the most talented young drivers. Oliver Bearman, who made his highly anticipated Trophy Truck debut in the 2025 SCORE International season with Team Haas Racing, recently reflected on a rookie year marked by both flashes of brilliance and challenging learning curves.
Speaking exclusively to Apex Racing, Bearman, now 20, candidly admitted that his initial approach to the powerful Haas-prepped truck sometimes led to him feeling he'd made himself 'look silly.' The British phenom, who quickly garnered attention for his aggressive driving style, found that the nuanced handling characteristics of a 1000+ horsepower, long-travel machine in unforgiving terrain demanded a different kind of respect.
“You come in with a certain expectation, and you push, push, push,” Bearman explained. “But these trucks, especially when you’re on the limit, they can be on a knife-edge. What feels like a small input can have massive consequences when you’re hitting whoops at 120 mph or navigating a rocky section. There were times I just didn’t account for how quickly it could bite back, and that’s where the mistakes crept in.”
Despite these early struggles, Bearman showcased undeniable talent. A standout performance at the Baja 400 saw him piloting the #16 Haas Trophy Truck to a remarkable fourth-place finish, a testament to his raw speed and ability to adapt under pressure. This result, achieved in only his third SCORE event, immediately put the paddock on notice.
However, the season also included DNFs and moments where the truck's formidable power and complex suspension geometry overwhelmed the rookie's aggressive inputs. The 'knife-edge' characteristic Bearman describes is a familiar challenge for many drivers stepping into the elite Trophy Truck class, where the difference between a winning run and a bent axle can be millimeters and milliseconds.
Team Haas Racing, known for their robust engineering and commitment to driver development, has reportedly been working closely with Bearman to refine his understanding of the truck's limits and how to extract performance consistently across varied desert conditions. As the 2026 season approaches, the desert racing community will be watching closely to see how Bearman applies these hard-won lessons, aiming to transform those 'knife-edge' moments into consistent podium finishes.
SOURCE: www.motorsport.com (adapted for desert racing context)
