Just a week after his stunning victory at Oulton Park for Laser Tools MB Motorsport, where he took the lead in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Jake Hill headed to his ‘home’ track at Brands Hatch, and continued his winning form with a superb double Victory in the Super Touring Power 2 event on Saturday, taking his tally to a remarkable 6 Wins from 6 Starts in the event in Richard Wheeler’s 1999 BTCC Championship winning Nissan Primera GT.
30 year-old Hill raced the sleek machine last year, taking all-four wins, and returned to race on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on Saturday, having briefly reacquainted himself with the car on Friday.
“We had an amazing weekend at Oulton Park – it feels great to be leading the BTCC championship as we head into the summer break having completed half the season. I know a lot of my rivals will be heading off on holiday or chilling out at home, but not me! I absolutely loved this event last year, and am so grateful to Richard (Wheeler) for once again giving me this opportunity”
Heading into qualifying on Saturday morning, Jake immediately set the pace amongst the 17 car entry, ultimately taking an impressive Pole Position by 2.87 seconds, with BTCC Legend Steve Soper’s BMW alongside him.
“The car was on rails, and this year Richard has sourced some Michelin tyres which felt fantastic – I just love this car and this is my absolute favourite circuit, so it was just amazing driving it again”
Hill started the 15 minute race alongside Soper and made a strong start, leading the field into Paddock Bend, the pair immediately edging away from the chasing pack.
Despite his performance in qualifying, Hill was not pulling away from the 1997 BMW 320i, and quickly it became clear that the pair would enter into a titanic battle, swapping places into and out of Paddock Bend, as well as around the high-speed sweeps of the GP circuit.
As the race ran down, a charging Richard Wheeler had driven brilliantly in the sister Nissan Primera to Hill, working his way past Hughes, Morgan and eventually Anthony Reid into third place, and onto the back of the Hill-Soper battle.
Coming through Druids Bend, Hill had edged away slightly, and Wheeler and Soper ran closely into the tight hairpin, the pair colliding on exit and clattering into the barriers with some force, immediately causing the race to be stopped.
Fortunately neither driver was seriously hurt, although both would receive some bruising, and sadly the damage to both cars so severe that they would no longer take any part in the event.
“Wow, that was a fantastic race! Steve is a legend, a genuine superstar, so to race him like that in these cars, and on this circuit was just brilliant. Such a shame Richard and Steve tangled, I’m just glad they’re ok”
