Hill makes it a double in his Laser Beamer
JAKE Hill has enjoyed one of the best fortnights of his BTCC career, having followed up his Snetterton double victory last time out with another brace of victories at Thruxton over the weekend.
But the latest rounds of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship were not without drama for the Southam-based Laser Tools Racing driver as he inherited one victory after title rival Tom Ingram was handed a post-race penalty.
A huge crowd descended on the Hampshire circuit and the fastest track in the country provided plenty of thrills and spills as well as seeing Hill close to within five points of championship leader Ash Sutton.
It was also a successful weekend for the Bidford-based Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team with Árón Taylor-Smith leading the race for the independents while teammate Mikey Doble maintained his lead in the Jack Sears Trophy.
Victory in the opening race of the weekend ensured Hill became the first treble winner of the season behind the wheel of his BMW 330e M Sport ahead of NAPA Racing UK pair Dan Cammish and Sutton.
Hill made it a double-double in race two as he inherited the victory following a post-race penalty for on-the-road winner Ingram who was demoted to third after initially taking the chequered flag in his Hyundai i30N following an incident involving Cammish. Tom Ingram claimed second spot.
That victory briefly hoisted Hill to the head of the championship but Sutton regained the lead when he won the final race at Thruxton - his first of the season and the 40th of his career. Cammish and Ingram completed the podium and Hill came home in fifth.
Taylor-Smith has a ten-point lead on Doble in the race for the independents while Doble is 40 points clear in the battle for the Jack Sears Trophy.
With the next round pencilled in for Oulton Park on 22nd and 23rd June, Hill will be hoping to continue his impressive form.
The Laser Tools Racing ace said: “I didn’t think we could possibly do any better than Snetterton, but amazingly we have. Thruxton – you’ve been a diamond; two wins and a fifth place. I’m over the moon.
“The ‘Laser Beemer’ has been unbelievable. We’re only a couple of points off the lead, which has been a mega comeback since Brands. We’ll go to Oulton ready to get some more.”
Doble said: “It’s been a strong weekend where I’ve managed to score points in all three races and maintained the lead in the Jack Sears Trophy. It would have been nice to come away with more silverware but that run had to end at some point.
