Team’s double joy as Hill conquers Scottish weather

JAKE Hill gave his Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship hopes a boost by winning two of the three races staged at a wet and wild Knockhill in Scotland.

Driving the Southam-based Laser Tools Racing BMW, he claimed victory in the opening two races to close to within 50 points of leader Ash Sutton who took the chequered flag in the finale.

There was also success for the Bidford-based CarStore Power Maxed team where just one point separates their rookie pair Mikey Doble and Andrew Watson as they battle it out at the top of the Jack Sears Trophy standings.

Hill inherited victory in the opener after a number of title contenders endured heartache in a modern-day classic around the 1.27-mile circuit.

Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) was seemingly heading for victory when Josh Cook (One Motorsport with Starline Racing) crashed out as the pair ran side-by-side for the lead.

Tom Ingram duly crossed the line to take victory but there was further drama when his car and that of Bristol Street Motors team-mate Tom Chilton were disqualified after failing post-race ride height checks. This handed victory to Hill ahead of Watson who secured his first ever BTCC podium finish.

Hill then led from start to finish to claim his second win of the weekend ahead of Sutton, producing a defensive masterclass to keep the series leader at bay.

The final race saw Sutton round off a fantastic day in his Ford Focus by obliterating the field amidst heavy rain in the reversed-grid finale. Hill finished out of the top ten but there was success for CarStore Power Maxed driver Aron Taylor-Smith who claimed two top seven finishes.

Hill said: “Races one and two have been amazing today. The first race was extremely challenging with the mixed conditions, but it’s great to come away with the win.

“In race two I really had to defend hard to get the win, but it was a good battle and I got it. Race three didn’t go the way I’d hoped.”