Newly topped British Touring Automotive champion Jake Hill plans to stay at West Surrey Racing in 2025 to bid for a second successive title.
The 30-year-old Kentishman has now spent three years on the Sunbury staff and has raced his BMW 330e M Sport for the previous two seasons beneath the Laser Instruments Racing with MB Motorsport banner on a industrial foundation beneath a deal put collectively by the MB administration firm of ex-Formulation 1 racer and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Mark Blundell.
Hill’s transfer to develop into a part of the MB administration steady got here after the 2 teamed up collectively within the BTCC in 2019 for Blundell’s farewell season as a racer on the AmD-run Commerce Value Vehicles Audi squad, and Hill’s subsequent spell at AmD’s MB Motorsport Honda line-up.
“I’m simply ready for a deal from MB,” mentioned Hill. “However in the end I’m simply extremely grateful to be part of that staff with West Surrey.
“It’s a incredible collaboration we now have right here. It really works for us commercially and it really works for us from a efficiency perspective.”
Hill mentioned that he owes his success to AmD boss Shaun Hollamby, who gave him the chance for 2019, in addition to his father – ex-Renault Spider Cup and Formulation First battler Simon Hill.
“I assumed my profession was performed in 2018 once I pulled out midway via [after a breakdown in relations with Team Hard], after which Shaun Hollamby saved the day,” he mentioned. “It was a mix of Shaun after which me being team-mates with Mark that began this journey once more.
Hill celebrates his title victory
Picture by: JEP
“Actually, I owe the latter a part of my profession to Shaun for taking a danger with me and giving me an affordable sufficient drive that we simply may one way or the other get the cash collectively to do it, however in the end, Dad’s my actual superhero. He simply by no means gave up. That’s what dads do, proper?”
The title success implies that Hill’s fame for being quick however mistake-prone must be consigned to historical past.
The 2024 BTCC crown is the primary since 2019 to be received by somebody apart from Ash Sutton or Tom Ingram – typically acknowledged as the highest two drivers of the previous few years.
“I feel we are able to all agree that me and Tom these final two rounds have been inseparable,” mentioned Hill.
“We’ve each performed pretty much as good a job as one another, and in the end the circumstances [wet in the final race at Brands] simply performed into my palms and to my automotive as nicely.
“I simply hope that now individuals see me on a degree time period with Tom and Ash as a result of I really feel that I haven’t been over the previous couple of years, however hopefully I’ve made a press release, particularly with that final race towards Tom to safe my identify in historical past.”
The battle continued a battle with Ingram that has been ongoing since they fought for the Ginetta Junior crown in 2010, when Hill was 16 years outdated and Ingram 17.
Jake Hill, Laser Instruments Racing with MB Motorsport BMW 330e M Sport
Picture by: JEP
“I’ve acquired to take my hat off to Tom,” mentioned Hill.
“He’s a champion for a motive and he’s a high bloke, and it’s been a privilege being on this championship battle with him.
“And at last after 15 years of racing him I’ve acquired my first championship and I’ve crushed him to it!
“When David [Addison, ITV commentator who was hooked up live to Hill on the cooldown lap] mentioned it [being BTCC champion] on the radio for the primary time, I simply bawled my eyes out mate to be completely sincere with you.
“It’s only a large, overwhelming feeling of feelings. You may’t fairly comprehend what you’ve simply achieved – you’ve received the most important British championship, and in addition you must keep in mind as nicely that it’s a bit totally different as a result of that is my first ever championship.
“I’ve by no means received a championship in something I’ve performed, so to win the British Touring Automotive Championship as my first means a lot extra.
“I simply should thank everyone, and particularly my team-mate Colin [Turkington, who played rear-gunner for Hill at the final two rounds]. He’s helped me a lot to realize this. He’s performed an incredible staff sport – I can’t thank him sufficient actually.”