Taking yet another top-six qualifying position, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square's BRDC 'Superstar' Jake Hill yet again showed his fighting spirit and race craft, recovering from a puncture in race one, to take two points scoring finishes in the remaining two races, and with it a solid set of points as well.
After ending practice in second overall, and then taking a superb P5 in qualifying - fastest than the 2019 Pole Position time - Hill headed into race oner confident of taking more points.
"We were a little unlucky not to qualify in the top three, but the car has been great again - so thanks to the MB Motorsport guys & girls for their hard work. We've recovered to P9 overall and P7 in the Independant's class, so I aim to build on that.
At the start of race one, Hill battled with Butcher and Chilton into turn one, with the BTC driver making contact with the #24 Honda, but edging away from both drivers, and closing on Morgan.
Frustratingly though Hill's right rear tyre let go on at the end of lap three, pitching him into a spin at the chicane and forcing a pitstop. Superb work by the team saw him back on track without losing a lap, but ultimately finishing in P22.
"The car was strong on the early laps, but BTCC is a pretty brutal place sometimes and it was contact with Chilton trying to pass me on the grass that caused the damage that ultimately saw me get a puncture. Just need to dig deep in race two now!
Starting P22 in race two, Hill passed Butel, Boardley, Gornall on lap one, before squeezing past Jelley and Smiley on lap two, Goff on lap three and then Thompson a lap later. The #24 flying - setting Fastest Lap for Independent Drivers (second overall) and then battling past Jackson and finally Austin - plus benefitting from Morgan's retirement - to take a remarkable P11 overall.
"That's more like it! The car was mega and I loved battling my way through. I got stuck behind Jackson for a while otherwise I think I might have got Senna (Proctor) for P10. The car was fast and I am so pleased to have scored some more solid points - I had Colin (Turkington) coming through with me so it was very satisfying to keep him behind too.
The reverse grid draw for race three saw Josh Cook get Pole Position - Hill starting P11 - and a difficult start saw him drop to P14...but instantly back past Austin and Jackson to P12, before fighting up to the back of a battle including Proctor and Cammish.
A superb move at the chicane saw Hill pass Proctor, and then edge away from the pack behind to close on a fight between Turkington, Neal and Crees, but ultimately not able to find a gap, although a puncture for Cress on the final lap moved Hill up to and eventual P9.
"Another tough race, but so pleased to have battled back and got a top-ten. We have been fast all weekend but the R1 puncture was a real blow. As always my crew have been awesome - so grateful to my fantastic partners for all their support as always, and it's been great to have my mate Mark Blundell here this weekend - I've missed him!
The BTCC resumes next weekend at Silverstone, with proud BRDC (British Racing Driver's Club) member Hill determined to take more solid points.
"I am hugely proud to be a BRDC Member, and to be part of the BRDC 'Superstars' programme. I was a BRDC 'Rising Star' from 2010 to 2019 and that meant so much, then to become a full BRDC member was even more special. To top that being invited into the 'Superstar' programme is so wonderful. I'm so proud to be part of this programme.
Catch next week's BTCC on ITV4HD
After ending practice in second overall, and then taking a superb P5 in qualifying - fastest than the 2019 Pole Position time - Hill headed into race oner confident of taking more points.
"We were a little unlucky not to qualify in the top three, but the car has been great again - so thanks to the MB Motorsport guys & girls for their hard work. We've recovered to P9 overall and P7 in the Independant's class, so I aim to build on that.
At the start of race one, Hill battled with Butcher and Chilton into turn one, with the BTC driver making contact with the #24 Honda, but edging away from both drivers, and closing on Morgan.
Frustratingly though Hill's right rear tyre let go on at the end of lap three, pitching him into a spin at the chicane and forcing a pitstop. Superb work by the team saw him back on track without losing a lap, but ultimately finishing in P22.
"The car was strong on the early laps, but BTCC is a pretty brutal place sometimes and it was contact with Chilton trying to pass me on the grass that caused the damage that ultimately saw me get a puncture. Just need to dig deep in race two now!
Starting P22 in race two, Hill passed Butel, Boardley, Gornall on lap one, before squeezing past Jelley and Smiley on lap two, Goff on lap three and then Thompson a lap later. The #24 flying - setting Fastest Lap for Independent Drivers (second overall) and then battling past Jackson and finally Austin - plus benefitting from Morgan's retirement - to take a remarkable P11 overall.
"That's more like it! The car was mega and I loved battling my way through. I got stuck behind Jackson for a while otherwise I think I might have got Senna (Proctor) for P10. The car was fast and I am so pleased to have scored some more solid points - I had Colin (Turkington) coming through with me so it was very satisfying to keep him behind too.
The reverse grid draw for race three saw Josh Cook get Pole Position - Hill starting P11 - and a difficult start saw him drop to P14...but instantly back past Austin and Jackson to P12, before fighting up to the back of a battle including Proctor and Cammish.
A superb move at the chicane saw Hill pass Proctor, and then edge away from the pack behind to close on a fight between Turkington, Neal and Crees, but ultimately not able to find a gap, although a puncture for Cress on the final lap moved Hill up to and eventual P9.
"Another tough race, but so pleased to have battled back and got a top-ten. We have been fast all weekend but the R1 puncture was a real blow. As always my crew have been awesome - so grateful to my fantastic partners for all their support as always, and it's been great to have my mate Mark Blundell here this weekend - I've missed him!
The BTCC resumes next weekend at Silverstone, with proud BRDC (British Racing Driver's Club) member Hill determined to take more solid points.
"I am hugely proud to be a BRDC Member, and to be part of the BRDC 'Superstars' programme. I was a BRDC 'Rising Star' from 2010 to 2019 and that meant so much, then to become a full BRDC member was even more special. To top that being invited into the 'Superstar' programme is so wonderful. I'm so proud to be part of this programme.
Catch next week's BTCC on ITV4HD
