Jake impresses on debut in Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup at Silverstone GP meeting
In2Racing's Porsche 991 911 GT3 Supercup race car driven by Jake Copyright Jakob Ebrey
As 140,000 patriotic British fans lined Silverstone in anticipation of a Lewis Hamilton victory in the British Grand Prix, 30 identical Porsche 991-spec 911 GT3 Supercup race cars took to the track, amongst them 21 year-old Jake .
Having not raced a Carrera Cup Porsche since the final round of the British series in October last year - where he took a well-earned podium finish - Jake had prepared with just 1 day's testing at Silverstone and entered the Friday practice session aware of the quality of opposition.
After gaining experience of the Supercup-specification Michelin tyres in Friday's practice session, Hill looked at home during Saturday's qualifying session, setting an impressive 2m.06.439 - and was set to impove but for traffic on his best lap. Nevertheless qualifying 14th was a satisfying result.
"To be only 0.03 seconds behind Christopher Zochling who won the last race in Austria, ahead of French champion Come Ledogar and British champion Josh Webster amongst others is great - but we were on for a time that would have put us in the top ten until being blocked by a much slower driver. To be that competitive in my first time in a Supercup car is great - a big thanks to In2 Racing for giving me such a good car" smiled Hill.
Settling into a good race pace, Hill pressured Jeffrey Schmidt for several laps, the pair closing on the fierce battle between Carrera Cup GB regulars Tom Sharp, Dan Cammish and Josh Webster – the British contingent all battling for a top ten place at this stage - with Sharp seeming to struggle a little for pace .
Webster tried to squeeze past Cammish at the high-speed Stowe corner, the pair touching and spinning, with Hill somehow missing the Team Parker Racing driver but clipping the end of the rear wing and removing it - and losing a couple of places in the process!
Charging after the group ahead, Hill quickly caught Sharp and Frommenwiler - and in a superbly judged move sliced past the Austrian on the brakes at Brooklands - however Frommenwiler tried to re-pass at Luffield, hit the kerb and clattered into Hill, causing them - and Sharp - to spin and lose time.
Recovering in a frustrated 22nd place - Hill charged back into action and quickly found a way past Webster, and later Power and Twynham amongst others - ending up 16th overall.
The commentary team from Eurosport remarked how the British drivers had made the race more exciting than the established stars and were particularly complimentary about Jakes progress through the field, until the unfortunate clash with Frommenwiler.
"That was crazy!" said Hill "So frustrating I couldn't get past Schmidt (in 15th) - if I had we would have been near Cammish who finished 9th - but that's racing!
"I've loved the experience and really hope I can do more and maybe a full-season next year"
" A massive, massive thanks to everyone who has helped - especially In2 and of course Shaun Hollamby from AmD Tuning, Mike Jarvis from Borderland Fencing, Alan Baker from BAK Cladding, Julie, Gordon, Michaela, Aaron, Derek, Marcus from Zynth and Martin and Emma from M4EM Timber Products - and everyone else...you know who you are!!!
Next week Hill will race on another legendary circuit, Spa-Francorchamps for AmD Tuning in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.
Having not raced a Carrera Cup Porsche since the final round of the British series in October last year - where he took a well-earned podium finish - Jake had prepared with just 1 day's testing at Silverstone and entered the Friday practice session aware of the quality of opposition.
After gaining experience of the Supercup-specification Michelin tyres in Friday's practice session, Hill looked at home during Saturday's qualifying session, setting an impressive 2m.06.439 - and was set to impove but for traffic on his best lap. Nevertheless qualifying 14th was a satisfying result.
"To be only 0.03 seconds behind Christopher Zochling who won the last race in Austria, ahead of French champion Come Ledogar and British champion Josh Webster amongst others is great - but we were on for a time that would have put us in the top ten until being blocked by a much slower driver. To be that competitive in my first time in a Supercup car is great - a big thanks to In2 Racing for giving me such a good car" smiled Hill.
Settling into a good race pace, Hill pressured Jeffrey Schmidt for several laps, the pair closing on the fierce battle between Carrera Cup GB regulars Tom Sharp, Dan Cammish and Josh Webster – the British contingent all battling for a top ten place at this stage - with Sharp seeming to struggle a little for pace .
Webster tried to squeeze past Cammish at the high-speed Stowe corner, the pair touching and spinning, with Hill somehow missing the Team Parker Racing driver but clipping the end of the rear wing and removing it - and losing a couple of places in the process!
Charging after the group ahead, Hill quickly caught Sharp and Frommenwiler - and in a superbly judged move sliced past the Austrian on the brakes at Brooklands - however Frommenwiler tried to re-pass at Luffield, hit the kerb and clattered into Hill, causing them - and Sharp - to spin and lose time.
Recovering in a frustrated 22nd place - Hill charged back into action and quickly found a way past Webster, and later Power and Twynham amongst others - ending up 16th overall.
The commentary team from Eurosport remarked how the British drivers had made the race more exciting than the established stars and were particularly complimentary about Jakes progress through the field, until the unfortunate clash with Frommenwiler.
"That was crazy!" said Hill "So frustrating I couldn't get past Schmidt (in 15th) - if I had we would have been near Cammish who finished 9th - but that's racing!
"I've loved the experience and really hope I can do more and maybe a full-season next year"
" A massive, massive thanks to everyone who has helped - especially In2 and of course Shaun Hollamby from AmD Tuning, Mike Jarvis from Borderland Fencing, Alan Baker from BAK Cladding, Julie, Gordon, Michaela, Aaron, Derek, Marcus from Zynth and Martin and Emma from M4EM Timber Products - and everyone else...you know who you are!!!
Next week Hill will race on another legendary circuit, Spa-Francorchamps for AmD Tuning in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.