BTCC 2016 Season Review
BRDC Rising Star Impresses in debut season in the btcc |
BRDC Rising Star Jake Hill…debut full season in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - RCIB Insurance Racing Toyota Avensis with Team HARD
Qualified 10th at Donington and 11th at Croft and Silverstone Took points in 17 of 30 races - finished 8th in the Independent Drivers Championship. Finished 5th at Silverstone, 6th at Croft, 8th at Rockingham and Brands Hatch GP, 9th at Oulton Park and 10th at Thruxton WON the DUNLOP #ForeverForward award at Oulton Park for most places gained over the race weekend. WAS Voted ‘HiQ Fans Favourite ‘Driver of the Day’ for his performance over the race weekend at Silverstone. Out qualified his team-mates 19 - 1 over the season….(he was only out qualified once and that was when he had car issues) Was featured in ‘AUTOSPORT’ Magazine after his Rockingham performance and was praised for his ‘race craft and sheer pace’ All in the oldest car on the grid (if it was a road car it would need an MOT!) …. And a message from Jake…. A huge ‘thank you’ to Tony Gilham and everyone at Team HARD and also RCIB Insurance for giving me this fantastic opportunity….TAG Industries, Auto Aid Breakdown, ETMS Highways, Boxo, Perry Engineering, ABS, Jordan RV, Lawford Exhibits - and of course all of the fantastic people who helped me get on track and stay on track….there are simply too many to mention and at the risk of missing anyone I just want to say this has been my dream come true and I am beyond grateful to everyone for believing in me and supporting me - be it morally, emotionally or of course financially…. In no particular order… (and I hope I haven’t missed anyone….) Richard Wheeler…BRISKY RACING John Miskin at Sportif Motor Group..(and John Boardman of course!) Andy Willey at AWS Appliance Spares Alan Baker at BAK Cladding Stuart Hopewell from Fujifilm Shami from Omologato Oro Robin Austin Kevin Hayes Mark Bingley from Ecoflam Richard Taylor from Taylors Tool + Fixings Phill Trott at Cathedral Pallet Trucks Graham Saul at Cloud 9 Consultants Roger Burgess at BTS Jon and Brian from Thunder Toffee Vodka Mike Jarvis from Borderland Fencing Tim Gray from Online-Media Dean Walker Mario Ferrari from Cairngall Motor Services Patrick Forman - Forman Industrial Doors Ben Warner at The Ultimate Car Company Marc Cardno at Ellon Timber Derek Pierce from J&D Pierce Bill Rawles from Bill Rawles Classic Cars Alex Reade from Alex Reade Motorsport Fabian from Octane Mens Hairdressing (Hawkhurst) Marcus Gray from Zynth Jakob Ebrey Photography….JEP …..worth 2/10s…… Bonfiglioli Tony Rodriguez Peter Ferrigno Alex White Mike Willey And Everyone who bought a raffle ticket back in May! Thank you so much!!!! Thanks so much to my ‘boys’ who were on my car - Kingsley, Ian, Peter, Kieran, Gary, Rob, Greg and everyone else for your hard work and belief - you NEVER let me down - I love you all so much….! All of the Team HARD crew - all the other ‘boys’ and the data and tech team…you know who you are! To my team-mates Mike Epps, Chris Smiley, Michael Caine and Tony Gilham for making me work hard! My fantastic grid girls Michelle and Florence for giving me such lovely bums to look at!!!! All the hospitality and management - Gary Allen, Ben Kattenhorn, David Boor, Steve Knightly, Mark Eakin, Richard and Gareth… The always awesome Debbie Gilham, the fantastic Andrea and Debbie, Lynn, Vicky and the rest of the catering team…. My mates for their love, support and piss taking! Gillian, Luke, Sue and the rest of the team at the BRDC for their support and for keeping me on the BRDC Rising Stars programme…I’m honoured and so grateful. The fantastic team at TOCA - Mr. Gow, Dan, Peter, Sam, Phil, Ian, Jeff and everyone else for making this the best series in the country. Scott, Peter and everyone in the Safety Car and Medical Car team - thanks Traff, Nick and the medical team…hope I never need you! Micky and everyone at Dunlop - especially my mega technician Adrian Hawkins who has been fantastic and so supportive. The team at Swindon especially my funny and supportive mate Marco - Merci mon ami!!! Everyone at ITV Sport - Steve Rider, Owy and of course the always awesome David Addison, Tim Harvey and Louise Goodman…plus the production team - Tim, Crossy, Dave, Lewis, Shari and everyone….just superb! Simon Melluish and his team for always being on it… Matt James for saying it how it is…and most importantly saying he thought I was doing well…... …..And for working well with the legend that is Alan Hyde - thanks for my Tin Top Tuesday experiences Hydey…..! Mike and Matt at Creative Media for the fabulous interviews….I’m on iTunes! The circuit commentators for all their kind words…..miss you Titch! Jakob Ebrey and his mega team and Phil and Lucy Laughton for always making me look good... All the officials and especially the fantastic marshals for your dedication and commitment - so appreciated! The BTCC fans - especially lovely people like Neil, Rach and the boys, Jonathan and Zak, Rich, Spence, M, Kevin and everyone who has been kind enough to support me. I really am so grateful. My mega website design and management from Marcus Gray and the team at Zynth - always looks superb. Alex Reade for my racewear….Joe Tanner for my super-cool helmet. My lovely girlfriend Hannah for putting up with me and always being there for me…. And my family…my crazy but lovely little sister Ellie…my Mum Tina…literally the BEST person in the world…love you lots…My Grandad Rod and Nan Sheila. Then there’s my Dad Simon…. We started this journey together and he has always been there for me, and has never ever given up. He has made this happen for me and will always be grateful and always love him. He was a proper driver and he has made me the driver and the man I am. No one has ever tried harder than him. You’re funny, determined and always there for me.….as you say…’It’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog’…….Thanks Dad….Love you lots x We WILL be back in 2017 - please get in touch if you want to be involved. Thank You! -Jake x
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