MORE POINTS FOR HILL IN DONINGTON BTCC ROLLERCOASTER
After a superb performance in Practice and Qualifying for round two of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship event at Donington Park, Goudhurst's Jake Hill described his weekend as a 'rollercoaster' with incredible highs and lows, plus changeable conditions making taking points an even more impressive result.
Hill's TAG Racing VW Passat CC was quick from the outset, taking 3rd and 2nd overall in the two practice sessions, and then a career-best 6th in qualifying, with team-mate Michael Epps 9th, proving the team's pace.
However post-session technical checks found Hill's rear-wing to be just 2 degrees outside the permitted settings, resulting in all of his times being disallowed and a start at the back of the competitive 32-car grid.
"We have been flying. The car really suits the circuit - I love it here - and we know it makes no difference to performance (the rear wing angle) but the rules are strict. I am gutted of course, for me and all my boys who have worked so hard, and of course our partners TAG Industries, RCIB Insurance and Auto Aid Breakdown."
Race one provided more frustration for Hill, being hit by Depper and forced to retire with broken suspension, then a storming drive into the points in race two was ruined after Aron Taylor-Smith braked early and the resulting contact saw a pipe to the turbo come loose, and the car go into 'limp' mode and Jake finish 26th and at a crawling pace, having also picked up significant damage in a bruising race.
"Lots of unnecessary driving, silly weaving and banging and it cost us again. One of the consequences of starting at the back means you have to battle through and some people can't accept that you are quicker so drive at you. It's so incredibly annoying but we just have to re-group and focus on race three."
Heavy rain just before race three meant incredibly difficult conditions and saw several cars off the road, resulting in the race being stopped and the grid re-forned in the original positions, so Hill starting 26th.
At the re-start Hill immediately began making progress, slicing into the top 20 by the end of lap one and then quickly passing team-mate Epps, Chilton and Jelly. As the race settled down further dramas ahead saw Hill in the top-15 and a points scoring situation, then a couple of decisive moves saw Hill also pass Rob Collard and then edge nearer the top-ten.
However starting on 'used' tyres the performance went away as the track began drying and a charging Aiden Moffat (who on his first BTCC race in race one) and Senna Proctor edge by, but Hill hold off Collard to take an incredible 12th - which became 11th when race-winner Gordon Shedden was excluded for failing the ride-height check post-race, meaning over the three races Hill had made up a remarkable 21 places!
"So pleased to have salvaged something from a weekend that promised so much. Pleased for Aiden to have won race one - we set the same time in qualifying and would have started next to him in race one - so I'm sure a podium at least would have been possible. We worked hard and to get points again is really pleasing. Massive thanks to all the guys on the car and everyone at Team HARD and TAG Racing, and of course to my amazing partners who were here supporting me Rolec Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Sportif Cars, Brisky Racing, AW Supply Services, Ecoflam, Danfoss and Bill Rawles Classic Cars. We head to Thruxton next and we are testing there this week so we should be in good shape to build on the promise shown here. I'm more determined than ever, and absolutely know that when things go to plan we'll get the results we're working towards" smiled Hill.
'I just also want to send all of my love to Billy Monger who was involved in a real horrible accident in Formula 4 - I know him and his family from his days in Ginetta Junior - he's a great lad and lovely family. I just wish Billy all the best for a speedy recovery and hope we'll see him back racing again soon"
Next race - Thurxton - 6/7th May - live on ITV.com and ITV4
Hill's TAG Racing VW Passat CC was quick from the outset, taking 3rd and 2nd overall in the two practice sessions, and then a career-best 6th in qualifying, with team-mate Michael Epps 9th, proving the team's pace.
However post-session technical checks found Hill's rear-wing to be just 2 degrees outside the permitted settings, resulting in all of his times being disallowed and a start at the back of the competitive 32-car grid.
"We have been flying. The car really suits the circuit - I love it here - and we know it makes no difference to performance (the rear wing angle) but the rules are strict. I am gutted of course, for me and all my boys who have worked so hard, and of course our partners TAG Industries, RCIB Insurance and Auto Aid Breakdown."
Race one provided more frustration for Hill, being hit by Depper and forced to retire with broken suspension, then a storming drive into the points in race two was ruined after Aron Taylor-Smith braked early and the resulting contact saw a pipe to the turbo come loose, and the car go into 'limp' mode and Jake finish 26th and at a crawling pace, having also picked up significant damage in a bruising race.
"Lots of unnecessary driving, silly weaving and banging and it cost us again. One of the consequences of starting at the back means you have to battle through and some people can't accept that you are quicker so drive at you. It's so incredibly annoying but we just have to re-group and focus on race three."
Heavy rain just before race three meant incredibly difficult conditions and saw several cars off the road, resulting in the race being stopped and the grid re-forned in the original positions, so Hill starting 26th.
At the re-start Hill immediately began making progress, slicing into the top 20 by the end of lap one and then quickly passing team-mate Epps, Chilton and Jelly. As the race settled down further dramas ahead saw Hill in the top-15 and a points scoring situation, then a couple of decisive moves saw Hill also pass Rob Collard and then edge nearer the top-ten.
However starting on 'used' tyres the performance went away as the track began drying and a charging Aiden Moffat (who on his first BTCC race in race one) and Senna Proctor edge by, but Hill hold off Collard to take an incredible 12th - which became 11th when race-winner Gordon Shedden was excluded for failing the ride-height check post-race, meaning over the three races Hill had made up a remarkable 21 places!
"So pleased to have salvaged something from a weekend that promised so much. Pleased for Aiden to have won race one - we set the same time in qualifying and would have started next to him in race one - so I'm sure a podium at least would have been possible. We worked hard and to get points again is really pleasing. Massive thanks to all the guys on the car and everyone at Team HARD and TAG Racing, and of course to my amazing partners who were here supporting me Rolec Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Sportif Cars, Brisky Racing, AW Supply Services, Ecoflam, Danfoss and Bill Rawles Classic Cars. We head to Thruxton next and we are testing there this week so we should be in good shape to build on the promise shown here. I'm more determined than ever, and absolutely know that when things go to plan we'll get the results we're working towards" smiled Hill.
'I just also want to send all of my love to Billy Monger who was involved in a real horrible accident in Formula 4 - I know him and his family from his days in Ginetta Junior - he's a great lad and lovely family. I just wish Billy all the best for a speedy recovery and hope we'll see him back racing again soon"
Next race - Thurxton - 6/7th May - live on ITV.com and ITV4