Jake Hill claimed his eighth victory of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season to extend his lead in the standings with just two races still to run on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
The race got off to a dramatic start with Colin Turkington’s Team BMW car launching into the lead from pole position, but there was drama just behind as the pack streamed into Druids for the first time. Josh Cook’s Toyota got out of shape in the braking zone for the hairpin, collecting Ash Sutton’s NAPA Racing UK Ford and Tom Ingram’s Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai.
Whilst Sutton’s chances of retaining the title he’s won four times ended in the gravel trap, and Ingram was delayed, Hill’s Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW scythed through into second, just behind Turkington’s similar machine. Full speed action was briefly halted however, with the safety car emerging as the incident was cleared up.
Racing resumed on lap six, with Turkington leading from Hill whilst Ingram began what would turn out to be an impressive charge through the order by immediately passing Sam Osborne’s Ford Focus ST for eighth. The 2022 champion gained another position before the end of the lap when he emerged from a three-wide move with Aiden Moffat and Daryl DeLeon in seventh.
Both of the primary championship contenders continued their upwards trajectory on lap seven, with Turkington moving aside to allow Hill into the lead whilst Ingram arrived in the top-six following a move on DeLeon at Paddock Hill Bend.
Ingram’s rise continued in the laps that followed with moves on Dan Cammish and Aron Taylor Smith before joining the leading group with around half the race still to run. A bold pass on Mikey Doble at Surtees allowed the Hyundai up into the podium placings, with Ingram then setting his sights on the two BMWs ahead.
As the field streamed onto its 15th tour of the Kent circuit’s longer layout, Ingram began to ramp up the pressure on Turkington, first attempting a switch back on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend before having a look at Surtees. Turkington held firm however and resisted the attack from behind.
Turkington’s defence allowed Hill to pull clear during the final moments of the race, driving home to stand on the top step of the podium at his home race, with Ingram third. This result puts Hill five points ahead of Ingram with just two races to go, and with eight race victories to his name, he would take the title in the event of tied scores.
Behind the leading contenders, Mikey Doble spearheaded a strong Vauxhall showing in fourth with Cammish completing the top-five. Taylor-Smith was sixth ahead of DeLeon with Daniel Rowbottom, Tom Chilton and Andrew Watson completing the top-10.
Sutton’s retirement along with strong scores for Hill and Ingram ensured that only two drivers remain in the hunt during the remaining races.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330e M Sport
- Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +1.105s
- Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, Hyundai i30N, +2.142s
- Mikey Doble, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +3.375s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +9.906s
- Aron Taylor-Smith, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +10.861s
- Daryl DeLeon, Duckhams Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport, Cupra Leon, +11.891s
- Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +14.558s
- Tom Chilton, , Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, Hyundai i30N, +15.390s
- Andrew Watson, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, +18.942s
Standings
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330e M Sport, 386
- Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, Hyundai i30N, 381
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, 332
- Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, 320
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, 320
- Josh Cook, LKQ Car Parts with SYNETIQ, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, 302
Click here to view full timings from this weekend's Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship event.