After the first two race weekends of the British Touring Car Championship season resulted in disappointment for MB Motorsport driver Jake Hill, Oulton Park changed everything with a podium finish in race one.
The 26 year-old Kent based driver enjoyed a superb weekend at Oulton Park in Cheshire, putting in three determined drives to earn points in all three races, with a first-ever podium for MB Motorsport, taking P3 in Sunday’s first race.
Jake said: “We had another strong Saturday – good pace in practice and another good qualifying in P6 – great that we have qualified in the top 7 in all three races so far, so our single-lap pace is good.”
“In unbelievably wet conditions the car was really good. I lost a couple of places at the start but got passed Chilton easily then caught and passed Neal on lap one. The BMW’s are usually rapid in the wet, but maybe the weight hurt them and I passed both of them and then caught Cammish.”
“I thought I might pass him but they are so much faster in a straight line I just couldn’t make it stick. Finishing P4 was our best result of the season and I am chuffed with that.”
However, Jake was then promoted to P3 after the race winner’s car was checked post-race and found to have failed the ‘ride height’ check, giving a MB Motorsport a much-appreciated result following the frustrations of Donington Park and Brands Hatch.
On the podium finish, Hill said: “Wow! It’s fantastic to get mine and the team’s first ever podium. So pleased after having five retirements in the six races so far. Such a mega job by the team as always – hugely appreciative of the work they have done.”
The race one podium finish followed a great qualifying session on the Saturday. Hill once again demonstrated strong pace in BTCC qualifying, taking a top-six slot for the second consecutive event, despite a high-speed puncture during the session, when he was on his best lap.
The fourth BTCC race weekend of 2020 takes place at Knockhill in Scotland, where Jake Hill won his first ever BTCC race last year. The circuit holds ‘special memories’ for Jake and he hopes to repeat his endeavours from the 2019 season.
Read more on the weekend’s BTCC action on the MB Motorsport website.
Congratulations from everyone at Road Runner Insurance – we have our fingers crossed for more podium finishes and plenty more points for Jake and the MB Motorsport team.
Photography credit: JEP Photography