Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill took his second victory of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season, claiming the opening bout on his return at Knockhill after missing the Croft meeting through illness.
Pole-sitter Charles Rainford got proceedings underway with the WSR BMW stable holding a 1-2-3 in the early running, following the Bavarian marque's brilliant performance during qualifying.
Line astern initially, young gun Daryl DeLeon couldn't resist the temptation to attack for the lead as he threw #2 machine down the inside of Rainford's sister car at turn one. In truth, the move didn't look on as DeLeon's car overshot and onto the grass, but interestingly returned to the Tarmac in the lead of the race.
With grass filling his radiator and with the legality of the move under question, DeLeon let both Rainford and Hill through.
Reigning champion Hill then ensured that all three of the front-running BMW drivers had led the race as he relinquished Rainford of P1. Unsurprisingly, the hugely experienced and talented champion made the most of the opportunity as he romped on to take his second victory of the campaign.
There was one moment of concern late on following contact between Hill and back marker Nick Halstead in the Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing Cupra, but the #1 BMW dealt with the safety car period and subsequent restart with consummate ease.
LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR's Rainford and current points leader Tom Ingram completed the podium positions, as the latter was let through on the final lap by Team VERTU team-mate Senna Proctor, who had held third for much of the contest.
Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK), Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR), Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and the fading DeLeon were next in the order, before a breathtaking battle for places at the lower end of the top ten.
Árón Taylor-Smith produced a defensive masterclass as he seemed to have either a Ford Focus or Hyundai i30N connected to his rear bumper throughout the race, but the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA man hung on for ninth, ahead of NAPA Racing UK's feisty Sam Osborne.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said:
Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, said:
Tom Ingram, Team VERTU, said:
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Knockhill – Race 1 – Classification:
| P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | Best/ | On/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Jake HILL | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 27 | 24:59.957 | 51.572 | 5 | |
| 2 | 99 | Charles RAINFORD | LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR | 27 | 25:01.374 | 1.417 | 51.119 | 4 |
| 3 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team VERTU | 27 | 25:03.679 | 3.722 | 51.879 | 5 |
| 4 | 18 | Senna PROCTOR | Team VERTU | 27 | 25:03.840 | 3.883 | 51.402 | 3 |
| 5 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 27 | 25:04.431 | 4.474 | 52.067 | 5 |
| 6 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR | 27 | 25:05.861 | 5.904 | 52.115 | 5 |
| 7 | 116 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 27 | 25:06.507 | 6.550 | 52.436 | 5 |
| 8 | 2 | Daryl DELEON | WSR | 27 | 25:06.937 | 6.980 | 51.337 | 2 |
| 9 | 40 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA | 27 | 25:08.346 | 8.389 | 52.439 | 4 |
| 10 | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 27 | 25:08.951 | 8.994 | 51.541 | 8 |
| 11 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Team VERTU | 27 | 25:09.098 | 9.141 | 52.186 | 4 |
| 12 | 22 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 27 | 25:09.510 | 9.553 | 52.214 | 3 |
| 13 | 17 | Dexter PATTERSON | ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport | 27 | 25:10.452 | 10.495 | 52.161 | 5 |
| 14 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | NAPA Racing UK | 27 | 25:11.299 | 11.342 | 52.212 | 4 |
| 15 | 52 | Gordon SHEDDEN | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA | 27 | 25:11.494 | 11.537 | 52.373 | 3 |
| 16 | 123 | Daniel LLOYD | Restart Racing | 27 | 25:11.996 | 12.039 | 52.612 | 9 |
| 17 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing | 27 | 25:13.163 | 13.206 | 52.825 | 7 |
| 18 | 132 | James DORLIN | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA | 27 | 25:13.423 | 13.466 | 52.550 | 12 |
| 19 | 19 | Max BUXTON | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA | 27 | 25:13.870 | 13.913 | 53.237 | 9 |
| DNF | 28 | Nicolas HAMILTON | Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock | 25 | 24:01.729 | 2 Laps | 53.363 | 4 |
| DNF | 50 | Nick HALSTEAD | Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing | 18 | 16:31.303 | 9 Laps | 53.316 | 5 |
| DQ | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team VERTU | 0 | 0.000 | 0 |
